Artist At Large

Author Glen Cram

I was born in London England in 1952, and become an immigrè to Canada when I was 8 years old. I grew up in Montreal during the tumultuous events of the 60s and 70s, studying anthropology, linguistics and art at McGill University, and imagining a life where I could pursue my creative interests full time. During this time I travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, reveling in the vast and varied history and art of such diverse cultures.
On graduating I went teaching native students in northern Quebec, where I met my lovely wife Roma. We moved to Toronto, where we had our two great kids, Sarah and Matthew, and I went to work designing websites for various media (Reuters, the Globe and Mail, MacLaren McCann) and financial organisations. Although I still dabbled in art, I had all but forgotten my dream of actually doing what I wanted for a living. Then I discovered the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, which showed me that I could in fact be both an artist and a success. I took courses in painting and sculpture, learning the classical techniques and applying them to my own interests and talents, until I felt confident enough to offer my services on a commission basis. I now run an Artist’s Way Meetup group, where I try to offer people in my situation the belief in themselves to follow their artistic heart and become who they really know themselves to be.

The Strange Death(s) of Jack Cram

When I was young, long, long ago, there was a magazine called Fate. It was one of the only ones of its kind at that time, and dealt with “True accounts of the strange and unknown”, things like aliens &… Continue Reading →

Caught in La Trappe!

My sister Suzie has recently opened a souvenir store at Old Harry in the Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine), Quebec, in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It’s called La Trappe, after the iconic local lobster traps,… Continue Reading →

Not That Old!

A few years ago, I wrote about modern music. It seemed to me at the time that the music of the current generation was a lot more limited than the music of mine. It did not deal at all with… Continue Reading →

Come see my Furious Fancies at RAW Toronto: Impact!

I am very excited to announce that I have been asked to participate in RAW Toronto: Impact, a multimedia art show featuring my various works on May 23 at the Mod Club in Toronto. The show is actually May 22 – 24, and you ticket covers all 3 days. Love to see you there!

1973: The Selfie Project

I wish I could remember the name of the teacher of the art class I took at McGill in 1973-4; he was excellent. Every week our homework was a self-portrait in a different medium/style.

Modern Music

Call me an old codger, but in my day music dealt with a variety of themes: love (of course), politics, fantasy, drugs, sex (all varieties), history, religion, the environment… in an even greater variety of styles: on a single radio… Continue Reading →

Sunny Skies, a Lost Gay Classic from 1930

X While surfing Youtube for odd finds, I recently came across a really odd one: a film from 1930 called Sunny Skies. And as I flipped through it, a revelation hit me: this movie is totally gay! At first glance, it’s… Continue Reading →

Girl Wars

I haven’t seen the latest Star Wars movie, but did see The Force Awakens when it came. I wasn’t that impressed; it was basically the same as the first one with more realistic, if less interesting, special effects. But the… Continue Reading →

The Magus Unleashed!

My 25+-year quest has reached, let’s say, a significant milestone. I have published Book I of my novel The Acts of Simon Magus in the First Century AD. Well, what’s published is a beta version, still undergoing final editing, basically… Continue Reading →

Simon Magus Returns

I have decided that I really need to finish The Acts of Simon Magus, and have redone his website, as well as adding a blog to track progress. Check simonmagus.com for all the latest!

Fists of Fury

An interesting article on the BBC website today, presenting the results of a study on the evolution of the hand. Apparently, uniquely among our relatives, humans have the ability to make a fist, which is optimized for both the force… Continue Reading →

Can I Be Your Good Steward, Rick?

From: Glen Cram To: Rick Santorum Subject: Job application Mr Santorum, Having read with interest your interpretation of God’s instructions to Adam regarding his rights and responsibilities vis-a-vis the Earth, I would like to offer my services as steward to… Continue Reading →

Kardashians Writer Tells All

Two nights ago, in a secret location somewhere in Los Angeles, someone we will call “Jim” won an award. A very prestigious award, voted on by some of the best-known figures in show business, and it was earned for work… Continue Reading →

Pumice Rafting To Crete (and Wallacea) with Homo Erectus

How did homo erectus get to remote islands like Crete or Flores without boats? Floating rock from local volcanoes may be the answer. A recent article proposed a new theory regarding the origin of life on earth. Pumice, a rock… Continue Reading →

Bad President

Up to now, I have admired Barack Obama and really wished him well, but this oil spill thing seems to be right over his head. Can you imagine this happening in Japan, or anywhere in Europe? BP might have been… Continue Reading →

Lies in Advertising

Almost every commercial on your TV lies to you blatantly and outrageously. How can this be, if lying is against the law? What they are trying not to say is that commercials are not considered lies if you accept certain basic premises, the same premises in fact which underlie the whole of the modern economy.

Everybody Do The Zombie Stomp

…with the rockin’ Del Aires! A favourite of my youth, from The Horror Of Party Beach! http://www.zombiestomp.com

Nigeria Calling (via Camp Hell)

You’ve all seen the charmingly-worded epistles from the Dark Continent, calling down God’s blessing on you if you can just see your way to accept a 25% share of the vast fortune the writer’s late dear daddy or foreign client… Continue Reading →

How Clean?

Further to my post Smells Nice! regarding the show Hoarders, it’s very instructive to see how the English handle the same problem. In the American version, counselors try to reason with the poor victims of their compulsion, and persuade them… Continue Reading →

A Woman Of Valour

I recently designed this website for the upcoming feature film A Woman Of Valour by the eponymous Cayle Chernin and Andrew Faiz. The site stars my own studio, invaded by the strange and wonderful sculptures of Gail Schwartz.

How To Be A Painting Star

Toronto filmmaker Lee Sjostrom filmed this video for Howcast, a site with detailed instructions on how to do pretty well everything. Starring myself and actress Nancy Morrison.

Niqabbed

Everyone has an opinion about the Quebec government allowing the expulsion of a Muslim woman from a language class for wearing her traditional garb, a niqab, or veil covering all of her face but her eyes. Here’s mine. Quebec has… Continue Reading →

Ductanic Viralizes

So my 10-second 3d epic Ductanic (or Titanic, The True Story with music by the GoGos!) has like 100,000 150,000 320,000 486,406 hits on youtube!!! + its on or linked from like 1700 sites!! & shows no sign of stopping!!!… Continue Reading →

The Indeterminate Wedding

The Alchemists said… “As above, so below.” But according to Quantum, It just isn’t so!

Blood Creature Has Risen From The Grave Once Again!

40 years ago, Ron Hier and I made our first (semi) feature, vintage 1970, in the style of the German impressionist films (Caligari, Faust etc.): Blood Creature From Beyond The Grave. Click below if you dare!!!

Who Would Jesus Wear?

No other comment needed.

2 Bucks Short

Ron Hier and I made a short film (our first in 40 years!) for the Toronto Urban Film Festival, and came top in our category (8th in popular voting). Enjoy!

Smells Nice!

For some reason we were watching a show called Hoarders. It’s a reality thing about people who live surrounded by piles of shit because they can’t bear to throw anything out. I could somewhat identify as I have had, let’s… Continue Reading →

Shamanatomy

Here is my video. Music by Sainkho Namchylak, pix from Gray’s Anatomy (the original!): Amazing how many parts we have, isn’t it?

Transitional Forms

It’s not true that there are no transitional forms. Every living (and dead) thing, including ourselves, is transitional between its ancestors and its descendants, both of which are different from itself. The ones that are best suited for their environment… Continue Reading →

Climate Change 2

Please read this: http://www.skepticalscience.com Again, just because somebody got overexcited in trying to persuade people of the reality of global warning does not make it a fraud. The science is there!

Creationism vs Evolution

Those fundamentalist creationists who maintain that evolution is “just a theory” will be delighted to know that I agree with them. A theory is the best overall explanation for the known evidence. Creationism has no evidence and explains nothing.

The Return of Simon Magus

20 years ago I started to write a novel about the life and times of the original AntiChrist, Simon Magus. This fascinating character was originally mentioned in the Book of Acts in the New Testament as a rival to Jesus,… Continue Reading →

Climategate

My response to a friend who, having heard about the Climategate scandal, decided that global warming was discredited: Climategate is real but so is warming. Carbon trading is a big scam, but that does not mean the problem is not… Continue Reading →

The Evolution of Consciousness as a Byproduct of Language

I have been thinking for a long time about the evolution of consciousness: how did it emerge in the human species and I guess where is it going? The first thing I have to do is to define consciousness. Usually… Continue Reading →

artiststatement.com

I have started a new website:  http://artiststatement.com. It’s a collection of articles from all over, designed for artists who are trying to balance art, life and work. Check out the site if you are that way inclined, click some ads,… Continue Reading →

Poem: On Watching An Interview On MTV

If “Know what I’m sayin’?” Is half of what you’re sayin’, You ain’t sayin’ half Of what you could be sayin’! Know what I’m sayin’?

Sherlock Holmes Visits Canada

in “The Case of Twenty-Four”.

At Last

Notes on the inauguration ball: He obviously gets his rhythm from his mother!

Accidie in America

Accidie in America Posted using ShareThis

Market Fever

The Market. That austere and unforgiving entity that has replaced God and the Communist Party as this age’s deity. There are three types of players in the financial markets, of which only two are in evidence for most of the… Continue Reading →

Hi, [FIRSTNAME]…

Another email. I like this one better than the last one: Hi, [FIRSTNAME] Income in the year since the strike. in factories two weeks’ vacation with full wages. Zetta gave childless old couple, and was dragging them forward At their… Continue Reading →

Oh? Canada

For all you Canadians out there, what do you think of this email I got? >>…there are far too many overly-sensitive ‘New Canadians’ that are trying to change everything we hold dear. >>For example, our National Anthem: Don’t know what… Continue Reading →

Massa B Pimpin Now!

My daughter is a fan of hiphop music, and has been since she was about 14. Up to that time I was not really aware of this music as a cultural force. Apparently it is as influential and as all-pervasive… Continue Reading →

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