Capital Arts Online

Artists get spiritual in the hunt for studio space

By Daniela Fisher

As artists scour the cities for affordable studio space, some are finding urban sanctuary in unusual places.

DJing, democratized

By Serena Calder

DJs used to spend years collecting records, gear and skill, to entertain at clubs and parties. Now, with some basic digital help from a laptop or cellphone, virtually anyone can DJ to tear down the house.

Bodily harmonies: yoga with music

By Michelina Teti

In North American yoga classes — and Ottawa no exception — musical accompaniment now trends toward being a favourite choice. What drives this mutual attraction of yoga and music?

Painting the town with hope

By Toni Baggos

A local art group is helping to beautify Ottawa, while mentoring at-risk youth in doing so. It’s urban art, youth engagement and community improvement, all in one.

Music in Ottawa: not dead, not even resting

By Brittany Corry

Branded unfairly as dull music town, Ottawa suffers from comparisons with Toronto and Montreal. True, it may never be a national magnet, but this small-town city thrives on local talent.

Yarn bombing: the kinder, gentler graffiti

By Portia Baladad

Who ever thought of knitting as hip, even dangerous? Yet knitwear has become the new “tag,” as women and men, the world over, now leave their mark by putting sweaters and cozies on statues, lamp posts and trees.

Celebrating Ottawa’s local food

By Emily Rack

With “buy local” food movements sweeping North America, Ottawa got a much-needed injection of farm-fresh culture with fall 2011’s Harvest Noir—the city’s first pop-up, flash mob picnic. Guests celebrated local food with ball gowns, black ties and a big brass band.

Why sewing is back in fashion

By Jeff Hamilton

Grandma, move over. Across North America, a rejuvenated sewing scene now attracts more young people, to learn this age-old, hands-on skill.

Where the teen books are

By Michelle Blanchard

While booksellers and publishers cut back in most categories, young adult lit sells better than ever. Why the notion that ‘Teens don’t read’ is just plain ignorant.

Canadian hip-hop claims respect

By Belinda Ha

Canadian hip-hop has been riding mainstream airwaves more and more these past few years, with artists like Drake and K’Naan leading the pack. Why now? And is it more than just a passing ‘Up North Wave’?

My fair neighbourhood

By Chris Uhlig

Somerset West is now receiving some much-needed reconstruction. But a new public art project by Ottawa artists will help make its transformation a beautiful one.

Fashion with a ‘Gypsy’ twist

By Katrina Heer

Under dynamic owner Aria Leroux, boutique Gypsy & Co. is Ottawa’s newest and hottest vintage-fashion contender. Here, a taste of this excellent vintage.

The Sixties come swinging in again

By Loren Romei

Why the sudden spate of ’60s retro, on TV screens and fashion runways? More than just our nostalgia for a decade of hope, say experts, the trend may predict big social changes around the corner.

Nerdlesque: worshipping the geek gods

By Kristy Wright

What happens when nerds don fishnet stockings? An Ottawa burlesque group is exploring why “geek” is the new sexy — and they’re not the only ones.

One story. Thirty days. Fifty thousand words.

By Cara Stern

Fuelled by ambition and lots of caffeine, about a quarter million would-be authors worldwide have taken up the annual challenge to hammer out a novel’s first draft in one month. Here, we gauge the value of this procrastinator’s hell.