Music
The Toronto Portraits - Chandler Levack
Welcome to the Toronto Portraits. Every Friday we're going to profile a young, dynamic Torontonian, and each week we're photographing them in a different Toronto neighbourhood.
Chandler Levack, 21 years old. Parkdale.
Chandler Levack is one of those people who seems to knows everyone. Everyone in the downtown arts scene, anyway. Under 23 years old. That's still a lot of people.
Born in Toronto but raised in Brantford, Chandler returned in 2004 to take back her birth city, to use the CN Tower as a tooth pick (she also wanted a degree from UofT. The toothpick thing wasn't cool with Miller.)
Arts and culture journalism, specifically music journalism, is Chandlers drug of choice. She's a regular contributer to Eye Weekly and Spin.com. She's organizing an event in August at the Whippersnapper Gallery in which music journalists will read pieces based on their favourite albums. Afterwards, local indie bands will play a few select cuts.
She also works as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsity, the second oldest student newspaper in the country and one of the most prolific.The Varsity has grabbed headlines a couple of times year in Torontoist and Now Magazine.
You can find Miss Levack at The Beaver, a tiny bar/cafe on the edge of Parkdale. She'll be drinking Tankhouse Ale, listening to bands whose songs are comprised entirely of handclaps. She'll be waiting for her summer.
Photos by Mr. Robin Sharp
Discussion
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I like these profiles, though.
everyone under 23 in the toronto art scene...WHOA!
It comes off as sour grapes.
It's just these sorts of profiles that are the reason people are so ready to decry the "indie-hipsters" that run rampant in the city.
Profiling rising journos is a-ok, but I hardly think her resume has brought her up to the standard of some really fascinating writers and photographers in the city worth profiling.
Oh, yes, and the shots are a bit contrived.
Haha.
2. My pictures are posed and theatrical, in an exterior, uncontrollable setting. That is what gives them tension in my view. I know they are different from a lot of the pure architectural photos of the city you'll find on Flickr.
I'm not a hipster nor a wannabe hipster without a blog. I'm enthusiastic about boring stuff, have a sense of humour, and generally like to dance at concerts. Thanks for trying though.
<i>people, if you're going to have such a hate on</i>
What the fuck do you expect? Toronto is the Screwface Capital.
<i>at least use your standard internet faux-name and link to your personal and un-read blog.</i> Ironic.
<i> Naming yourself "ung" and "sadness" sounds even MORE wannabe hipster and contrived than the above profile.</i> Eh, kind of, but not really.
I liked this Portrait, personally. It's almost exactly a perfect representation of the stereotypical "Parkdale Hipsters that are taking over Queen St. West".
Though I would like the photographer to take a picture at 3 in the morning. Would definitely be more interesting.
It pretty much represents everything I dislike about Toronto.
Please elaborate... I'd like to better understand how this woman/profile represents everything you dislike about this city.
Listen up everyone:
These portraits are pure camp. That is the style. Look at my first post of Peter Kuplowsky; I wrapped celluloid around his head. Does everyone think I'm trying to make a grand, artistic statement by doing that? No, I think it's tongue-in-cheek and hilarious.
i get the sense that people feel like profiles like this are generally just friends of the writer and are kind of obnoxious. i tend to agree, but only because it is, in this case, kind of trite and reads like a CV with illustrations. i like reading about interesting people. reading about what kind of beer a journalist-type likes to drink is not what i'd classify as interesting.
1. Perhaps what the readers are craving is more content from the perspective of the subject. An interview, where the discussion involves substantial issues -- creative, social, political -- could be an option. Or more quotes from the subject. I can see how this so-called "CV with illustrations" could raise one's ire, so how about imbuing the profile with more stuff from the mouth of the subject? Focus more on "how" than "what"; quality instead of quantity.
2. Wow, so many of you are so negative. Why? The problem with discussion boards is that everyone feels safe being anonymous, feels untouchable, and goes on a rampage dismissing things without presenting a sound argument. Why not just let things be? If you have something critical to say -- not HATEFUL -- then please say it. But if you're gonna hate, why not just keep quiet and go to another website? So many of these comments are really mean-spirited and misguided (e.g. How has Levack personally wronged you? Does she deserve your spite?). Why not package your argument in an intelligent and critical and HELPFUL way?
3. Are you just jealous that you're not getting noticed enough for whatever it is you do? (I'm being half-facetious, but seriously... Are you jealous?... Just kidding... NO, but seriously... You'd like to be featured on SOME website or paper too, right? ... Kidding... maybe... Be honest!)
It seems like coverage is getting to be about who you know rather than what is going on in the city and people who REALLY make it a unique place to live.
Also didn't "the Varsity grab headlines a couple of times this year in Torontoist and Now Magazine" because it featured a cover with someone painted in black-face. Is that the type of publicity someone should be bragging about?
"Chandler Levack is one of those people who seems to knows everyone. Everyone in the downtown arts scene, anyway. Under 23 years old. That's still a lot of people."
- why should we be concerned about the people/amount of people in the arts scene she knows? Most of these kiddies under 23 aren't doing anything worth mentioning anyway. I know many prominant and important Canadian artists over the age of 40 as well as the REAL movers and shakers of this city yet I do not see a need to mention that on a profile of myself.
My hate-on for Chandler comes from her constant mention of her self-proclaimed hipster status. (See her facebook notes). Hipsters are tired and boing enough, anyone who feels a need to mention their status as one is seen as insecure and desperately trying to fit in.
Whether it is blatant nepotistic propaganda or not, one should remember that there is no huge budget in these articles. The author, the subject and the photographer are all amateurs (I assume) and therefore young. (under 23...?) Anyways, think of where these people -writer/photographer/subject have grown up.
This article is a product of mimiking/mocking a past generation's ground-breaking discoveries, within less than half the budget of what this would have cost twenty years ago. Readers should also remember that the subject, author and photographer are all doing this to be able to make it as professionals, which they Aren't Yet. In fact, on a whole, quite a number of people involved in art scenes (any scene) aren't professionals, yet their money often supports the professionals.
In this Age of Information we should expect and relish the fact that anyone, not just some Celebrity, can be the centre of such controversy and slander and maybe one day receive positivity and encouragement..
I expect that these Toronto Portraits will continue to be a point of contention, as Torontonian Web-Surfers will be forced -weekly- to watch the numbers of Loops they are not a part of grow. Read about people they don't know and aren't influenced by - living in their own City!
There is no social network more important than the one you are a part of, and none worth less consideration than those you have nothing to do with.
-Koy-
I don't know why people are getting so antagonistic to Robin and Chandler?
Come on! Robin is like the nicest guy! And Chandler seems like a cool person from the profile! And they do not deserve to be bashed or treated this way! And seriously, this post kicks a lot of butts! (I'm too nice to say "asses") Does that help? lol
So, Mr. Sharp, I'm looking forward to your next update! Heh heh! :o)
If anything, the negativity seems to stem from those who are insecure of their own achievements at their age, or jealous of lack of exposure who are willing to drag down and negate any of the work these featured artists have created.
By posting these profiles, by no means is Robin saying that only the 23 and under crowd is important, because then almost none of us would be relevant. If anything, these profiles seem to tell me that the kids are alright after all.
Lighten up Toronto, jealousy doesn't suit you.
And if you aren't profiled, be patient. There's one every week. And if you'll never be profiled, then be thankful that your dearest friends probably have been, and they were grateful for this exposure. And if they don't care for exposure, then at least it was a fun little thing.
...The point is, LIGHTEN UP indeed! This is a fun thing! This blog means no harm! If you don't like it, then offer some constructive thoughts. Or create your own blog. Or don't visit this blog again.
These profiled people are doing interesting things and are contributing to Toronto. Why are you questioning the justification for them being subjects? Do we need yet another profile on Feist in order for you to say, "Yeah, I agree"?
And no one in Toronto dances at a concert. It's the city's biggest failing.
Right now this feature seems more like a pre-emptive strike against upcoming competition.
And people do dance at concerts in Toronto - you just have to get right up front and not care what's happening behind you. Simple!
And Yes generally Toronto people dont dance...
I've been observing this for a while, but it seems for some people, social networks like Facebook are really catalyzing feelings of bitterness and contempt among people. Seems pretty amusing considering its goal was to bring people together.
Ms. Harvey, from apparently.. Brantford.. except not.