In the newsletter: Amanda Parris at Queen & Slim's Toronto premiere

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Hi, art lovers!

So, at least one of us had an incredible week.

If you follow Amanda Parris (CBC Arts!!!) on Instagram, you've already seen this photo from the Toronto premiere of Queen & Slim. That's director Melina Matsoukas on the left ("Formation"!!!)  and screenwriter Lena Waithe on the right (The Chi!!!).

And if you were wondering why Amanda was thanking them for "all the inspiration" in her post, look no further than this lengthy video interview. Earlier that day, the filmmakers dropped by CBC's Glenn Gould Studio to talk about the movie.

And because we promised you eye candy

That pattern is by Jenn Kitagawa, an artist/designer we've featured before, but the reason I'm sharing it is because it's being printed on fabric for the Furoshiki project, which runs at Toronto's Samara Contemporary to Dec. 6.

So, about furoshiki cloth: in Japan, there's a tradition of wrapping items, including gifts, in the stuff...which is really beautiful. And if you're looking for ways to live a little less like a trash factory, anything reusable is definitely appealing.

While I'm on this kick, here's another furoshiki design by Kendra Yee...

And this one's by Jill Holmberg.

Was your favourite part of high school biology the bit where you got to draw diagrams of cells? I'm guessing Rogan Brown would relate. (But he makes these out of cut paper.)

Fiona Ackerman probably preferred the chapters on botany. (She has a solo exhibition at Toronto's Oeno Gallery to Dec. 9.)

When Vogue filmed one of their "73 Questions" segments with Dan Levy, the Schitt's Creek star called Kris Knight his favourite (Canadian) artist. (Um...yes, I'll take that excuse to share the painting in the video.)

You've got to see this

The CBC Arts holiday gift guide - Nothing beats a handmade present — especially when the person who made it's a pro. Shop unique items by the Canadian artists we've featured right here.

Art and HIV in 2019 - December 1st is World AIDS Day, which prompted this piece, a survey of five Canadian artists who address the current realities of HIV. The disease is no longer a death sentence, but their art explores the many unspoken issues that persist.

There's an enchanted fairy village in Ontario?! - Yes. Yes, there is. And Edna Scott is the woman who created it. Now 82, Edna's been an artist her whole life — and since she's the kind of person who always has to have a project, she started making pixie-sized buildings with the help of her ceramicist sister, Pat Stamp. We drop in on the duo and explore Edna's North Bay fantasyland.

Follow this artist 

Charlotte Durnford-Dionne (@chuck__rose) - A recent Toronto transplant, Charlotte's been getting to know her new city by drawing all over it. We joined her on a bike trip to all her favourite places. Take a look.

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Until next week!

XOXO, CBC Arts