“A riddle wrapped up in an enigma” is a shortened form of a quotation made in October 1939, just one month after the Second World War had begun, by Sir Winston Churchill in a radio broadcast to the British people. At the time, Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty. The full comment was “I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma…” Somehow that statement popped up into my head as I tried to decipher the meaning of the Yevgeny Prigozhin alleged coup attempt in Russia on Saturday June 24th, an unanticipated development that has energized the imaginations of pundits and government officials worldwide, generating a torrent of written articles as well as many hours’ worth of spoken commentary.

Friday, July 14, 6-10pm, The Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St.

This event will feature live painters, performances, and film screenings; cocktails and a prison-themed microwave bar will be available for snacking.

Curators’ Statement:

“Imagining Abolition: Reset” presents the talent of RAG [Returning Artists Guild] artists who are either formerly incarcerated or currently serving time, their works illuminating the potential for creativity to flourish under the most depraved circumstances. Through their artistic expressions, these individuals have emerged as pioneers of contemporary practice and production, redefining the boundaries of art and its ability to transcend physical and psychological confinement.

The deadly Israeli invasion of Jenin on July 3 was not a surprise. 

 Also, unsurprising is the fact that the killing of 12 Palestinians, wounding of 120 more and the destruction of nearly 80 percent of the Jenin Refugee Camp’s homes and infrastructure will not make an iota of a difference. 

 Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his lofty promises of destroying the “safe haven ... of the terrorist enclave in Jenin”, must have known that his bloody exercise was ultimately futile. 

The first "Insidious" was released back in 2011 with James Wan as the director, and it's still undoubtedly the best in the series. Good horror films depend on characters, atmosphere, subtle occurrences, and mounting dread. "Insidious: The Red Door," the fifth and supposedly "final" installment in the franchise, only ticks a few of these boxes.

I wanted to love "Insidious 5," especially with it being Patrick Wilson's directorial debut––having established himself as a bona fide scream king between "The Conjuring" and the first two "Insidious" movies. Plus, with Blumhouse's reputation for producing some of the most acclaimed horror films to date, including "Get Out" (2017) and Paranormal Activity (2007), my expectations were high. However, the "final" installment of the "Insidious" franchise was a mixed bag for me.