Doug Brinkman, Free News
Keeper of an Open Mind, and Canvas
Fire, Rain, Circle and Square
Birds of a Feather Art Project, Listen...
🍁US, A renewal in the making
Starbucks Coffee Cup Art Project
2017, Not a Bystander Art Project
Left Stage, Exit Right, Free From Artifice
As has been tradition since 2020, paint was added to Skaters on Ice today—January 1, 2026, beside the ice rink on the back lawns of the Alberta Legislature. An eagle in flight was added backside, a small gesture of lift in a heavy season..
XLife
Faith, Democracy, and Nature
The Honourable, Kaycee Madu,
and Bill 52, The Recall Act. Democracy
Kaycee Madu is a Nigerian‑Canadian lawyer and former Alberta cabinet minister who held several senior portfolios, including Justice and Solicitor General. As Alberta’s first Black justice minister, he became a visible figure in discussions about racial profiling and systemic inequities in policing. His time in office also drew scrutiny, including a reprimand from the Law Society of Alberta for calling Edmonton’s police chief after receiving a traffic ticket—a decision he has appealed, stating his concern was about racial profiling rather than influence. This mix of advocacy and controversy continues to shape public interpretation of his career. The Recall Act, introduced by Alberta’s United Conservative Party government during Madu’s tenure, created a legal pathway for voters to initiate recall petitions against MLAs, municipal councillors, and school board trustees. If a petition gathers enough signatures, a recall vote can be triggered. Supporters frame the legislation as a tool for democratic accountability, giving citizens a mechanism to challenge elected officials between elections. Critics argue it risks destabilizing governance by enabling organized groups to pressure officials or launch politically motivated campaigns. Together, Madu’s profile and the Recall Act reflect broader tensions in Alberta around trust, power, representation, and the evolving expectations placed on public officials. XLife, by Doug. Compiled by Microsoft, AI.
2025 XLife: Homme Made - Dundee Law, painted by seven painters during Black History Month is my personal tribute to Chicago's Fashion Designer, the late Virgil Abloh, Figures of Speech and Edmonton's Freedom Fighter Dennis Edney.
Violet King Henry Plaza
by Doug Brinkman and Seven Painters.
Black History Month. Violet King Henry made history in 1954 when she became Canada’s first Black female lawyer, graduating from the University of Alberta and breaking barriers that had stood for generations. She built her career on courage, fairness, and the belief that every person deserves dignity and opportunity. Today, the plaza that carries her name stands as a public reminder of her legacy. It’s a place where families gather, communities connect, and Albertans celebrate the strength of those who opened doors for others. This Black History Month, we honour Violet King Henry’s life and the path she carved—one that continues to inspire young people, newcomers, and families across Alberta. Her story is a reminder that progress is built by those who refuse to be told “no,” and who choose to lead with purpose.
True to life at 55, Fred Vanderhook - Line and Stinker, reborn as my legendary alter ego, cartoon fame Fred Shadows. A figure who stepped straight out of the anonymous graffiti of Kilroy Was Here, Fred became my living satire—participating in democracy and practicing free press with wit and defiance. And then came his son, baby boomer born and raised, Wolfgang. Once a long-haired gas jockey of the 70s, he now reigns as in my cartoons as Alberta's King Oil and Lube, carrying forward that mischievous lineage with crown, comedy, and play—as heir to satire, authority, and resistance.
Art is Freedom
Black History Month
I paint in public spaces and invite anyone—young or old, passerby or regular—to pick up a brush and join in. My work documents civic life through art, humour, and shared ritual, turning public places into studios and everyday moments into communal stories. Along the way, I doodle and quick‑draw narrative threads that explore faith, democracy, and nature across government spaces, places of worship, and the forest.
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Pop pop Dazzled by Everyday
Cut-up Technique on YouTubes
