New year.

Dear reader,

It appears as though I've been neglecting my blog. It's been almost 8 months since I've posted and well over two years since I've composed or created anything noteworthy. I could easily blame my absence on Twitter. The thought of writing an entire paragraph now seems a bit daunting since I'm so used to pecking out no more than 140 characters at a time.

I could also use my return to work as an excuse. It was a huge shock to the system at first, but we slowly carved out a new morning routine that included the pickle. Turn off alarm at 5:45am. Get out of bed at 6am. Shower. Get dressed. Nudge husband. Pull the wee one out of his slumber. Change diaper. Select outfit. Inhale breakfast. Blowdry hair. Look for car keys. Grab purse. Throw on coat. Look for car keys. Sprint to car no later than 6:57am. Hit all red lights. Swear like a truck driver. Speed into station at 7:06am...just in time to board 7:04 train. Spend the next 8 hours wondering how to survive another day of self inflicted torture. Dash out of office at 5:12pm. Curse the TTC gods for making my life hell. Run though Union Station like a maniac. Board the 5:40pm train. Arrive in Guelph after 7pm. Speed home. Catch the tail end of dinner. Bathtime. Storytime. Bedtime. Make lunch. Eat dinner. Contemplate suicide. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

So I dusted off the old resume and started looking for a new job that would allow me to work closer to home. After 8 long years with the One of a Kind Show, I finally made the very tough decision to leave. It's so easy to become your job and for your job to become your life. Certain work environments teach you that you must work nights and weekends. You must work overtime. You must work grueling hours and you must do whatever you can in order to get the job done. When you love what you do, you're willing to loosen the slack and make a few compromises. I bought into this mentality for many years with the logic that I was simply paying my dues and eventually all of my hard work, dedication, passion and experience would bring me acceptance, recognition and of course a higher salary to make it all worthwhile. I'm here to tell you that that isn't always the case. Do what you love and follow your heart, but listen to your instincts. If you aren't conducting yourself like a well run business, perhaps it's time to do a little reassessment. You probably deserve it more than you think.

So here I am, six months into my fantastic new job with the Ontario Crafts Council. Working from home, travelling across the region, meeting other OCC members and organizing lots of fantastic programs to highlight their talent and improve their business.

But this still doesn't explain my absence online. Theoretically, I should have more time to paint, to create, to share. But I've found that since I've become a mom, my ability to be poetic and thoughtful and contemplative have all but vanished. I'm far too practical. I don't view snowbanks the way I used to. I don't consider trees as deeply. I haven't had the urge to play around in the studio.

Which leaves me wondering when it will all come back again...

"Tea for Two"

This lively creation was a collaborative effort between spOtlighters Odessa and Gloria. They arranged paper, lipstick, teabag packaging and a transit pass on canvas. "Tea for Two" is clever indeed!

Of the Perfect Love

A bashful visitor shows off her mixed media creation at today's collaborative art-making session. "Of the Perfect Love" is absolutely beautiful...nice work! (once it's dry, I'm going to seal it with a resin topcoat) spOtlight festival continues through tomorrow...please drop by if you're in the neighbourhood! Details below.

See Something New

The owner of Snap Guelph dropped by our place this morning with his wife and son. His intention was to take some photos for spOtlight coverage, but I was able to lure all three of them over to my art making table. We were so busy creating a masterpiece that I forgot all about getting their names and taking their photo! Fortunately, Mr. Snap left his unfinished artwork behind, allowing me to add some finishing touches.

B.Y.O.B.

Bring Your Own Burlap…or an old T-shirt, scrap of wallpaper or even a cherished love letter to use as materials in a collage. Collaborate with me in my home studio as we work together to build a composition with textures and colours. All participants will have their artwork featured on this website following the festival.

Who?
Everybody who holds a love, interest or curiosity about artmaking.

What?
Pardon?

Where?
463 Woolwich Street, Guelph. North of London and south of Division.

Why?
Because creativity is more fun than a barrel o' monkeys. And because it's free!

When?
Saturday June 6 and/or Sunday June 7 between 10am-1pm

spOtlight how-to

The Ontario Arts Council has posted some very handy links on their site to help visitors plan their spOtlight weekend. 135 free arts events in 5 cities over the course of 3 days can be a bit daunting, but they've made it very easy to plan ahead.

If you'd like to know what's going on in lovely Guelph, simply go to the spOtlight website and click on the Guelph Brochure to download the map with complete event details. Kitchener? Waterloo? Cambridge? Stratford? Same thing! Surprisingly, it seems as though Kitchener is leading in terms of hosting the largest selection of activities in the smallest number of locations. (less travelling = more art!) How very efficient...it must be the germanic influence.

Survey time

Guelph artists, where do you find your inspiration? UofG librarian Pat Eaves-Brown is currently working on a project to survey the information needs of practicing artists in the community. By completing the survey, you'll be assisting in the creation of an information website for Guelph artists.

Click here to participate in the research study

spOtlight

The spOtlight festival website went live this week, so I thought it would be a good time to let you know I'll be participating this year! SpOtlight is free three day arts festival taking place in Guelph, K-W, Cambridge and Stratford. With over 200 artists involved, it's an opportunity for the public to learn about and experience the arts through various creative activities. More details to follow!

Three Wednesday's ago...

...I found a seat on the crowded subway car, Yonge line southbound from Summerhill to Union. It was just after 5pm and the riders were anxious to get home. After a few minutes of sitting, I realized there was a scent in the air...familiar but distant in my memory. I finally recognized it as the scent of my mother. Not simply her perfume or her hairspray, but of her whole being. Like the waft of air that swirls between two bodies when someone gives you a giant hug. I breathed in the flour dust left on her apron after baking a batch of cookies. The smell of moisturizer that was kept to the right of the kitchen sink. The faint odour of cigarette smoke next to laundry detergent, dish soap and Fendi. The tarnished aroma of her gold jewellery. The unidentifiable smell of the garden mixed in with her happiness and optimism. I looked at all of the faces surrounding me, hoping to make some sense of it all, but nothing. Just a collection of blank stares and me with a giant lump in my throat. As soon as I exited it all vanished..

Rosalia Banet

By the time I reached grade 11 or 12, it had become apparent to me that I just wasn't like most kids. I had no interest in going to football games or joining the basketball team. I didn't listen to Bruce Springsteen or go to the SMH semi-formals. My friends and I wore black, hung out in the pool halls and listened to ska music. I'd go to the library to check out books by Leonard Cohen and Colin MacInnes. We weren't exactly viewed as normal. But things changed when I started going to OCAD. (or OCA as it was then known) I attended studio classes with women who wore tutu's. My peers preferred to their noses deep inside their sketchbooks than chat with the person beside them. Perhaps I was a normal human being after all.

Today I discoverd the artwork of Spanish artist Rosalia Banet (via Trend Hunter) and I'm once again feeling that there's nothing remotely unusual about me. In fact, I may even be a little bit boring.
On her blog Rosalia writes: "Last of all, I’d like to mention my most recent work, which under the name of “Carnicería Love” takes us to a butcher shop of human meat. The Carnicería Love (The Love Butcher’s) is a place where feelings are cooked. The women in Carnicería Love (in the photos, drawings and video) may, on first sight, appear to be preparing dishes with the bodies of other human beings. However, it is in fact, their own hearts that they pull out, chop, sauté and roast. In other words, they are cooking themselves."

Put your bib on and view one of her YouTube videos here.

Trial and Error

Welcome to day one of Trial and Error Day at the Calarco-Hurlbut household. My maternity leave ends in exactly 13 days, so lovie and I thought we should put our new morning schedule to the test. My alarm was set for 5:55am but alas, the internal clock for the wee one started to ring at a glorious 5:40am. I managed to shower, eat breakfast and get him up/dressed/fed by about 6:15 but I still had hair, makeup and wardrobe to visit. Sure, I may be able to get to the train on time, but it won't be a pretty sight. Anyone know if pajama bottoms are still fashionable?

I've been doing a few other things in an effort to get ready for work, like updating my Linked In profile, creating a Twitter account, getting my work email hooked up to my iPhone. So I'm starting to feel a bit more connected, but being back in an office environment will definitely be interesting...do I even know how to communicate with adults for 8 hours a day? Will my interludes of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean' be frowned upon? Will I get funny looks when I refer to myself in third person? "Mommy found a typo! Naughty, naughty typo."

Twitter has turned out to be really refreshing, and while I'm still feeling my way around, I'm starting to discover interesting people that educate and entertain. Designmeme in particular offers a great selection of links about online marketing and social media. I found him by simply searching for 'Guelph' on TweetScan.

Mobility

A grey February day in Guelph. The wee one is still napping so I
thought I'd take a crack at posting via email.

Tire tracks

So, it looks like I can snap a few photos with my new iPhone (thanks Santa!) but I can't upload the images directly onto Blogger. Sheesh! I guess I'll have to see if there are any apps out there...

December-January-February

Finally, some midwinter warmth! Today was a glorious plus 3 so the pickle and I wandered out into the sunlight, both of us smiling and squinting as we tromped through the snow. Actually, I did all the tromping...he was stuffed into the baby sling...but it was worth it just to hear the drip-drip-drip of melting icicles onto wet pavement.

Speaking of drip-drip-drip, Gareth Bate sent me a link to his new video, "Urban Honey Installation". I can only imagine what the clean-up was like...

Stuff

I've been frantically sewing and stuffing trees for my Artist Garden planter in Collingwood. My initial idea fell threw, since I couldn't find enough old garden tools to fill the space, but I'm quite happy with how the project has evolved. If all goes as planned, I'll be ready to install them on Tuesday.

They'll be in front of the Municipal Building until early March, so if you're up that way during the cold winter months, please take a gander and tell me how they're doing.

Gareth Bate

Ahhh, penance. Been there, done that.
But not quite as gracefully as Gareth...

Stepping stones

So, I signed up for a quilting course. Not because I'm a quilter. In fact, I don't know the first thing about quilting and I'm not even sure I'm that fond of quilts. But I love pattern and I needed a creative outlet that was at least a few blocks away from zee bebe. (ever try painting with an infant around? No, me neither. There's barely time to fold laundry let alone mix paint or stretch a canvas.) So this was my sneaky way of getting out of the house to exercise my brain. And as I found out last Thursday night, my brain has been on a big, fat holiday for far too long. Who knew quilting was really math in disguise? We spent three hours standing, measuring and cutting. Ugh!

Greenwood Quiltery's 'Stepping Stones' class description reads as "If you love batiks, this design produces a lovely quilt and is great for learning..." Shocker number two: not only have I never quilted before, but I kind of hate most batik fabric, so I opted to select my own with a great deal of help from the kind ladies on staff. We're going for something bright-cheery-modern that can be used in both the nursery and spare bedroom-studio-office. I'll keep you posted on the progression...

I vote for culture because...

...without it, we're no different than our pet gerbils. The Harper government has been on a bit of a hacking spree as of late, and the arts are feeling the pain. Shout loud, people. This one needs to be heard, and there are lots of ways to raise the volume as we near election day.

• Become a fan of culture
• Learn about the various arts and culture policies
• Find out more about the candidates in your electoral district (Guelph, Toronto, other)
• Let Margaret Atwood tell you why 'to be creative is, in fact Canadian'
• Send an email to the organizers of the National Leaders Debate to ensure arts and culture stays on the agenda
• On October 14th, get off your ass and vote!

Stumble

The wee one is teething, which means he isn't napping, which means I haven't really had any spare time to do silly things like surf the web. I used to spend hours online, hopping from one hyperlink to the next. Occasionally I'd stumble upon something bookmarkworthy like Stories From Space, Orisinal, Retrievr, or Whip Up. Most days I'd find something useless like the Acme Heart Maker but I'd still manage to get some enjoyment out of it. Now I look back at those days and it seems like I was conducting valuable research as a social theorist. I've got no idea what's happening 'out there' anymore. I didn't even know that 'Making Happy' had gone bye-bye. Sigh. Anyways, wee one currently sleeping and I've had the rare opportunity to do some stumbling:

• Andree-Julie Tardif
• Ellul Ceramics
• Jennifer McGregor
• True Up
• Danette Relic
• Write About Here

Studio visit

This morning, the wee one and I took a stroll downtown for his 6 month check up. (Yes, six months already! Hard to believe...I'm due back at my desk in about 181 days. Not that I'm counting or anything) Anyways, after a lovely visit with the doctor and nurses, we popped into the Red Brick Cafe for a nibble (mmm...panini) and then walked over to the Trafalgar Building to chat with Pearl Van Geest. I've been a fan of her canvases for years now, and the other day it occurred to me that I may be able to rent a painting instead of gawking at four bare walls. So she showed me what was available and ta-da! She's going to drop off a painting tomorrow! If any locals are interested, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre also has an art rental program. Perfect for those of us that are too darn afraid to commit.

Speaking of which...I also ran into Maria Pezzano who was busy working away on a new series. She'll be having a show at the MSAC show this February. Congrats to her!

Now if I could only get my butt in gear and do some painting...

Shadow

Play. Land. Magic.

Damn bird

The damn bird (and more importantly, the damn curtains) are finally finished. And what did I learn from this process, you ask? I discovered that I really suck at sewing. The finished product looks alright, but the process? Painful. If you'd like to give it a go, you can get the pattern at Spool Sewing or you can get inspired by wandering through the 'softies' patch over at Flickr.

Art on the Street 2008

Another toasty day for Guelph's annual "Art on the Street". It would have been nice to participate again this year, but I still haven't had any time to paint since the wee one arrived. Instead, I volunteered at the Info Booth with a few other Guelph Arts Council peeps, and then took a quick tour to view some work and chat with a few artists. I was very surprised to run into David Marshak, whom I haven't seen since my days at Arts on King/Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery. (which, he tells me, has just reopened in Toronto) David is still painting incredible landscapes...what a pleasure to see his work again. Kristin McDonald had a booth full of exciting organic shapes and lighthearted colour palettes. She's got a web presence on Etsy but you can also catch her in person at the One of a Kind Christmas Show this November. Another inspiring find was Ginger Coons. A group of pedestrians had gathered around her booth to watch her sitting on the road cutting out paper figures with an X-acto knife...oddly entertaining.

(top left and bottom right: David Marshak; top right: Kristin McDonald; bottom left: Ginger Coons)

spOtlight

Today marks the beginning of 'spOtlight', a three day festival to celebrate the arts in Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambride and Stratford. This new initiative, courtesy of Premier McGuinty, is being co-produced by the Ontario Arts Council and the provincial government. I love that artists outside of the GTA are being promoted, and if we're to believe the Status of Ontario Artists Act, the 'celebrate our artists' weekend will become an annual event across the province each and every June. (interesting that the dates coincide with Toronto's Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity, which also starts today)

A few of my spOtlight picks are as follows:

Guelph:

• Make Your Mark...collaborative painting at Whitestone Gallery (Fri 11-5, Sat 11-4)
• Improvise Your Life and the Music Will Follow...write, play and record your own songs at Jimmy Jazz! Yehaw! (Sat 2-7)
• Virtual Open House...with all the local artists at Guelpharts.ca (24/7)

Kitchener:

• Make a Ring...learn basic jewellery techniques at Cynosure Jewellery (Sat & Sun 11-3)
• Be a Star...and visit the video booth in Victoria Park, courtesy of CAFKA (Fri 7-9)
• Sword Fighting 101...at the Registry Theatre. Oh ya! (Sun 3-4:15 and 4:30 - 5:45)

Waterloo:

• Cities and Consciousness...witness Mark Kingwell and Bruce Taylor ponder the partnership of art and technology at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery (Sat 2-4)
• Hot Glass...beadmaking at the CCGG with Mark Lewis (Sun 1-3)
• Death by Chocolate...WHOO! Party at DQ! (Fri and Sat 7-10)
  

Get thee to a quiltery

I haven't felt much like painting lately, but after finding this really cute bird pattern on Spool, I've started to feel both creative and ambitious. (My sewing skills are pretty non-existant but I've got this great little sewing machine so I figure I might as well put it to work.) A throw for zee bebe? Curtains for the nursery? Who knows. I'm just anxious to make something other than breast milk. So yesterday, I packed up the wee one, along with my creativity and ambition, and the four of us wandered down to Greenwood Quiltery to check out their fabric. Yummy, I tell you! I've raved about their selection before...Amy Butler, Echino, Northcott, Free Spirit...but the fact that they're having a big sale this Saturday makes everything look all the better!

May

Crying, changing, rocking, sleeping, feeding, burping, crying, feeding, burping, folding...the hours fill up so quickly, you can easily be fooled into believing your daily rituals are insignificant, or that no time has passed at all. There is beauty to be found in these daily tasks...but I wasn't aware of them until I stood back to view the patterns they'd left behind.

April, fool.

The last three weeks have been like a wonderfully simple puzzle that I'm unable to put together. I see tiny snapshots of time, but I can't place them together to create a larger picture. Like this morning, when I was floating between awake and slumber, I heard birds singing outside our bedroom window. I have no idea what time it was, or whether I was supposed to be burping, changing or feeding, but the singing was beautiful and I was lucky enough to catch it. And moments ago, I found my abandoned coffee from this morning. I don't recall pouring it, adding milk or sugar, or even stirring, but there it was, waiting for me patiently seven hours later. This time vortex of motherhood has me living by the minute, and while the broader scope of the day/week/month is completely lost on me, I'm completely happy with these little chunks that will one day become memory.

Earth Hour...

...has come and gone. Luckily, I was breastfeeding and not diaper changing at the time, and my rechargable TykeLight was able to guide a few things in the right direction. I wonder if there were any power surges at 9pm when all the lights came back on...

Pickle!

The little pickle is finally here! Benjamin Everett Hurlbut arrived into this world in the wee hours of Saturday, March 8, 2008. 7 lbs 13 oz with blue eyes and light brown hair. His grand entrance was drug free with the assistance of some mighty forceful forceps. Mommy say 'ouch' and 'yay' spontaneously while daddy cried tears of joy. Oh, so cute!

Whether he's a gherkin, dill, bread and butter or sweet is yet to be determined...

Bounce

Baby seems to be quite happy with the current housing arrangements, which brings us to 5 days overdue. I feel great and the extra time has allowed me to mentally prepare for the big day, but I've been told this can't go on forever. At some point, I'll have to be induced.

Enter the beloved exercise ball. I perched on top of it last night and have vowed to bounce happily until gravity kicks in. If you're going to be bouncing for any extended period of time, I suggest you either be drunk, high or in possession of some very 'bouncy' music. Today, my song of choice happens to be "Concrete Love" by Habitat, but I think "Car 7" by The Barmitzvah Brothers would also be a fine selection. If you happen to have a stash of noteworthy bouncy tunes, please feel free to forward and I'll test them out.

Aside from bouncing, the day consisted of yet another visit to With the Grain, followed by a saunter through Greenwood Quiltery, and a few random pages of "Wreck this Journal". I was hoping to be a bit more creative during this down time, but my swollen hands are useless and methinks it'll be a while before they're back to normal.

Curves

Today marked the first official day of my maternity leave, so despite the fact that winter was raging, I decided to treat myself to lunch at With the Grain. It took quite a bit of work, hobbling down Woolwich Street through all that snow, but I figure at 39+ weeks, if I want a bowl of homemade soup I probably shouldn't fight the urge.

Upon arriving home, I was greeted by the sexy curves of the patio chairs that live on our front porch. (image courtesy of our new Panasonic TZ3) I'm still trying to sort out all the features, but so far it's one fantastic little camera.

November

It's the third Sunday of November, which means I'm doing lots of laundry and packing. Move-in for the One of a Kind Christmas Show starts tomorrow morning, so instead of making the daily commute into work, I just pack up and relocate to Toronto for two weeks. It's never easy leaving lovie and the comfort of home, but it means I get to sleep in, even after a 14 hour day.

The calendar also tells me today is the day for Guelph's Santa Claus Parade. A few hours ago, there were holiday floats and musical bands and festive pedestrians lining Woolwich Street. (Our house seems to be the starting point of the route, which allows for an entertaining sociological glimpse into the heart of Guelph. It's like the circus has arrived, I tell you) With all the laundry and packing that goes on, I've not once seen the actual parade, but I have a feeling we've got the best seats in town.

As of yesterday, I'm also 6 and a half months pregnant, which means those dang clothes being laundered and packed are very different from those of previous years. Empire waists and happy bows abound. I cringe having to shop at places like Motherhood, but as someone who was told her chances of getting pregnant were next to nil, I'll take it.

It's been a strange transition, going from an infertile statistic to mother-to-be. At times, I'm cautious about my joy because I know how many people out there have wished far harder than myself to have children. I also know that anything can happen and things can change at the drop of a hat. By the time I realized I was pregnant, my preparations for a life without kids had already been considered. I'd submit my BFA degree completion application to OCAD in early November, begin classes in the summer and wait to see what new opportunities came from the process.

A month or two ago, before the routine kicking had started, a thought suddenly hit me during rush hour. As I wove my way through the heaps of cranky commuters in Union Station, it occurred to me that I was actually carrying someone with me, that I wasn't alone. That realization seemed to turn the chaos to clarity, and for a split second my movement was effortless, like the waltz scene from The Fisher King. At that point I also realized that I should take an inventory of all the other things I'd been carrying around with me on a daily basis. Things like stress, worry and knapsacks full of obligation and fear of failure. Perhaps I didn't need to carry all of it...perhaps the load had gotten too heavy and some of those things simply needed to be left behind.

October

Queen West Art Crawl

Fog

Once I finished this piece, I asked lovie if he'd come up with a suitable title. Without hesitation, he said "Nuit Blanche", because it's misty quality reminded him of our all night escapade through the fog...

September

Let the frantic painting begin...

August

This month, I searched high and low for the perfect letter 'g'. While on my quest, I stumbled upon a podcast, ("Yo, G!) a brief history, ("The letter G made its official debut in 312 B.C.") and a passionate admission. ("The g is the most beautiful letter in the alphabet. No question.")

I finally settled on the first G I found in the recycling bin. With only two more days left in August, I figured I best move on and start rounding up some E's...

Sneak Peek

I haven't had the time to upload any new paintings in quite a while, but here's a sneak peek into what I've been working on...the structured blobs seem to be a nice contrast to the organic canvas, and I'm happy to say the two seem to be getting along just fine.

Art on the Street

Loads of artists, along with a few great bands to liven up downtown Guelph this Saturday, July 14th for the 5th annual Art on the Street. I'll be in booth #35, which appears as though it'll be on Wyndham Street near Budd's. Yehaw! Drop by to say hello, and to view a few of my most recent paintings.

Burrows - noon
Ambre McLean - 1:15pm
Ancient Chinese Secret - 2:45pm
Strawberry Apostles - 3:45pm

Additional details to be found here.

July

43

A while back I found an unusual 'call to artists' via Instant Coffee's email list...the Dawson City Arts Society was seeking volunteers to help them with their 'big picture' fundraising initiative. Interested artists who provided their address would be mailed a single plywood puzzle piece to decorate (according to the instructions provided) and return. Once all 400 pieces are completed, they'll form a big, fat surprise to grace the walls of the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture. I figured this may be the closest I ever get to the Yukon, so I signed myself up.

My piece arrived in the mail today, revealing the colour palette and design. I was sent piece 43, which turns out to be a fairly interesting number:Travels on the 43 Bus, Interstate 43, and of course 43 Things, 43 People and 43 Places. Can't be sure if any of that kooky business will affect my design, but time will tell. I've got one month to finish and return.

Wreck this journal...

...by Keri Smith. It's not very often that you get the go-ahead to make 'mistakes', but this gal is encouraging us to catalogue the whole process. Willy nilly. (Check out all these wacky people on Flickr, being reckless with their journals! I like this one, and this one, and this one, too.) Looks like far too much fun...I just may have to take her up on it.

June

June is the month that my garden explodes. Peonies, phlox, iris, allium, chives...the pinks, purples and whites look incredible against a leafy green backdrop. I only wish I could gather the best parts and put them on hold...they're already starting to fade.

It's also the time of year for mosquitos and bees, who find me to be well beyond delicious. If their love bites didn't make me puff up so much, I suppose I'd be able to find a way to appreciate them. A few weekends ago, I met an artist at the Riverdale Art Walk who creates incredible drawings based on the movement within the hive itself. Adrianne Rubenstein's 'beescapes' are fascinating and beautiful, and her large scale pieces made me feel just a bit guilty about my hardcore bee hate-on.

Reading

People ask me "what are you reading?" and I usually reply "this fantastic book by so-and-so...but I'm only halfway through, since I'm not exactly sure where I put it." That answer doesn't go over very well, and I'm reminded that it's not very nice to lose your books. But as of yesterday, if you were to ask me that question I'd answer "'No one belongs here more than you' by Miranda July." I first heard about it on Boing Boing last month, and after visiting the author's site, I just couldn't resist buying an advance copy of her short stories, which has turned out to be quite wonderful and unexpected.

In the 'recently located' category is Leonard Cohen's "Book of Longing", which guides me in and out of consciousness during my travels home on the train. He's one of those constants that has followed me around since high school without any encouragement or explanation. It's a mystery. Every few years he appears unannounced for a waltz around the room, and a little bit of navel gazing. (The Globe featured an interesting article on him this past Saturday...)

Mini blobs

Umbrella

A few years ago, lovie and I were visiting friends that live near Richmond & Niagara...just around the corner from all things good: The Paper Place, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Type, Chippy's. As we wandered along the south side, I noticed an oversized white poster with an enourmous typeface. Glancing at the first, slowing at the second and stopping to read the third, I finally realized that the posters were everywhere, but all were completely undisturbed. (remarkable...the only thing on Queen West free from grime, grafitti or attitude.) The anonymous words contained a sentiment that was so very Toronto, and I knew the posters would be ignored until they were noticed and destroyed, so I took the time to free one from its lamppost.

Umbrella

It's pouring rain and the streetcar is nowhere to
be seen. I have no umbrella and I'm soaked.
Standing at the end of the line, I try to retain
some dignity while I drip into my own shoes.
A businessman joins the line behind me. He is
impeccable and dry under his umbrella.
Without addressing me, he extends him umbrella
to shield me from the downpour.
I am suddenly overcome by emotion, so
unexpected and gentle is this act. I keep my head
down and stare at my sopping shoes to prevent
tears spilling down my already wet face.
I am barely able to mumble "Thank you."
After several silent minutes, the streetcar finally
arrives; we board, and I blend into the masses,
not even knowing what his face looks like.

This poster now hangs in the spare bedroom where I do all of my artwork. I suppose I cherish it because it reminds me of why I fell in love with Toronto, but also why I had to leave.

Blobs

A few weeks ago I bought a new sketch book in the hopes that I could capture some mid flight ideas that have been travelling around in my head. I go through these phases, these dry patches of non-inspiration and I can't squeeze an idea out of my noggin for the life of me. And then suddenly, I start imagining forms, patterns, textures, colour combinations and a new phase of painting begins. It's annoying as heck, especially since these bursts of inspriation are usually short lived, arriving in the fall/winter when I'm smack dab in the middle of my busy season at work. So anyways, I've got my new sketchbook and it seems as though every time I take it out, I'm confronted with these elongated blobs. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with them, but this seemed like a good place to start.

May

The merry month of May has arrived, bringing with it blue skies and a few ideas for some new paintings.

luminato.com

It seems as though a new 'Festival of Arts and Creativity' will be invading Toronto this June. With over 100 events in 10 days, Luminato's spectrum seems a little broad, but a number of things have me interested. (like floating artworks, a chat with Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass, warm up stretches with the National Ballet, and an interactive light sculpture down at Harbourfront) Their handy online festival planner allows you to build your own schedule and view daily events...an idea Nuit Blanche (both Toronto and Montreal) should adopt if they'd like to become more user-friendly.

"Luminato is an annual multi-genre celebration featuring theatre, classical and contemporary music, dance, visual arts, film, literature, and more. The festival will feature highly acclaimed World Premieres, innovative new work and unexpected collaborations that result in unforgettable creative moments."

Beautiful spring.

April

Showers...

Letras Latinas

Earlier this month, we dropped by the Cambridge Galleries to view "Elementary! Art from the Schools". How refreshing to view an entire room filled with pictures from a child's perspective. Braids that sit in mid air, stocky tree trunks with twigs, but no branches...The best part of all was finding our neice's piece on display. (YAY for her! Only age 6 and she's already had her first group show!)

Just across the street was another pleasant surprise. Letras Latinas: The Art of Typography, features new fonts from a variety of Latin American designers. I found my favourite, by Fátima Finizola, almost immediately. "Zabumba City " is made up of 26 landmarks (mainly architectural monuments) with each 'letter' perched ever so sweetly on top of a hill. When used to create words and sentences, the icons become an entire landscape of buildings. Very exciting indeed!

Scream...

...today at 12:30pm to welcome the arrival of spring! Or just scream because you're coworkers think you're too loud to begin with...

Side by each

Things were fairly quiet when we arrived in Old Montreal, but then mountains of snow fell and a full lunar eclipse took over the city, just in time for Nuit Blanche and the Festival Montreal en Lumiere. Jacques Cartier Pier was one of the highlights, with their fireworks, 120 meter long ice slide, trampolines, and trippy LED costumed greeters. (The hobo stations that allowed for plein air weenie roasting was also a nice touch.)

Other worthwhile stops during Saturday's all-nighter included a pipe organ marathon at Eglise Unie Saint-James, a gallery full of white doves at Edifice Belgo, an interactive shadow installation by Italian artist Mario Martinelli, and a visit to Wilder & Davis for 'Groundhog Sonata'. None of the photos are in focus, but somehow it just works. All is a blur.

Thanks to the guidance of Ed, Daniel/Jan and Matthew, we ate incredibly well. The whole time. Toque, Olive et Gourmando, Stash Cafe, Schwartz’s, le Cartet, le Frouvac, le Fromentier et Patisserie Fous Desserts…a whole lot of yum squeezed into one brief visit. Next year we'll know to pace ourselves.

March

In like a lion...

This morning, lovie and I are off on another Nuit Blanche adventure, this time to Montreal. It should be a spectacular weekend, since the event also coincides with the Montreal Highlights Festival, and the Air France Wine and Dine Experience. Giant omlettes, glow-in-the-dark skating, and all-night studio tours...c'est fantastique!

AA Bronson

I was pleasantly surprised with the AA Bronson's lecture at UofG last week. Immediately recognizable by his trademark beard, he was soft spoken and articulate. With an eager audience in front of him, I was a little curious to see how he would summarize his career, especially given his history.

(History, you ask? What history? Diana Nemiroff wrote a great overview on the Canada Council site, but let me see if I can give you a quick low-down.) After graduating from architecture school, Bronson, along with Felix Partz and Jorge Zontal, co-founded General Idea, a collective that created mass media art while addressing issues of identity, sexuality, and culture. Think Andy Warhol meets Marcel Duchamp with a few pink poodles thrown in for colour. Their stylized art campaigns sprang up in cities world wide, and as the trio hid behind the corporate identity of "General Idea", the AIDS crisis grew, eventually claiming the lives of both Felix and Jorge in 1994. After spending 25 years creating a mythical singleness of themselves, Bronson was forced to begin again, without his identity or partners beside him. I remember viewing the "One Year of AZT" installation at the Power Plant and being overcome by the scale of the work. Sickness can fill up a room, especially when it's an illness of that magnitude.

Bronson finally began to reclaim his life as an artist in 1998, and now incorporates his training as a healer into his exhibits. Some of it is a little bit out there, but I'm a straight girl living in Guelph, so what the heck do I know? What's interesting to me is how the question of 'identity' continues to follow him, and how he addresses it from such a different approach.

(if there are any New Yorkers who received a butt massage from AA last month, drop me a line and let me know how it went)

A new one...

...in honour of Groundhog Day. Despite how it looks, I'm cheering for winter.

February

Is it too late to send out my Christmas cards?

Longing, love and sentimentality

A mysterious message was delivered into my inbox yesterday, with a link directing me to this video about artist Carson Ellis. If you own any Decemberist albums, or have ever travelled to their site, you’re surely familiar with the her illustrations. There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about them, taking you back to a time when sailors battled the sea and women wore petticoats with pride. I now find her aesthetic inseperable from their songs…very rare these days, where the idea of album artwork has all but faded. I used to love spending Saturday afternoons in the record store, flipping through rows of musty vinyl. Rare Jam imports, Northern Soul compilations, limited edition New Order ep’s…my wish list was endless but when that lucky item finally revealed itself, nothing could stop me from rushing home for a listen. The ritual was to curl up on the couch with album in hand, intent on absorbing every lyric and liner note. That first encounter received all of my attention, and my eyes absorbed the visuals just as my ears absorbed the sounds. When I haul those albums out now, it’s like revisiting old family photos...

Jon Pylypchuk

"If I sat around trying to figure out what I was doing I'd never get anything done."

I'm new to the work of Jon Pylypchuk. In fact, I'd never heard of him until about a month ago when I googled Royal Art Lodge. Where the heck have I been, right? I suppose my knowledge of contemporary art started to fade as soon as I handed in my final paper at OCAD. Fine craft became my primary focus after graduation and now here I am, virtually oblivious to what's been happening in the art world for the last 11 years.

Pylypchuk spoke at UofG this evening for an hour and a half, but I'm still not sure what to make of him. It was certainly interesting listening to him recall his time in Winnipeg, where he spent his early days creating 'what art was supposed to be'. One more 'F' would have finished his university career, so he initially entered the fine art program to boost his average. He then began experimenting with wood glue and fabric scraps, created a cast of fuzzy little creatures, earned his MFA from UCLA and voila! He's gained international recognition creating ironic artwork with crazy titles. As one reviewer described, "Imagine a former Muppet maker down on his luck, homeless but still working with whatever raw materials he can find on the street, tapping into feelings of abandonment, hurt, rage and fear. That's the effect of Jon Pylypchuk's zany assemblages and collages in which vulnerable anthropomorphic animals struggle to survive a terrifying universe." When asked about the meanings behind his characters, Pylypchuk responded, "If I sat around trying to figure out what I was doing I'd never get anything done."

January

MMVII has arrived. Year of the Pig, International Polar Year, Craft Year 2007...the zoo-keepers will surely be busy.

January is making its annual attempt at being anonymous, but there's no way you can sneak past the radar when it's plus 6 outside. Luckily, I've got a few lectures to keep me busy while I wait for some snow to fall...artists Jon Pylpchuck, David Altmejd, and AA Bronson will all be speaking at the the University of Guelph's MacKinnon building. I've always been intrigued by General Idea so Bronson's appearance will be a highlight.

December

On a good day, December brings with it memories of fresh pine, smokey-sweet chimneys and the invigorating smell of cold. On even better days, you find yourself a noble tree to carry you through the holidays and into the new year. Shiny ornaments await...

Concrete thoughts

My visit to the TIAF last week was quite interesting, and while I found the majority of artwork to be on the safe side, I did manage to catch a few goodies. Susan Edgerley had a wonderful glass/wood installation in the Sandra Ainsley booth, and Durham Press was a delightful find, with their happy prints and grassroots approach to artmaking. Toronto-based Peak Gallery caught my eye, as did Gro Thorsen's oil on aluminum miniatures.

I usually wander through shows like this taking note of all that strikes me. Installation details, reoccurring themes, artist's names, colour combinations...details to excercise my own imagination. On that rare occassion, I'll stumble upon something that reflects the very ideas that have been floating around in my brain, but have yet to surface. It's astounding to come face to face with your own thoughts made concrete through someone else's creation. Earlier this month I finally caught The Science of Sleep, which illustrates this very idea perfectly. Its beauty left me speechless.

November

November is already a blur of wet leaves...

Elegant, subtle, serene...

Two weekends have come and gone. All of the labels have been removed from the plaster walls, and the business cards are back in their box, but I’m thinking of leaving the artwork up for just a little while longer. It’s nice to see something different on the walls. I sold one piece, have two commissions, and received some genuine interest in ‘what I do next.’

Last year, a friend generously agreed to get this site up and running in exchange for some artwork. (huge thanks, MLaF) In my mind, I had put aside a number of pieces for him to choose from, but they were never officially red dotted. (Until the last Sunday of the Guleph Arts Festival, when 4 separate visitors asked to purchase the same two pieces. Oopsy!) I finally noted them as spoken for, and agreed to further explore the ‘Under a blanket of snow’ series. Good timing, I think. White flakes are falling from the sky, just as I type this. Stay tuned for more framed creations…

What was interesting to me was to watch people as they entered my house. It’s an odd thing, to have strangers wander through your personal space, judge your creativity, peek at your family photos and check out your cd collection. Most stopped after entering the living room, just to take it all in. “Which way should I go?” “So, you live here?” “Wow, what a fantastic place to call home!” Some wandered randomly, while others immediately gravitated towards a single piece of artwork. It’s nice to witness that connection being made.

It was also interesting to take an inventory of feedback about my work. Over and over, I heard words like elegant, subtle, serene, delicate, soft and unique. I'm usually perceived as a stompy, prickly, tactless sort, so it's nice to know I'm able to articulate these things through my artwork. (yes, I am a cacti)

It's the last weekend...

...for the Guelph Arts Festival! Sadly, no blizzards are in the forecast. Drop in at for a visit any time between 10am - 5pm...directions to 463 Woolwich are to your right, and free street parking is abundant.

Come to Guelph!

We've got snow! We've got sleet! We've got sunshine! And we've got a whole bundle of artwork for you to view. Between the Guelph Arts Festival, the Guelph Studio Tour and the Trafalgar Building open house, there's at least 80 different artists for you to visit this weekend. (hmmm...why have three separate events fall on the same dates, you ask? Because a fragmented arts community is way more fun than a unified one! Yehaw!)

I'll be spending my days at 463 Woolwich (drop by anytime!) but if I had to create a must see list, it would include:

Ryan Price at Catch 23, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, and the E-bar: His disturbingly beautiful prints and illustrations can be viewed at three different venues, so you've got no excuse.

Pretty much everybody at the Trafalgar Building, which is just down the street from me. Tammy Ratcliff, Pearl Van Geest, Maria Pezzano, Chris Ahlers...the concentration of talent is astounding. Wear a helmut.

Jessica Steinhauser/Stonehouse Pottery. It's been a while since I've been to her studio, but she always has a fantastic selection of wares. I'm especially fond of her porcelain.

Baerbel Kirstein at 265 Woolwich Street. This delightful lady paints on anything and everything (lamps, dressers, upholstered chairs...) and every inch of the place she calls home is a magical playground of colour. Very refreshing, indeed.

October

There is a harmony
In autumn, and lustre in its sky...
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

October crept into being early Sunday night, with rain and mud and crowds of strangers wreaking havoc in the streets. All in the name of art. Toronto's Nuit Blanche was a complete spectacle and you couldn't help but love it. I hope my photos turn out...

J'ai fini

A few weeks ago, I met a lovely lady named Wilma at the Art Bites gallery in Waterloo Town Square. She had a selection of paintings on display, and one work of particular interest had been covered with a mammoth coat of clear resin. She was good enough to send me the product details (thanks Wilma!) and I finally found the time to use the goop this past weekend.

EnviroTex Lite is a two part resin that's primarily used to protect wood surfaces. It couldn't be any simpler than "measure, mix, pour" but I was a little wary of dumping it over my mixed media work on paper, especially since the materials were water soluble. With fingers crossed, I sprayed the work with a matte sealant, mounted it onto its plywood frame, and poured away. Et la voila! J'ai fini! I also used the same treatment for this piece, and the two look quite fantastic side by side. Pencil crayon, Speedball ink, acrylic paint and a whole lotta EnviroTex Lite on paper/plywood. What shall I call this one?

Sometimes...

...you just don't get what you've ordered.

In the works

I'm trying to minimize the hangups I have with creating less than perfect art. I hide my work until I'm ready to show it, and if I'm not completely pleased with it, it often gets scrapped. In effect, it takes forever for me to finish a piece. (Not-so-much good when you have an art show just around the corner)

Every now and again, I'll visit Keri Smith's blog to injest her insightful musings on creative living. She's a fantastic writer/illustrator with a great deal of wisdom, but sadly, I've yet to be convinced that a bad painting is anything other than a bad painting, even if it can be viewed as a stepping stone to something better. Does that make me honest or negative? I can't decide.

Part of the reason I began this blog was to encourage me to create more often, and to muster up the nerve to share those creations. It's been a slow simmer, but encouragement seems to be trickling in. This past spring, I received an inquiry from the AGH Rental Shop, and last week an invite from A.K. Collings Gallery to pop in and show them my work. (wow!) Karin from Whip Up was kind enough to link me on their site, as was Jen from Toronto Craft Alert. Perhaps once started, these things take on a life of their own.

(image above. not nearly finished. bold move)

September

I'm neither squirrel nor student, but Labour Day weekend always finds me eager to make preparations for the season ahead. My thoughts of sharp pencils, Chrysanthemums, and crisp leaves underfoot usually mean that autumn is just around the corner. Time to haul out the paint brushes, and find some inspiration. This time of year, a little Jim Guthrie or Hawksley usually does the trick.

Paula Gustafson

"… if I may, I'd like to take a moment to turn the spotlight to everyone who contributes time and energy to sustaining the arts — whatever way we do it. Those of us who make art also have the responsibility of being its stewards — of committing ourselves not only to achieving our individual goals, but to ensuring our arts organizations remain vital — to participating in cultural events — to encouraging and mentoring young artists, and — to remind our politicians, regularly, that art isn't about the bottom line — it's a hallmark of civilized society. Our success is measured not in what we get, but in what we give."

Paula Gustafson
(1941-2006)

August

August. August. August. August.

Colour

For me, the summer months are about as inspiring as that perky socialite from high school. Sure, there's endless enthusiasm and a golden tan, but very little substance. I've learned that I need a little more depth and intensity in order to be creative.

The warmer weather does tend to change my colour sensability, though, and I find my summer palette contains colours that I wouldn't normally work with. It must be all that sunlight. Before I travelled to the Mediterranean, I had heard that the intensity of the sun changes your colour perception. This was surely true in Greece, where the blues of the heaving sea seemed impossibly beautiful and I felt as though I should invest in an all-white wardrobe. Who needs the company of other colours when you find the perfect blue? The closest I've ever come to finding that 'Mediterranean turquoise' here at home is by peering into the waters of Tobermory. When the lighting is right, it's like discovering a gem.

Guelph doesn't have much blue to speak of, but her sunsets are outstanding. Perhaps that explains the hues of this latest piece...relief print, acrylic and pencil crayon on papier.

July

"One swallow does not make a summer."
~ Aristotle

"Cloud Gate"

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend an entire afternoon lounging around Chicago’s Millenium Park. The grounds themselves are quite fantastic (spanning almost 25 acres) but the highlight for me was seeing Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate”, a massive bean-shaped sculpture that seamlessly reflects the Chicago skyline.

Drawing its inspiration from liquid mercury, Kapoor's installation was constructed out of stainless steel plates so people could “see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work.” Brilliant, how the background comes to the forefront, allowing pedestrians to become active participants in the magnificent view that surrounds them. Best of all? Lone tourists never have to worry about being excluded from a photograph.

Simplicity

"Our life is frittered away by detail...simplify, simplify."
~Thoreau

My foundation year life drawing classes at OCA were fairly painful. Not because of my inability to draw, but because of my tendancy to gravitate towards the complexities. Instead of beginning with an overall gesture, I would focus in on the eyes, the lashes, the pupils, the cheekbone...before long, the three hours of studio time would be gone and I'd be scrambling to capture the 'big picture'. Paul Young, my instructor, was rarely impressed. (Then again, he also referred to non-artisans as 'civilians'.)

It's all too easy to become absorbed by the details. But after seeing this band perform over the weekend, I was reminded of how refreshing it is to surround yourself with simplicity.

June

June is 'bursting out all over the place'...

Riffs on Pattern

Last night I attended the last “Riffs on Pattern” talk that was taking place at the Textile Museum of Canada. This lecture series was an extension of the Textile Museum's “A Terrible Beauty” exhibit that I enjoyed so much, and when I heard that craft historian Sandra Alfoldy and artist Jeannie Thib would be speaking, I immediately signed myself up.

Sandra Alfoldy addressed the semiotics of pattern from a feminist perspective. Yikes, you’d think! But it was an incredibly interesting discussion about the social expectations that are reflected through specific patterns (ie Burberry plaid = traditional + English + upper class) and how various textiles read as visual signs based on our own perspective of the world. (what one interprets as oppressive may be viewed as orderly to another) Amazing, the amount of baggage one wee piece of fabric can carry! Both the production and consumption of woven patterns are still viewed as ‘feminine’…after all, tasks involving quilts and linens generally went hand in hand with the duties of motherhood, protection and utility.
(Alfoldy mentioned one artist/forensic anthropologist from the east coast who will be showing her repeat patterns based on the female pelvis. Keep your eyes out for Layola Leola Leblanc's "Pelvic Envy" exhibit this fall at the Mary E. Black Gallery in Halifax. Nice!)

When Jeannie Thib spoke back in April, she shared an overview of her career as an artist, emphasizing pattern and its connection to the surface. Her concepts are incredibly intriguing, and it was fascinating to hear her thoughts on how she relates materials to process to history to beauty to order to irony to scale…in her eyes, they’re all connected and must be considered during the creative process. This made me wonder about my own artwork and why I choose to work with the materials I do. How do those materials relate to the content of the piece? What connotations do they bring? Does the material relate to the setting in which the art is shown? So many questions.

Both lectures were quite a treat…I really enjoy this type of discourse, so it's unfortunate that they're so very rare.

(the image above is Jeannie Thib's "Folio #4" 1998, kozo paper, ink, thread, screenprint)

May

It's the perfect time of year to procrastinate, especially if your garden is as lively as mine. Endless hours can be spent pruning and weeding and fussing and transplanting...before you know it, the month is half over, and you've yet to finish that dang painting...

Bits and pieces

Even though I often refer to my artwork as mixed media 'paintings', they're actually closer to collage. I begin by adding thread or acrylic paint to a piece of fabric. The edges of the cloth are then frayed and I put the piece aside until I've got a large enough selection to fill a canvas. Once I've decided on a final composition, I secure the individual pieces to a stretched canvas and call it a day.

The image above shows a number of my recent, unassembled works. Some have been waiting to be used for over a year...I hope they aren't developing a complex. This process is time consuming, but it allows me to toss individual pieces of cloth directly onto the scanner instead of having to rely on a digital camera, and I'm able to play around with them before committing them to a canvas. (you may recognize a few of these pieces from my monthly headers...January, February, March, April...yes, very sneaky.)

April

April is an empty space waiting to be filled. Weather-wise, it’s one of my least favourite months, but the sparse gardens and light-filled skies seem to hold the promise of something new. Beneath all those muddy leaves, something incredible is just waiting to reveal itself. April also means I've got more time to air out my brain and be creative...

Beauty is...

...quite a preoccupation for us humans. We've got such a strong desire to not only look at beautiful things, but to fill our surroundings with them as well. Collecting, chasing, documenting, sharing, stealing, purchasing, creating... I wonder how many of us ever stop to examine the reasoning behind this quest, or ever think about our own definition of the word.

Toronto's Harbourfront Centre currently has a number of events that explore this very topic. One of the most impressive was Susie Osler's "Bloom", an installation combining delicate ceramic blossoms and dried out tree trunks. It was a wonderful example of natural beauty and how death and decay are inevitable and necessary stages of the life cycle.

The Textile Museum is also hosting an exhibition that examines our notion of beauty, and our compulsion to collect. "A Terrible Beauty" presents a staggering assortment of bugs, all of which are pinned delicately to the gallery walls to form incredible 'wallpaper' patterns. Symmetrical simplicity, subtle complexities...who knew bugs could be so breathtaking.

March

...is National Craft Month. Apparently I forgot to read that memo, but in honour of the event I'd like to share a few links:

Whipup - endless and informative.
Craftster.org - be sure to check out "craft gone bad" section.
Wool and Hoop - crewel embroidery goes funky! I purchased a few of these kits back in the fall of 2004 at Knitomatic on Bathurst. They make lovely gifts for little neices.
A Bird in the Hand - this gal (Lisa Congdon) has a wonderful eye for colour & pattern. I'm especially fond of her modbirds and her shadowboxes. Purdy.
Patricia Waller - just because

Graffiti Research Lab

Like any work of art, when graffiti is done well, it's a thing of beauty.

Now that the City of Toronto has heightened the bylaws under the Graffiti Abatement Program, I've been noticing more and more dreary patches of grey on the way into Union Station. All those colourful tags are being covered up by someone who clearly doesn't know how to handle a roller, and things are looking worse that they did 6 months ago. I usually like Mayor Miller, but I'm not convinced that this type of censorship (along with his anti-postering by-laws) will reduce crime.

Graffiti Research Lab's colourful answer to 'urban communication' is brilliant. Their LED Throwies video is a beautifully romantic approach to reclaiming public space. (Or, for something a little more punk rock, check out the Electro-Graph.) Let's hope this NYC idea catches on up here...

Ideas

You never know when the next great idea will fall from the sky, so I rarely go anywhere without a pen or paper. (I used to come up with some brilliant thoughts lying in bed at night but it really started to cut into my sleep time, so now I try to schedule my brainwaves between 6am-10pm.)

This past Friday I was wandering around the Interior Design Show, penless, paperless, and full of thoughts that needed to be documented. I’m not sure what brilliant ideas were lost at IDS but I’m quite sure most of them hit me in the Studio North section. Ken Gangbar, Pascale Girardin, Arounna Khounnoraj, Tanya Lyons…all of these artists are so innovative in their use of materials, and I find it very refreshing to view traditional craft mediums in non-utilitarian ways.

“Design Bungalow” seems to share a similar aesthetic and has written very eloquently about three of the artists mentioned above. Have a peek…
(pictured above is a paper wall sculpture by Khounnoraj. And yes, the photo was stolen from her website.)

Somewhere between Guelph and Georgetown...

...the train passes through a tree-lined corridor with banks rising up on both sides of the rail. The individual trees that populate this stretch are quite tall and slender, but because they're so densely planted, an intense vertical pattern is created as the train whizzes by. It's especially interesting in the autumn when the whoosh of the train disturbs the fallen leaves, creating a cyclone of colour, or this time of year when the ground is covered in white. The thin silhouettes look like slash marks made with a calligraphy pen. I always make a point of raising my head along this stretch...it's always worth a look.

A few flakes for inspiration

Inconspicuous snowflakes have been falling from the sky all day. The kind of snow that only seems to exist on the set of a movie...sparse and weightless, as though time is somehow moving in slow motion. It adds a certain sense of grace to the landscape and I could stare out the window for hours.

The last time we had any sort of reminder of winter must have been back in December. I recall driving along the 401 on Boxing Day, thankful to be sitting in the passenger seat as gigantic, chunky flakes flew into the windshield at hyperwarp speed. Yum!

February

We've got Black History Month, Library Lovers Month, National Condom Month and National Wildbird Feeding Month. Throw in a few groundhogs and a box of chocolates and you're all set.

A new one...

...that I finished today. My first canvas of 2006, in fact. It's a commission piece for the gal that bought this one. Providing she likes it, that is. :)

Artist Trading Cards

Originating in Zurich in 1997 the Artist Trading Card project was initiated by M. Vänçi Stirnemann as a “collaborative cultural performance”. That may sound a bit hokey, but the premise is simple; individuals create original works of art within the confines of a 2.5 x 3.5 piece of cardstock and they gather with other card producers in order to trade. For whatever reason, this idea has grown into an ongoing global event.

I began participating back in 2003 when the monthly exchanges were being hosted over at the Ontario Crafts Council. I wasn’t painting at the time and I found it kept my imagination active while I coasted through my dry spell. The sessions also allowed me to meet with other creative types that sat outside of my realm of experience. Fibre artists and furniture makers, painters and computer geeks, housewives and college kids…it’s quite a diverse group of strangers, which is exactly what makes it exciting. You wouldn't believe some of the crazy cards in my collection.

Toronto ATC sessions are now held over at the Gladstone Hotel on the third Wednesday of each month. All are welcome, trading is free, and no one takes attendance. I created the four cards above a few days ago in an attempt to muster up some snow. You can view more of my ATC creations here or you can search all of Flickr to view those created by others.

January

January is a lot of things. Still. Contemplative. Bare. I find it's a great month for anyone looking to dive into a deep think.

And according to some, January is time to prune and plant roses.

What a wonderful wintery day

There's no snow but that's okay...

Relief prints

Since I've started to collage relief prints onto my paintings, I've received a number of questions about the process. I think most people find it all very baffling but it's no different than good ol' potato stamping. (sorry to shatter the illusion, kids!) My carving surface of choice is Softoleum which is relatively inexpensive and because of its soft texture I find it quicker to carve than wood or linoleum. (and safer...the psychological wounds left from my recent linocut injury now prevent me from ever touching the stuff again)

Simply carve your design into the surface (I use Speedball carving tools) and you're good to go. This is a good example of how a print looks on canvas, but paper tends to give you a crisper image, and you'll use less ink.

This particular repeat pattern was inspired by William Morris. The actual stamp I carved is pictured above. (it no scan so well, but there it is)

Frosting

My morning train rides into Toronto are quite lovely this time of year, and the views are always a welcome distraction. Sometime last week, Guelph sank into a bit of a deep freeze, and it seemed as though everything in sight had been sprinkled with winter’s fate. If edible, I imagine each bit of crisp landscape would taste as delicate and delicious as carmelized sugar.

SNOW!

It's no secret to anyone who knows me...I'm all about winter. So when I awoke this morning to find mounds of the soft, white, fluffy stuff, I could only jump for joy. Snow is one of the only things that makes winter bearable.

So to celebrate...I give you snowflakes and creativity, together at last:

Make-a-Flake : (seen above) virtual paper, virtual scissors...the only thing that's missing is a toboggan and Bailey's. Try it out!

TypeFlake : much more sophisticated than the above, a marvel to play with, and just plain brilliant. If you're a font freak like me, you'll love it. Email your creations to all your friends who hate winter. With any luck, you just may convert them.

(if Santa brings me a scanner for Christmas, or a digital camera, I can get back to posting real artwork)

What November looks like...

...on the days I work from home.

'Under a blanket of snow' series

When I began painting again this past year, I realized that I was going to need some help...the idea of starting from nowhere was giving me way too much grief, so I tore up bits of unprimed canvas as though they were scraps of paper, and just started making marks. This seemed to alleviate some of the pressure, and it allowed me to work quickly without worrying about the final product. Those renderings were never intended to be final pieces but they've turned out to be some of my favourites. They became the "Under a blanket of snow" magnet series, shown above. Two layers of unprimed canvas were mounted on 2x4 giving them a nice chunky depth when hung on the wall.

The images themselves were inspired by my new surroundings in Guelph and the journal entries that were written during my early morning journeys:

"There is a certain peacefulness in the air. Even the harshest details (like bad architecture or abandoned cars) become softer under a blanket of snow..."

I'd like to play around with the idea of presenting these pieces as an interactive installation...

More red dots

Two more pieces of artwork sold this weekend, and I was able to visit with family, friends, neighbours, strangers and even co-workers that drove in from Toronto to see my work and to show their support. (Not only do I love my job, but I love the people I work with. How freakishly lucky am I?!)

Despite the frantic preparations, it was another great weekend and I'm really glad I participated in the Guelph Arts Festival. But now, it's back to reality. Artwork down, labels removed and CV packed away. The empty mugs and cheese platters are ready to be washed in the bathtub, the microwave is in the living room and lovie is busy scraping lead paint from the basement doorway. It's so nice to have things back to normal.

Red dots

Last Sunday, two quiet strangers from up the street dropped by to view my paintings. We chatted briefly about my art and the neighbourhood, and then they were off to visit a few other studios downtown. Later in the day, they reappeared to make a surprise purchase of "Bare Branches" and "Trees"! They happened to be celebrating their anniversary and it's become a tradition of their's to mark the occasion with something handmade. What can I say...I'm honoured by their choice! So, happy 6th, Jill and Simon! I know these two are going to a good home.

(interesting...the modern anniversary gift for year #6 is wood...I wonder if they saw the connection?)

Guelph Arts Festival, 2005

October 15 & 16
October 22 & 23
If you'd like to view my paintings, meet me in person or snoop through my medicine cabinet, I suggest you pop by for a visit.


463 Woolwich Street (in between Clark and Clarence for the locals)

(from Toronto take exit 299/Brock Road into Guelph. It's a straight line to my house, but if you're still not sure, perhaps you should visit Mapquest)

The weekend is here!

I'm a little nervous about hanging up my artwork. We've spent so much time patching, scraping, sanding, priming and painting...the last thing I want to do is haul out the hammer and start making more holes in the plaster walls.

Once the electrical outlets are installed in the kitchen, we'll be able to move the fridge out of the living room (!) and free up some wall space. Yehaw! The GAF visitors arrive tomorrow morning at 10am!

Let the clean-up begin

Drywalling complete. Bricks in place. Doors and windows set. This is good, since the Guelph Arts Festival begins in just over a week. Now if we only had that thing called a 'floor'...