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