tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172391322010-03-05T14:31:14.320-05:00Mary Calarco is a visual artist living in Guelph, Ontario. Typically, her sparse ramblings are about the creative process, art, craft, design and the quest for inspiration.Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-72262620803654792112010-03-05T14:18:00.004-05:002010-03-05T14:26:40.312-05:00

I'm just a little excited about the exhibition I'm organizing...

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-77142738010419073312010-01-28T09:05:00.005-05:002010-01-28T10:56:09.498-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-82761251921357325942009-06-07T13:50:00.003-04:002009-06-07T13:58:32.066-04:00

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!

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-89935771030724441392009-06-06T21:10:00.003-04:002009-06-06T21:19:37.638-04:00

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.

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-58375661491009785062009-06-06T21:06:00.001-04:002009-06-06T21:07:10.848-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-2657134565669248702009-05-29T23:55:00.002-04:002009-05-31T21:44:52.501-04:00

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?

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-8700884313951876422009-05-27T20:57:00.000-04:002009-05-27T20:58:06.593-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-54586896903516942742009-05-20T22:29:00.004-04:002009-05-20T22:41:00.858-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-5063509663368559382009-05-19T09:07:00.002-04:002009-05-31T21:43:55.768-04:00

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!

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-4190134605945826982009-04-29T17:56:00.000-04:002009-04-29T17:57:10.314-04:00

...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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-67776515446722275572009-02-25T10:16:00.006-05:002009-02-25T11:17:31.062-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-6910722668673639552009-02-24T08:23:00.005-05:002009-02-24T10:04:06.477-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-22333414594636337912009-02-20T16:07:00.000-05:002009-02-20T16:08:11.828-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-54262900851334264342009-02-04T19:09:00.004-05:002009-02-04T19:25:00.854-05:00

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...

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-25939562643739663832009-02-01T19:25:00.002-05:002009-02-01T19:54:33.633-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-78766563432871304832008-11-14T10:06:00.003-05:002008-11-14T10:25:55.759-05:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-11260530750311284792008-10-24T12:56:00.004-04:002008-10-24T13:17:49.026-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-3949777107903251012008-10-22T14:00:00.008-04:002008-10-22T14:54:41.152-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-51697670568324957962008-09-26T13:30:00.002-04:002008-09-26T14:42:48.215-04:00

...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 cultureLearn about the various arts and culture policies Find out more about the candidates in your

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-56802263727649698572008-09-18T14:30:00.003-04:002008-09-26T14:50:47.115-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-33114305127381341882008-09-09T15:08:00.000-04:002008-09-09T15:08:46.272-04:00

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.

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-38935068166498275412008-08-15T22:50:00.000-04:002008-08-15T22:50:05.870-04:00

Play. Land. Magic.

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-73392505295397186562008-07-25T09:45:00.001-04:002008-07-25T09:48:15.413-04:00

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.

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-3571215318908019962008-07-19T14:04:00.003-04:002008-07-21T00:18:28.393-04:00

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

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17239132.post-77424221863636486192008-06-06T09:43:00.004-04:002008-06-06T14:35:50.407-04:00

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 '

Mary Calarcohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792241540764842369mary@marycalarco.com0