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?