Show Prep

This week I am down in Fort MacMurray, AB prepping and installing my show - Silk Caravanna   - that will be on display here for a month.  I am installing eight 39 FOOT panels to create a giant lantern as well as creating 24 3D silk butterflies.  We are at 2 days to set up....

I'll post progress photos as we go along....

Craft vs Art a final solution?

In the UK, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are currently proposing dropping craft from their list of creative industries. "We recognise that high-end craft occupations contain a creative element, but the view is that in the main, that these roles are more concerned with the manufacturing process, rather than the creative process.".  This in effect removes craft work from funding opportunities, drops the value /price of high end craft work and otherwise ghettoizes crafts in the arts community.  This concerns me.

Here are the 5 key questions that have been created to determine if your work qualifies as creative work.... 

1. Novel process - Does the role most commonly solve a problem or achieve a goal, even one that has been established by others, in novel ways? Even if a well-defined process exists which can realise a solution, is creativity exhibited at many stages of that process?

 2. Mechanisation resistant - The very fact that the defining feature of the creative industries is their use of a specialised labour force shows that the creative labour force clearly contributes something for which there is no mechanical substitute.

3. Non-repetitiveness or non-uniform function - Does the transformation which the occupation effects likely vary each time it is created because of the interplay of factors, skills, creative impulse and learning?

4. Creative contribution to the value chain - Is the outcome of the occupation novel or creative irrespective of the context in which it is produced; one such context being the industry (and its standard classification) of the organisational unit that hosts or employs the role? For example, a musician working on a cruise ship (a transport industry) is still creative while a printer working within a bank is probably operating printing technology and hence would be considered mechanistic and not creative.

5. Interpretation, not mere transformation - does the role do more than merely 'shift' the service or artefacts form or place or time? For instance, a draughtsperson/CAD technician takes an architect's series of 2D drawings and renders them into a 3D model of the building. While great skill and a degree of creative judgement are involved, arguably the bulk of the novel output is generated by the architect and not by the draughtsperson.

 Hmm, let me ask these questions of MY "craft" work...

Hand painted/dyed silk scarves - no, yes, yes, yes, yes

Wet felting - no, no, yes, yes, yes

Ceramics - no, yes, yes, yes, yes

But what if my work was...

Bulk dying of silk - no, no, yes, no, yes

Wet felting "blocks" for other purposes - no, no, no, yes, yes

Making purses from felts - no, no, no, no, no

Ceramic bowls - no, no, no, no, no

Interesting.

New group show opens tomorrow

I am excited to be one of the invited artists in this show opening tomorrow...

I have two pieces - one in the main gallery and one in the black light gallery.  here is a bit more about each one...

Poison Patch

Materials: Hand felted fish, knitted plastic shopping bags, wood tray and hand-dyed simulated roe

Inspiration: The plastic of the great pacific garbage patch is slowly killing our oceans.  Many fish are trapped beneath the patch and although they continue to spawn, their roe dye from lack of nutrients.  There is no hidden story here.

This is an interactive piece.  Over the duration of the show, the simulated roe will dry up to further the point of life erosion.

Atlas Shrugs

Materials: hand-felted wool globe, plastic army men.

Inspiration:  Recent news of North Korea and other nations building and or/rebuilding weapons stores and continued military presence around the world had me thinking of a world with no army men.  Could we survive?  Do we stand on their shoulders  or do we dye from their wounds?

Pictures will follow after the show opens...

Heritage Art Show

The City of Yellowknife holds a themed Heritage Art Competition each year.  Last year I was honoured to have my piece selected for purchase by the City for their permanent collection.

This year the theme was immigration and I submitted a wool and tin sculpture called "Stasis".

I am very pleased to say that again the City has purchased my piece for their permanent collection and it will be on display at the Public Library.

New residency - at home!

After reading a lot of art bloggers talking about how hard it is to stay focussed on their art - especially as Spring approaches - my friend and fellow artist Pat Moore and I decided on a unique way to challenge ourselves.  We have decided to participate in an arts residency - IN OUR OWN STUDIOS!

I can easily recall how motivated and focussed I was during last summer's residency in Alberta so I thought I would see if I could reproduce that - and in fact make it a habit.  And, what better place to develop good habits than in your own studio!

Here are the "terms" we decided on:

March 1- April 15

• Make a finished piece of art weekly
• Explore 1 new medium
• Produce 1-2 “showable” pieces by end of term
• Teach the others something new (or help them learn – ex links )
• Complete at least 1 series
• Diary daily on experience
• Make a plan for future learning/art experiences
• Produce work for sale
• Identify places to submit art for shows etc.
• Produce work for upcoming shows – AAS, Iceolation, HWSDA
• Create a joint project

Personal goals

• 6 felt art purses
• 6 ceramic pieces
• 6 silk art works
• Items for the following shows
• Iceolation
• YKARCC
• AAS
• HWSDA
• Grandmothers
• Create a master plan for shows
• Create a plan and timeline for hard/soft body of work and start on 2 pieces
• Create marketing/promotional plan and pieces
• Create residency plan
• Figure out how to link/use blogs/twitter/facebook better
• Finish 6 “left over” projects.
• Attend all arts mentoring/crit training sessions

So what do you think?  Doable?  We'll see - I am up for the challenge!  I will be posting progress updates daily on my studio blog....and posting completed pieces here  - stay tuned.

Does A Piece of Art Need A Title?

From an artist I admire....

"When I go to galleries and see a work titled as "Untitled 1", etc. I often wondered what goes through the mind of the artist? Surely the artist must have some kind of idea what the piece he/she is producing.

For me, the title of my work drives the entire process; from initial concept to sketches and the actual piece. For me, the title is an important and integral part of how I work. The story of the piece lies in the title. It is kind of like a hidden code or message from the artist to the viewer. If you can "crack" the message of the title, you have delved into a deeper part of the piece and to me, you have made a connection with the artist."

Anthony Foo

www.antjhfoo.blogspot.ca

I so agree with this thought - I cant imagine any other way - although I sometimes get flack from other artists that believe a piece of work should speak for itself.  not me!  I believe every piece has a story to tell and its my job to help it be "heard" by tehe viewer, and if a title helps, so be it!

Natural Dying

Just finished an intensive week with Charlotte Kwon of Maiwa in Vancouver.  We went through natural dying from a-z and ended up with an amazing book of samples of many natural dyes on cotton, silk, linen, hemp and wool with various mordants and overdyes.

If that wasnt enough we got to work on some of our own projects under her guidance - boy was that a treat!

My greatest thrill was being able to make some intensive "dye paints" from these natural sources so I could maintain my signature style but with these organic, historic, "safe" dyestuffs.

On the horizon is a project where I will combine the dyes, the materials and the patterns of a historical region or group with a post modern twist.

Check out Charlotte's website at Maiwa...

Pottery class...

So, I signed up for a pottery class and just picked up my final pieces.  While the other students made mugs, bowls, creamers and the like, I  "followed my muse." (smile)  In my life, this usually translates to "I made something weird". Take a look....

So what do you think?  Perhaps crab meets turtle?   Perhaps anemone meets ...?  I think it definitely looks sea creaturesque.

Art Show in Calgary next weekend

If you are in Calgary next weekend, check out the Women's Art Museum Society of Canada's fall Art Show and Sale.  I will have 6 pieces in the show - including two new "cowboy art" pieces.  I am recently fascinated with this genre of art and thought it appropos for Calgary!

New Group Show Opening tomorrow...

Excited to be a part of this new show opening in Yellowknife tomorrow...

While I am neither "hot", nor "young" <smile> , I am part of this show because of some of the new media techniques I have been incorporating into my work.

I have 3 pieces in the show - 2 are fibre-based but built with a digitly altered photo printed with a new digital fabric printer.  The other is a copper piece printed using plastic on a new style of "transfer".

All 3 pieces were great experiments and I am super happy with the results. I am finding I am staying within my "style" which may mean I have found it!

I am also very honoured to be amongst the other artists in the show.

Here is a sneak peek at one of the pieces:

"Unravelling"
12x12
dye, silk

Busy as artist, busy at other.

This time of year is a busy time for me in my "other" capacity as a corporate trainer, consultant and professional facilitator.  Usually this means my art practice is on hold until mid December or so.  This year I am trying something different....

Having had so many great experiences in art over 2012, I have decided to try to make sure I keep "art in the every day".

I am entering group shows and contests, working on three (yes three!) different bodies of work and planning a solo show.  Also, I have been so busy in my "business" in the past, I have neglected the "business" of my art - so I am also updating my collaterals, improving my cv and connecting with like minded artists and galleries around the world.

And I am committed to doing this every day while working a little more than  full time in my "other" capacity.

Now before you tell me I'm crazy or I'll burn out - I have been doing this for a month now....

... and I love it!  It is energizing and motivating to "art" everyday and I think it helps me stay energized in my "other" role.  The only negatives?  I have no idea whats on tv and I am tending to eat out a lot more.  So be it.

Here's a couple of photos from my most recent group show.  The "Anonymous" show at Down to Earth Gallery. 100 6x6 canvasses created by artists who committed to keeping their authorship secret until purchase.  This photo shows  two pieces I have on display.  Guesses?

Oct 7, 2012  The show has closed so I can show you which ones are mine now.... did you guess?  These 2 pieces are a departure from my fibre art but I guess its indicative that I think of myself as an artist first and the medium second...

...here is "Giant" and "Legacy".  "Giant" is a copper tooling of closed YK GIant Mine with a black patina added to represent the black legacy of the mine. "Legacy" is gold leaf, rhinestones, black texture gel and rocks from the Canadian shield from the shores of Prelude Lake.  Together they represent the North's legacy to us.

back from Residency

Thank you to Fort Chipewyan!  I am back from a month in this tiny community on Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta and I must say have been moved and inspired by my experience.  First some shots of this beautiful community...

Lake Athabasca

Transportation

Tradition

Modern application

The site of the first fort 

The location, environment and local issues all played a part in inspiring my work.  My studio was located in the town hall and afforded both time and space to be exploratory and creative.  In total, I produced 35 showable works of which 29 will be featured in a group show Sep 6-30 in Fort MacMurray, AB.

Although I have always produced "pretty" work, this residency helped me realize that it is the stories that drive my work - not the look of the finished piece or even the process of creation. I am moved to tell stories through my art and it is this expression that is the most fulfilling for me.  Once the story is told and the piece is finished - I am happy if the appreciator can find the story but equally happy if they just like the work.

I was able to share my time during this residency with a fellow artist, Alisdair Macrae.  Alisdair was also an inspiration and his work and medium has excited me to new directions.  Since I am used to working alone in my studio, I was quite amazed at how much I came to rely on his critiques and feedback and enjoyed his quirky character - my growth as an artist can be partly attributed to him as well.

A heartfelt thank you to all who made this possible - the folks who set up the residency, the people of the community and my husband who helped me free my time to do it.

Challenging self...

This last week I took a course with our local Quilt Guild - now, I am NOT a quilter, do not like the art of quilts myself (although I can admire them and understand why others love them).  So I was hesitant about this course from the get go but two of my favourite fibre art friends would be taking it and I figured I should consider expanding my horizons.

The course was called "Serendipity Quilting" which also sounded way too touchy-feeling for my liking but I forged on - with low expectations.  Turns out, I was completely inspired and transformed by this class and the instructors way of looking at fabric and "painting" with it.  Good lesson for me to widen my horizons and broaden my "definitions' of fibre art...


Susan Carlson was the artist/instructor.  Here is some of her work...


Her work is definitely amazing and definitely quilting - but her work with light and shadow is what transfixed and transformed me.

With her help, and working with my own silks, she let me modify her techniques and shared some of her great "painting" secrets with me....Here is what I started with.  The second is the same fish on the background I hand dyed...

my dyes...mmmm

As I mixed up these dyes the other day, I realized just how much I love how they work their magic on silk.  They are unpredictable, sometimes misbehave and definitely have a mind of their own  - there is no paint that can claim that! I love being a dye artist!

getting motivated....

With the busy summer art season looming and TONS of deadlines to meet, I find myself dragging my feet.  I cant seem to find the where and witherall to get painting....as a "mature" artist, I must say I have mastered the art of procrastination while still a novice at my other forms of art!

So today, no art - just organizing.  Cleaning and sorting my workspace and packing my "go bag" (reference to Criminal Minds for fans of the show).  maybe tomorrow will see action....