A follow on piece

In my worriment about finding a parking space near Art Central, I found myself in possession of a simple sketched map by Susan.
I worked into this later with pen and paint, lettering and  shapes that I noticed had been sprayed on the pavement (=Canadian sidewalk) around Art Central, as well as oil company jargon/phrases that I heard as I commuted with others in the morning light.  I feel rather self-satisfied with this ?quadryptic and it is nice for the memory.

De-briefing Worked Up

Thank you to all the artists and everyone who helped make this happen.  A nod to you, Jason, at this point.

We showed for 5 days.  And 87 people saw the show in total. Even though first Thursday was just before Thanksgiving we still  had almost 60 people visit that night.    So congratulations to everyone for bringing your work to so many.  Not bad for the little show that could.  

For those contributing artists who do not live locally and couldn't attend the show, here are the notes from the comments book and a few photos of our studious audience.  For privacy I have reduced the names of authors to initials or first names, if you need to know more please get in touch with me.

"This is a lovely exhibit (L.R.)
So inspiring. Would love to see more by these people.  Interested in info about SDA (Sharon)
Such a diverse collection so individual and inspiring!  Thank you! (L.B.)
Beautiful pieces... So inspiring (K.W.)
The variation from/point of inspiration is fascinating.  Love the medium and v. glad that traditional women's tools are part of it. (G.T.)
Really inspiring work - makes me want to rush home and start working - (W.K.)
Nature : Not Nature reflects it all. Well Done All, Groetjes ! (J & C)
Hey Judy, Great work as always! Also loved the Poppies and other artists (Jude)
Hi Judy, Love your pieces! Missed seeing you, looks like you are having loads of fun! (Caroline)
What a lovely show!  The space looks great and the works are beautiful - congrats!
Keep me posted on your next fibre adventures- (Sarah)
This is great.  I love the fibre showcase and the different use of canvas. (J.F.)
Sorry I didn't get my act together to take part Great Show (T.I.)
Really enjoyed the exhibit.  Thank you so much (C. J.)
Such inspiration Thank you so much for sharing your amazing work (Sharon)
Thank you for such unique works! Very imaginative (Diane)"

Images of all the works are shown clearly on my dear friend Arlee's blog. No point reinventing the wheel is there.

And finally, thanks to everyone who visited the show.
I was thrilled to be a part of it and meet such interesting and clearly interested people.
Thanks again to everyone who made it possible.

If you live in Alberta and are interested in having your work shown please get in touch with me and, in my capacity as representative of the Surface Design Association, I may be able to help.

Day 1 at Worked Up

Very pleased to say we did have visitors today, even though it is very quiet at Art Central mid-week.  First Thursday should be a lot busier.
For those participants who can't get here (Calgary) to see the show themselves, I have put up some images showing general views of the gallery space (they are not supposed to show you the pieces for critique).   More images will follow as folks come in to take photos of the works.  I am hoping Arlee will post about the show on her blog, she takes great shots....

Going around the gallery in a clockwise sense... Looking towards the back wall you see almost one half of the gallery space ie.,  the left hand wall and one plinth.

 Left back wall, lighting is a bit severe on your upper piece Michelle, I will attempt to change that.

Right back wall

Looking towards back wall: Plinth and right hand wall (part of)

What's on the right wall (entire)

Into the L-shaped alcove... It is better lit than this image shows, Anne, don't worry.  Saaraliisa, those are your pieces on the right behind the plinth.  They have plenty of space and work well with Michelle's opposite.

We should all be tremendously thankful to Linda Hawke who hung the show and worked long and hard yesterday after I had abandoned her for my family duties.  I think it looks stunning.  It is amazing what time, energy and filler can do with a tired looking space.  Not to mention 4 spot lights!

One more for the show tomorrow

Nature : Not nature

Karin Millson 2012

hand made papers, potassium premanganate dye, rust dye, found fabric, stitch, ink
on acid free board

Price $160

What of these, - "What does it matter" - pieces ?

Following a new philosophy, I am giving these small pieces the names Nova I and Nova II.
They are for sale with the price tag - "Donation to a charity of your choice."

 Nova I      karin millson, 2012

 Nova II      karin millson, 2012

Any comments? Be gentle.
If you want to see some wonderful photographs of night skies go to Astronomy Photographer of the year, here.  But be quick I am not sure how long the BBC will leave that page up.

Have you been here?

The Shop at Reader Rock Garden, Calgary

Reader Rock Garden is a designated provincial historic site in downtown Calgary.  It  features the Reader Rock cafe, a study room and other facilities which are at the centre of a beautiful garden, dissected by meandering paths and streams.

In the house is a newly-opened gallery which houses a rapidly-growing and diversifying eclectic collection of visual art.  Stunning photographs, fibre and glass art,  mixed media and pottery... some quirky, even insider art, some traditional works are sometimes wall-hung, or framed by shabby chic, wooden doors and window frames.  Across the other side of the small gallery are shelves and tables with assorted 'antiques' ( I feel I have to put that in quote marks as I am English and used to truly ancient antiques) and relicts from past lives in Canada and elsewhere.

Artists represented here are all local and range from the aspiring to very well-established.
I am very pleased to have some of my work nestled alongside the strange: tree-climbing bears depicted on ??repurposed?? dried fungal growths or the stunning: digitally printed images by Harry Palmer for example.

This is a venue that is going to settle down into a very special niche and I am extremely fortunate to have been asked to show my work here. It is a gallery to go to especially when you are looking for something quirky or of a particular style; I can imagine this place becoming a mecca for interior designers or film/advertising agency photographers who are looking for props.  So let's see how my work does there.

I don't know how/why things happen the way they do, but it certainly gives a satisfying feeling when things fall into a comfortable place without being asked to do so... this is far more satisfying than pushing, pushing, pushing to make things work.

This gallery is not trying to be a high end fine arts store.  It already has its own personality:   One that registers well with its eco-environment: It sits well in my mind. 

More details about The Reader Rock Garden - read on or click here:-
"This historic garden is a tribute to one man's passion for plants and beauty.  William Roland Reader was the Superintendent for The City of Calgary Parks 1913-1942 who transformed a bare hillside into an internationally-acclaimed garden.
During the turn of the century it was common for horticulturalists to collect alpine plants on their travels and create gardens as living artifacts of their journeys.  Reader actively engaged in this practice and for 30 years the Garden trialled over 4000 different plant species, making it one of the few significant gardens in western Canada.  Reader used the Garden as a showplace to educate people about the gardening potential of the prairie/foothills region of Alberta, particularly Calgary.
Lovingly rehabilitated according to Reader's original plans, the garden blooms from mid-March to mid-November. "

Please scroll down to see evite for Worked up

I discovered an interesting website when scrolling around looking for images of industrial felt to show the itsy bitsys at River Valley School on Friday.

Out in town today, visited the location for Worked Up, it is what folks call "an intimate space" and should look stunning with all the works I have been promised.

After checking that out I moseyed down to the Epcor Building as I often do when I am "in town".  sometimes I am unlucky and they are between shows.  But this time I hit the jackpot because CBBAG have two wonderfully full windows.

I particularly enjoyed Susan Kristoferson's paper and Wendy Passmore Godfrey's book.

Wendy Passmore-Godfrey - The bookwork grew up on a diet of pulp fiction.  2012
Sorry Susan, but my photos of your pieces were unfortunate!
Difficult setting for photography - that is.

Below are works by Diana Un-Jin Cho  

The work of Diana Un-Jin Cho is inspirational, and I will direct my students' attention to these most colourful works (that draw on Korean and Canadian influences) during our workshop next week.

I haven't been in there for while, clearly, as I hadn't seen the new murals... I love the puppet boy and the very long-legged ballerina...

On my return to Art Central, we were fortunate, Cheryl and I, to see these gentlemen creating a sand mandala - I haven't seen anything like it before and I found it most moving. If you can get to Art Central on Friday they will be moving all the sand together and giving pieces away to signify compassion.  I do hope some of you can make it.

I had seen it earlier in the morning but covered with a perspex box.. so this is the best image I have, sorry about the reflections... the detail is exquisite. Believe me.

Cheryl treated me to lunch and I had the pleasure of seeing her 4 art works that are ready for the show.
We had a great chin wag over lunch and there are exciting times ahead.... stay tuned.
We were eating in Cafe Rosso, the coffee shop at the bottom/in the Telus Convention centre... good Paninnis.  How does one spell that ...These up-cycled shingles were a stunning display on one wall.  I would love to give credit where credit is due, the artists is Karen Scarlet

What of my own work... This was all work today!
Hmmm, bit of felting preps for class and some abstraction.... That is like distraction but is good for one's creative well-being.