The Circle

The circle is a powerful symbol. It is a symbol that is found in all cultures.

It means wholeness.

It represents infinity.

The Native American Indians see it is a symbol of equality, where no one person is more important than the other. Circle meetings ensure that all people are allowed to speak and every word and idea is respected. (I have a round kitchen table for that reason)

It is seen as a protective symbol.

It is a symbol of completion.

It is used as a sun symbol.

Sunset from my terrace

Funny how almost everything I have bought from the Pakistani who sell wares on our beach all have circles!

I love being here.

The view from the road as I walk down to the beach

My Room with a View

This is one of this week's pictures. The view from my bedroom.

Video Art

Artist Samuel Rowlett has a video art piece at the Art Gallery of Peterborough. It's part of the Artists' Walks exhibit.

If you click here you can see his video, Landscape Painting in the Expanded Field 2013.

The curator, Earl Miller, chose works in different mediums by artists who use walking as part of their practice. It has become popular enough to be called a genre.

I loved the shadows nature painted on Rowlett's canvas as he walked through the woods.

Some of his video was beautiful.

Sometimes it was hilarious, like when he tried walking through the dense forest in winter! He could barely move and you heard a bunch of branches breaking. He was all tangled up. Luckily, I was the only one in the gallery at the time because I was laughing out loud!

I made his work interactive!

That's my shadow as I walk between the projector and the screen…
chasing the canvas.

Textile artist Dorothy Caldwell will be having an exhibit there from March 21 to June 1, 2014.

A Thought

Once in a while I wonder if it is worth blogging.

Is there anyone out there??

I check my stats regularly and there are hundreds of views worldwide per week so someone out there is enjoying my photos and my thoughts.

Someone out there is being inspired.

Once in a while I get a comment that encourages me to continue, like Martha's which she just posted even though it was a past post. Thanks Martha!!

I do too much talking to the walls as a mom so it's nice to know someone is listening on-line.

Keep commenting!

(my photos from the airplane flying over South Africa, October 2013)

Galleries in the Dark

I toured some of the galleries at the AGO with my art class on a day when the museum is closed to the public. It was the oddest thing walking through the spaces in the dark with no one around but the few students from the Abstract Art class.

I was reminded of my favourite textile artist and friend, Judith Martin, when I my teacher spoke of the work by Canadian painter, Emily Carr.

Trees and Sky by Emily Carr

Judy has a piece that was inspired by Emily Carr's trees and weeping sky.

Emily Carr Visited Me (2005) by Judith Martin

It is heavily stitched, as many of Judy's works are.

The thing I like the best about Judy's piece is the movement in the sky. I get a shiver every time I see it. I feel a cold wind.

Landscapes

The McMichael Gallery has put together the photography of Edward Burtynsky (1955-) with that of Ansel Adam (1902-1984).

Both photograph landscape.

Adams is best known for his dramatic views of Yosemite National Park in USA- his still life, panoramic views and distant landscapes.

Burtynsky's photographs engage us to think about our relationship to nature.

Both photographers' works compliment the permanent collection of the Group of Seven -a group of  Canadian landscape painters from 1920 -1933.

The exhibit goes till September 29, 2013. Make a day of it and plan to have lunch in Kleinburg.

(photographs taken on the grounds at the McMichael Gallery by me)

Photo Album

For the exhibit Tradition in Transition, I thought it would be interesting to add a photo album of Canadian landscapes seeing as our surroundings affect the work we produce.

lots of big skies!

I asked all participating artists to send me some images of their part of the country to share with the exhibit visitors in France.

from top left:Toronto path, sky from Nova Scotia
view from a cottage Alberta, winter path Duncan, BC
PEI sunflowers, cottage view Alberta
Saskatchewan road

The album will start with images from the west and go 'across the country' ending with photos from Newfoundland.

Beautiful Newfoundland.
photo by Paddy Barry, resident and talented photographer!

Today, I got them printed...and unfortunately will have to go back to the printers because all images in portrait orientation were printed in a landscape orientation!

Canadian Landscape

What makes our textile work as Canadians different from the quilting and textile art of Europe?

I believe it is the landscape and how it influences our work, consciously or subconsciously.

"Textile art in Canada is not only inspired by the environment, it
often incorporates that very thing.

Quilts are made of fabric hand-dyed with collected berries or bark;

in the city fabric is dyed with rusted metal.

The forms reflect the symmetry of the skyscrapers

or the raw shapes of the outdoors.

The materials used are themselves important and are often sentimental conversations with the past in the re-use of fabrics.

Although we come from different backgrounds and cultural influences, it is the Canadian landscape that brings us together and inspires our art."

Excerpt from my curator's statement for the 18th Carrefour Europeén du Patchwork.
Canadian photographs by me and my daughter, Isabelle. (photos from provinces of Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia)