August 25th, 2009
While in Seattle last weekend for a conference I came across the extraordinary work of artist, Morgan Brig. My friends and I were wandering back to our hotel along Second Avenue when her work caught our attention in the window of Patricia Rovzar Gallery. We were immediately drawn in to take a closer look.
Her wall sculptures are like collage in three dimensions, made with copper and enamel instead of paper and mixed media. They are magical, colourful pieces that incorporate texture, symbols, icons, and bits of text with the theme of “personal circus” running throughout. The titles of each piece, such as “She Said, I Too, Am of Wonder” or “Her Inner Child Was a Show to Behold” are as striking as the pieces themselves and compliment them beautifully. Brig’s work reminds me a lot of the crazy and colourful collage work of Teesha Moore sprung to life in 3-D.
My friends and I were blown away by her work and left wishing we had the money to buy one of her pieces to take home. Though if it were possible for me to purchase one I’m not sure I’d be able to decide which I liked best because they are all so amazing. The online photos of the work don’t quite do justice to how striking they are in person. This was easily the best art show I’ve seen in a very long time.
(Photos used with permission of Patricia Rovzar Gallery)
August 7th, 2009
My mom has always been one of those people who clips things out of the newspaper to either keep (like recipes) or share with my sister and me. It’s a habit we find both endearing and irritating because sometimes there are a LOT of clippings awaiting our inspection, and we aren’t necessarily interested in the same things she is. Despite the fact that I now live on the other side of the country my mom still saves and sends large collections of newspaper clippings whenever a package or letter is headed my way.
When I showed the latest bunch to Boris he said they are her, “Google Reader shared items.” I thought this was a pretty accurate (and funny) way to describe them and it also gave me the idea to further share the articles she’d sent me. For your reading pleasure, here are links to a few of the clippings from my mom:
Hershey the Mystery Duck
Warm Fuzzy Tale of a Good Swimaritan
How to Make Room on your cellphone
(It was too tedious to locate online all of the articles she sent, and the Toronto Star archives is apparently very limited.)
August 5th, 2009
Hey remember waaaay back at the beginning of July when I wrote about getting a career boost and my vow to work on the business of art? Well I’ve been keeping this vow and despite the summer distractions and unbearable heat of the last week I’ve actually managed to cross a few things off my art to do list. (The non-art to do list is another matter…)
One of these crossed off items was for me to create a series of postcards based on collages from my moleskin sketchbooks. I’ve been wanting to create postcards of some sort for YEARS, and now I have. I saw the final proof from the printer today and they should be done by the end of the week. Just in time for my art sale.
Coming this Sunday August 9th I’ll be selling my mixed media collages, metal prints, and postcard sets on the streets of Vancouver. Our friends Ross and Kay are hosting the Lawnstravaganza on the front lawn of their building and I decided to join in the fun and take advantage of a free venue conveniently located near my house. It’s my “think outside the venue” or perhaps “DIY venue” way of getting my stuff out there. Come on by the stoop if you just happen to be in the South Granville neighbourhood. I hear there will be monkeys for sale, and hotdogs too.
Lawstravaganza
1325 West 10th Avenue
noon to 5pm
(Facebook event info)
