I am still amazed that every time I go walking, I see something new every day!
Inspiration is all around me
What can I say… the sound of the frogs puts me in a happy place! Maybe not so much for the Franklin Gulls!
Shrinky Dinks
I bought a set of Alcohol Inks in February thinking that I would be able to work them like a pro star. Wrong. I really struggled. I could not control the way they flowed and I could not find the right kind of surface. Plastic- would that work? It’s not porous and it does not move too quickly- wait- I have shrinky dinks which are plastic. What if I put a pattern of the plastic, cut them out and shrink them in the oven…….and make them into earrings!
Bow Inspired
I believe I have shared with you that we moved into a new house after 33 years. Our new home is a stone throw away from the Bow River. The walks with my dog are amazing!!! The animals and nature I see are truly inspiring and I plan on using the beauty to create:)
Getting Back the Moe Joe
I have been unmotivated lately until my friend said she was having twins so I wanted to paint something fun and whimsical for the babies room- it is called “Happy Cats. It is out of my comfort zone because I am not very strong a illustration but I had a lot fun working on it. I now plan on doing one called “ Happy Lappy Licky Dogs!
Missing My Home
After 31 years, we decided to sell our home ( for various reasons) and build a new one down by the river. We are renting an apartment in East Village and I am missing my previous home terribly. Just before we left, I took pictures of some of my plants and flowers and this week I painted them:)
Be Kind
What can I say? Today I took the grade 11’s outside to create a positive message in sign language in chalk.
whimsical Banners by Jarett Sitter
I have always enjoyed the banners that line the streets of Calgary and their bridges. Even more so this year with Jarett Sitter’s playful and creepy illustrations. His inspiration comes from skateboarding, graphics, music, album covers, and Saturday morning cartoons. I would love a t-shirt with his work on it!
The Fox
the Device To Root Out Evil by Dennis Openheim 1997
This sculpture is a upside down country church with its steeple thrust into the ground and its base raised to the sky as if to invite scrutiny from the heavens. This piece was first exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1997.
The Device to Root out Evil made of galvanized steel, aluminum, Venetian and plexiglass.
The Samewaybetter by Ron Moppet 2012
This is a 5 panel large mosaic mural that is made of Venetian and Mexican glass, granite and marble tesserae. Not only are its colors amazing from a distance, but up close the intricate work will blow your mind away! The mural themes are transportation, Calgary’s geological and social history and personal dreams. One cool fact- is that it is a survivor of the flood!!!
“Soar”by Aaron Brown 2021
This mystical creature was created by tattoo and sculptural artist Aaron Brown and is perched looking over her “nest’ in the heart of the city. Using driftwood and lumber, Brown often uses the site of the environment to inspire the final creation.
“Soar” by Aaron Brown
“Bloom”by Michel De Broin-Saint Patrick’s Island REDEVELOPMENT Project
Using highway traffic lights, the lights softly awaken the island and watch over it at night. The concept, says Michel, was inspired by the encounter between the natural landscape of the park and urban city landscape. Bonus- a family of Osprey have made this their home on the top light for the past seven years!
‘Bloom” by Michel De Broin
Wolfe and The sparrows by Branden Vickers
I encountered this sculpture on my first walk along the river- right below the Zoo bridge. Although is is cast in bronze, it is not a traditional monument. Instead of commemorating a historical figure, this monument is transformative. It is modeled after General James Wolfe - a colonial figure known for his role in defeating the French on the Plains of Abraham. The statue was copied from the original one and remixed so that the generals head dissolves into a flock of swallows making their way back to England. It uses monumental motifs, but at the same time, is an attempt to undermine the authority of what we see monuments as. It addresses the relationships between First Nations people and settler communities.
The Wolfe and the Sparrows sculpture by Branden Vickers at southwest corner of the Zoo Bridge.
Staycation in East Village
So, we sold our home after living there for 31 years ( in 2 hours!) and we are currently waiting for our townhouse to be built. What better place to rent an apartment but in East Village! It’s like I am living in a different world and I am really excited to experience all the art and culture that this interesting area has to offer.
A Pano view of East Village on the George C King Bridge also known as the Skipping Stone Bridge
The Need to Be Inspired
I have been a bit of a slump lately- not really feeling anything. I found these pieces of canvases that I had cut onto round shapes and glued them into my sketchbook. I then continued the design with acrylic paint and chalk- not really focusing on anything- just the process. Funny enough, it has been a bit addicting and has made me feel creative again:)
Enough is Enough Already
It’s been one year since COVID hit our lives. I have experienced all kinds of emotions and situations. I have never had a full class of students- there is always someone in isolation( including me!) We are always playing catch up. The Art Society has not done well since we started in the fall. My executive is so amazing at providing opportunities but the interest is waining. Maybe its because everyone is really tired of being online? We will continue to make art- thank-goodness there are no art emergencies!
What Makes Art Bad?
I decided to ask this questions to my art classes and had them make some bad art. They were afraid to really say how they felt about it and really tried to be neutral in their explanations.
My Personal Opinion
Art is very personal just as the saying goes “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What one person finds beautiful another person might find ugly. For me it really depends on why the art was created and is it an authentic expression.
Bad art is boring and lacks imagination. It is unpleasant to look at. It appears incompetent. It is unoriginal and does not lend itself to serious critical evaluation. It does not represent anything worthwhile. And is easily overlooked. It conveys no sense of expressive individuality and is devoid of emotion. There is no challenging of the mind.
Good art is intriguing and inspiring - it is something I have never seen before. It makes me curious and ask questions. It is pleasurable to look at. It displays skill and virtuosity. It conveys novelty and creativity and is amendable to criticism. I am intellectually challenged and it provides an imaginative experience.
In a nut shell- Bad art lacks heart and good art is made from the heart!
PS- there is actually a art gallery in Boston that shows “Bad Art!”
Art Society
The first meeting went really well- we had 14 students engaged. I sent out a invite to all the other high schools in the city- but only heard back from one:( My goal is to go provincially, nationally and globally! Please feel free to join!
We are Back in the Saddle
So, it has been one month that we have been back to school. Honestly, art is the class to take if you want to make your life less stressful. This is what art looks like during a pandemic: Walk in to the room- sanitize your hands. Sanitize your desk and chair. Because I have an an amazing and large room - you do not need to wear a mask when you are sitting at your desk- only if you get up and walk around. I have 60 desks 6 feet apart. I have a “dirty box” to put art items in that cannot be sanitized after use such as chalk. pastels and books. This will sit for 72 hours before I can integrate it back into the classroom. The weather has been amazing so we also have taken advantage of working outside. My art club executives have come up with an exciting idea for the formally called Art Club now called the “Art Society”. Stay tuned !!!
It’s Finally over….For now.
Well, another school year came to a close. What valuable lessons did I learn from Covid Learning? 1. I really dislike technology. 2. Students don’t take the time to read instructions. 3. Relationships are extremely important. 4. There are NO ART EMERGENCIES! I have to say that my Grade 11’s were rock stars. Out of 35 students, I had at leas 30 consistently engage with me. Sadly, the Grade 12’s and 10’s not so much. Return to school in the fall will be very interesting. My take on it- I am not going to worry about what I have no control over and I will adapt to whatever happens.
The following work has been inspired by things that I miss since Covid and the world around me. Being able to make art has been very therapeutic for me!
