More from "MCOTW"

It's a thrill for me to see pieces in exhibits that have been created by artists I know...and even more so, when I didn't know the artist but met him/her at the exhibit.

In my last post about the "My Corner of the World" dual exhibit, I pointed out a piece from Jenny Lyon and from Gwyned Trefethen, both of whom I've met at SAQA conferences.  Here's one from Marie McEachern of Calgary, whom I've known since we were both students with Anna Hergert...a good dozen years ago.

Downtown - (C) Marie  McEachern, Calgary, AB

I like the way she's hinted at the Canadian Rockies with her 'rocky' upper edge, and has included what Albertans have often referred to as our 'Provincial bird': the (building) crane.  Great fun!

Then there's this poignant piece by Mary Pal of Almonte, Ontario...someone I've also met at SAQA Conferences but who, alas, didn't make the opening due to illness (from which she's since recovered).

Courage - (C) Mary Pal, Almonte, ON
Portrait of a homeless man, Toronto

When I was at the opening I also had a chance to meet a few artists I'd never met or corresponded with before.  

Here's Peggy Blei-Hracho of Pennsylvania, with her piece, Home: Noun, A Place Where Something Flourishes:

Peggy and Home: Noun...
Opening, My Corner of the World
Stratford, ON - May 21, 2016

It was delightful to talk to Peggy and to learn more about the unique collage she created for her entry, which is based on the view from her studio, in her home.

Another artist I met was Joan Reive, who has a piece in each of the twin exhibits.  Up in her eighties, lively and colourful, she attended the opening with her husband, who is clearly her biggest fan.

First, from the All-Canada exhibit, a piece inspired by one of her own paintings, made on a trip to Westport, Ontario a few years ago:

A Fall Day in Westport - (C) Joan Reive,
Belleville, Ontario

And next, from the International exhibit, a piece inspired by a watercolour she painted (to quote the catalogue) "in one of the rugged lake districts of Ontario":

Lake Vistas #2 - (C) Joan Reive,
Belleville, Ontario

A third participating artist I met at the Opening was Bobbe Shapiro Nolan, travelling with her sister Gee Gee (dubbed "Marketing Director").  Bobbe hails from the Midwestern U.S. but now lives in Texas, where a piece of large, highly technical caught her attention and inspired her piece:

Clutch Manifold - (C) Bobbe Shapiro Nolan,
Texas, USA

And there's this lovely colourful piece by my colleague and friend, Bethany Garner, curator of the All-Canadian exhibit, who was too busy at the opening for me to get a photo of her with it!  This piece is part of the International exhibit:

Turning Point -  (C) Bethany Garner, Ontario

What a delight it would be to find myself in each of those corners of the world!

A Bit Much of a Muchness*

*That's how my mother used to describe something that was over the top.  It's the perfect description of my last three weeks -- from the wedding shower trip to Edmonton, to securing a venue for the debut of my installation, Mark on the Body, to the whirlwind trip to Stratford, ON and the Opening of My Corner of the World's twin exhibits, to the day at Ailsa Craig with the art of the Latvian quilters and weavers, to two days of stitching with Monika Kinner-Whalen -- her "From Sketch to Stitch" class -- at Fibre Potpourri, held at Olds College, Olds, Alberta.

Each event, taken separately, was delightful, fun, and interesting.  Each was a blessing.  Each was full of surprise, colour, fabulous food, and friendly faces.
There were many hugs and some tears and lots more laughter.

Therein lies the rub...or at least, the challenge.  It's tough to articulate, but as much as I tried to find a way to decompress, each event was so full and rich that I couldn't fully process it before moving into the next one.

I didn't know where to put it all -- especially the attention I'd received about Mark on the Body, and at the Opening, which spilled over into the Fibre Potpourri weekend.   Suddenly I was being recognized, even sought out -- to talk about myself and my work -- an experience hitherto totally foreign to me, and completely against my upbringing.  My mother loved us and was proud of us, I'm sure, but spent much of her parenting time drilling into us that we had to put others before ourselves at all times and in all places, lest "your halo pinch your ears".

By Monday evening of this week, I was ready to explode -- and I did!

Blessedly, I was alone, and it was dark and rainy, which suited my mood down to the ground.  I can even tell you what set me off.  I was gathering packages of yarn to put in the car for the Annual Yard Sale at my church.  They began to slip and slide and eventually I dropped one on my way to the car (in the garage).

That's it.

Just that little thing.

But it was enough to bring out of me yells, screams, rants, raves.  I picked up the errant package, stuffed everything into the back seat of the car, and beetled back into the house -- where I continued my hissy fit for a good long time...

Until, at last, a bit out of breath, I was empty.

Empty of anger, empty of fear (of success).  Rid of those over-loaded emotions.

I went to bed.  And Tuesday was a new day.

Now, for you, Gentle Readers, a few of my favourite photos from the MCOTW exhibits.  (If you want to see them all, visit the SAQA website for the slideshows or better yet, try to see the exhibit when/if it travels near you in the next two years.)

My colleague, Jaynie Himsl of
Weyburn, Saskatchewan,
with her piece, Poplar Point

Looking Down - Janet Scruggs, Calgary, Alberta

Time Passes Over the Earth - Judy Martin,
 Manitoulin Island, Ontario

Tradition is Growing on Me - Hilary Rice,
Stirling, Ontario

You've Got Mail - 
Susan Tilsley Manley - Westville, Nova Scotia
Concerning the gradual demise of the rural
Post Office in Canada

 

Barbara Schneider - Illinois, USA
Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns,Var. 13

Me - showing off Jenny Lyon's
Prairie Afternoon
Born and raised on the US grasslands,
Jenny now lives in California

Me - showing off Gwyned Trefethen's
Deconstructed Sunrise #3
I didn't realize the size of it when I was
following Gywned's process on her blog!
Gwyned resides in Wisconsin, USA

Laura Wasilowski - Illinois, USA
Blue Chair in the Library
with a Candlestick

Before I head out to mow the back lawn and plant my tomatoes...I'll leave you with this question:  have you ever had an experience (maybe more than once) such as I described?  If so...what did you do?  How did you respond?

Okay; that's three questions...But I'm curious.  Any fear of success in any of you, Gentle Readers?

Linking this up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Pinch Me!

The past week has been (insert favourite excitement laden adjective here).  I confess I am at a bit of a loss as to how to describe it.  Exciting?  Surprising?  Glorious?  Remarkable?  Fantastic?  Encouraging?  Thrilling?  Joyous?

Perhaps I should just roll all those descriptors into one:

SUPERCALIFRAGELISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

Let's start with last Wednesday, shall we?

That day I had lunch with Maureen MacKenzie of the City of Lacombe, and two of her colleagues on the Art Collection Committee...and ended up with a venue booking for Mark on the Body -- which will hang at the Lacombe Memorial Centre Gallery from October 20 through November 17...including an Opening Reception set for October 26 (time to be determined)...and press...and etc.
Stay tuned to the MOB blog for details!

Through Facebook I made a connection with the local Fundraising and Development Coordinator for the Central Alberta chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)...and we'll be chatting next week about the Project.  Meanwhile, I've done up some kits for stitching MOB II squares, and have permission to give them out at the meet-and-greet in Stratford, to anyone who might be interested...

MOB II Kits

I'm not particularly adept at shameless self-promotion...but I'm learning, and willing to keep trying, as this project means a great deal not only to me, but (I hope) to everyone touched by Type 1 Diabetes.  There is a good deal of misunderstanding about this type of diabetes, which is distinctly different from the much-more-prevalent Type 2...and it is my hope this project will help not only with much needed funding for research into a cure, but also with educating the general public.

On Sunday I travelled to Edmonton to see my kids, and to attend a shower for sweet Chereena, my son's fiancee.  I got the Grand Tour of their new rental -- a condo apartment that is absolutely lovely!  -- met my newest grand-cat, Yami, and then drove off to the shower with my daughter, Gina.

There was a buffet of amazing food -- and the obligatory shower game.  For this one, the guest were divided into teams of four to create the perfect wedding gown and slippers for Chereena's big day -- out of newsprint!

Then came the gift opening -- during which our lovely bride-to-be received a multitude of fabulous kitchen and bath items, and gift cards to add to those items on a shopping trip or two with her DH-to-be.   I had two gifts for her: one for her up-coming graduation from U of Alberta, and one for the shower.

The first, the shawl, was definitely a success:

"MoMarg, I think I'm going to cry!"

As were the chickens!

The looks on her face were enough to fill my heart for a good long time.  

On the way home, I delivered my Fort McMurray quilt tops to Tara at Trinity Quilts in southwest Edmonton.  She gave me a tour of her studio; I was very impressed by her fine quilting -- both over-all and customized designs.  What a blessing that Beaver Creek Mercantile of Caroline, AB, donated a bolt of batting to help Tara get all the donated tops quilted so they can be sent where they're needed!

The rest of this week has been spent Getting Things Done so that I can leave tomorrow for Stratford* with a clear conscience: everything from laundry to mowing the lawn to cleaning the cat box, to doing the dishes, to actually quilting...!

My 15 x 15 Group piece is finished -- except for the accompanying Artist's Statement -- as the "Reveal" for the "Circles" theme is only ten days away.  Here's a hint... ;-)

The collection of my work at Gracie D's Antiques, Collectibles and Giftware has been changed over to minis with a 'summer' feel, just in time for the Victoria Day weekend activities.  Gracie will be open extra hours, so I hope something will sell!

Now about Stratford (Ontario): the twin exhibits for SAQA's "My Corner of the World" -- the International and the All-Canadian -- open there this weekend at the Stratford Perth Museum.  I am so excited about joining many of the other artists and the SAQA President, Lisa Ellis, as well as Micaela Fitzsimmons and Bethany Garner, the curators, for the Opening Reception and SAQA "Meet-and-Greet" to follow, that I could probably fly there without much help from Air Canada!

It's Still About the Sky
(C) 2016

Before I go, I'm linking this up to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network...hoping you pop over there to see what other Canadian stitchers are up to...and wishing you a wonderful Victoria Day weekend!