Andrée does her thing here

Time for a virtual move

2010-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been quiet for many months on this blog.

In a fit of spring cleaning, I updated my website, which now includes my art blog.

So... when I have new things to say, and images to share, they will be available on:

http://andreefredette.com/blog/

Hope your curiosity leads you to my new virtual home!

A New Take on Lace

2009-10-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

A very interesting exhibition is on right now in Philadelphia. From delicate cake decoration motifs to metal sculpture, from revealing lingerie to fences and landscaping... Three designers were chosen to interpret lace patterns. They did it with great gusto!

The Lace in Translation show features the works of Demakersvan, a Rotterdam (Holland) design studio, Tord Boontje, a Dutch-born designer who works in France, and Cal Lane, a Canadian sculptor who now lives in Putnam, New York.

Lace In Translation from Canary Promotion + Design on Vimeo.

Above: An oil drum, by Canadian sculptor Cal Lane

Here is an excerpt about sculptor Cal Lane's source of inspiration:

"...objects, once relied upon for their durability, are transformed via oxyacetylene torch into delicate and decorative skeletons... Lane borrows a tradition from her grandmother who sifted powdered sugar through a stencil to create a powdered print on cakes."

In workshops given by master quilters, which I attended eons ago, I remember our well-known teachers urging us to "work big". This would qualify, I think.

Quilt National 2009, the St-Charles, Missouri Gig

2009-09-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Until October 29th, Quilt National 2009 is travelling and will be on exhibit at the Foundry Art Centre, in St-Charles, Missouri.

Here is a video report from someone who attended. There are many very eloquent pieces in the show, some of them about war, some about feminist issues, or about the earth... Overall, the 85 or so pieces in the show are powerful means of expression, largely by women...

My quilt, Tunicates #1, is in there. Here is a link to an article about the show in the local paper, the St. Louis Beacon.

It was a real pleasure for me to travel to Ohio, to be there for the opening of Quilt National, back in May... I really enjoyed meeting artists from the US, Europe and Australia. An eye opener!

Line Poetry - Part 2

2009-07-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

I am studying lines. Lines everywhere: in the trees, but also near the ocean. Lines from last winter in the puddles around here...

More lines for my idea bank.

...Reading between the lines. Procrastination?

Line Poetry

2009-07-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Summer so far: a whirlwind of activity. Not much time in the studio. I have spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the weather and taking hundreds of pictures. My image bank is growing.

I hope to translate some of those images, make them work. Some new pieces are being assembled... slowly.

Actually, I have stopped worrying about being productive. What a relief! This is the season of gathering: gathering fruit, and ideas. Inspiration.

The output season will come soon enough.

Trip Report: Mayne Island Hospitality!

2009-06-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, the Mayne Island Quilt Guild hosted Hands Across the Water, an annual get-together that attracts visitors from several Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.

A kind Saturna captain gave us a ride to Village Bay, on nearby Mayne Island (a very nice half-hour on the water) where we were met by Judy, our hostess. Judy drove us to the event, and provided many insights on Mayne Island along the way.

The event was held in a seaside pavilion at Dinner Bay Park, near the grounds of the Japanese Garden. Many quilts were on display in the Japanese Garden, right on the fence. A beautiful outdoor setting! Great lunch al fresco, fantastic Show and Share, something I haven't enjoyed in years because I don't attend guild meetings anymore...

This is my slide show of that sunny day. Hope you enjoy it!

Barbra and I really basked in this opportunity to meet people from Galiano, the Penders, Mayne (of course!) and Duncan, on Vancouver Island.

Visiting quilters will want to know that the Mayne Island Quilt Guild meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 9 am, at the Agricultural Hall, near Miners' Bay.

My special thanks to our Mayne Island hostesses: we won't forget your hospitality.

Discharging Colour on Fabric = Experiment

2009-06-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

While I was at Quilt National 2009 (see my report on that trip here) in Ohio, a couple of weeks ago, I was fascinated by some of the pieces on display. Some of the artists used - very effectively - a special technique to create their images, the "discharge" process. When you discharge colour, you remove it from an area, using various chemicals and tools.

Bob Adams, celebrated artist and teacher, has considerable experience with this process. In this video, Bob explains very nicely how you go about discharging dye from fabric:

While it's easy enough to do, Bob clearly explains in his video that safety precautions are a must: use a proper respirator mask and gloves to protect yourself. Personally, it's something I would do outdoors, or under a covered area - like a carport.

In Canada, surface design supplies (including Thiourea Dioxide, one of the discharge chemicals) can be ordered online at Maiwa Textiles or G&S Dye. Maiwa also posts this detailed PDF instruction sheet that gives you the recipes for discharge paste (like the one Bob used in the above video). To find out where you can buy the chemical elsewhere, just Google Thiourea Dioxide.

If you prefer a simpler approach, try this little experiment with a bleach pen, an eraser carved with your motif, and a little bit of dark fabric:

My thanks go out to "Smidgen" who posted the above video on Youtube.

Well, I don't know about you, but it's time for me to go play outside. Later!

Meditation at Sunset

2009-06-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last evening, the sunset stopped me in my tracks. I was in "catch-up mode", trying to get a few things done, when I looked out the window and had to stop.

I was reminded that - even in my neck of the woods - we tend to live too fast. Take on too much, try to please too many.

So I told myself to slow down and watch the sunset. For a while, anyway.

Red, red poppies

2009-06-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Since I returned from Ohio and Quilt National (check out my reports on that trip here), I have not spent a great deal of time in the studio... You see, my garden is a riot of poppies. They have invaded the perennial flower bed and, because the spring rains were generous, they are as tall as I am (five foot three...) and dwarfing the perennials - even the roses. It's quite the show right now.

The picture above was taken at "face height"... face to face with flowers. Paradise!

Above: An oriental poppy, in the early evening light...

In another corner of my garden, oriental poppies have taken over an herb bed, and provide a dramatic contrast to the sage and lavender.

Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small. We haven't time - and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time.

If I could paint the flower exactly as I see it no one would see what I see because I would paint it small like the flower is small. So I said to myself - I'll paint what I see - what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it - I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers.

...Well, I made you take time to look at what I saw and when you took time to really notice my flower you hung all your own associations with flowers on my flower and you write about my flower as if I think and see what you think and see of the flower - and I don't.

- Georgia O'Keeffe (click here for her bio and slide shows of her work)

Oriental poppies are the show girls of the garden. There is something over-the-top about these flowers, even or especially when they start to come apart, after a day or two... This one got sprinkled when I was watering and I just loved the water droplets on the petals.

So, I will return to the green composition on my studio wall, but with a few more sketches and ideas brewing about a red, red, very red composition...

Quilt National - A Report, Part 2

2009-06-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Quilt National is a biennial exhibition held at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, a building saved from demolition in the late 70s and converted into an exhibition space and shop. On my second morning in Athens, I visited the Barn early and took some detail pictures of the structure. A hawk flew high in the sky.

Love corrugated steel, it has great lines.

The Quilt National party was held at the house of sculptor David Hostetler. Very gracious hosts, Mr. Hostetler and his wife Susan entertained the large crowd with a real sense of fun.

Above: The Hostetler house at night. Note the old wooden silo, which was incorporated into the modern house design. Very cool.

Lucky us! We visited just in time to admire a grouping of David Hostetler's pieces, which were readied for shipping to his gallery in Nantucket. They are sensuous and impressive.

Above: Some of the party people, left to right: Susan Plotner, Anna Hergert, Andrée, Inge Hueber,Christine Milton and Pat Pauly. In the background: David Hostettler, hamming it up!

Above: Anna Hergert and our host, in studio conversation.

Above: Proudly posing with my quilt. Photo by Mathea Daunheimer, a Maine artist, who also has a quilt in the show and attended the opening, despite a broken ankle. Dedicated artists can overcome serious difficulties!

On our last morning in Athens, many of us returned to the Barn for a final look at the show. There were many photo ops during this last morning... Here is one.

Quilt National... A report - Part 1

2009-05-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Above: Early morning at The Dairy Barn, Athens, Ohio.

It took me a week to get over my trip to Athens, Ohio. What a weekend! I enjoyed meeting so many talented people during the SAQA conference and the Quilt National opening reception.

Here is my mini-photo essay of some of the artists and their pieces, a few snapshots taken during the preview at Quilt National 2009.

Above: The entrance area, featuring the Kathleen Loomis piece, Memorial Day (winner of the Quilts Japan prize). To the right, Anne Smith's work - Calon Lân - chosen as Best of Show.

Kathleen Loomis's artist statement:

"As of Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, there were 4,083 U.S. military dead in Iraq. Here is a flag for each of them".

Above: Susan Krueger and her wonderful piece, Swallowing Roses, winner of the Cathy Rasmussen Emerging Artist Award.

Susan's artist statement is also a winner:

This piece is about falling for various societal myths regarding Power, Fame, Beauty, Luck, and Money--the things we wish for. Notice the tiny images from Mexican lottery cards, women celebrities from the entertainment section, and fruit from seed catalogs. I could get all "feministy" on you and talk about the pressures to undermine women psychologically and politically but, suffice it to say, swallowing roses involves lots of physical and emotional training.

Above: Australian artist Ruth De Vos and her wonderful eucalyptus piece.

Above: Canadian artist Anna Hergert and her gorgeous work, Summer Day at the Lake: Dawn to Dusk. This piece glowed.

Above: Beth Carney, from Yonkers, deals gracefully with the paparazzi.

Above: Jane Lloyd, from Northern Ireland, whose work I have admired for years.

Above: Marianne Burr and Paula Chung, two West Coast artists with very big grins, checking out the exhibition catalogue.

Here is another snap of the exhibition space, once the people started circulating. Many of the artists knew each other and the ambiance was very warm. First-time exhibitors wasted no time in getting to know each other and had a great time!

And here's a shot of my work, Tunicates #1... It was a thrill to see it in the show.

If you live within driving distance of Ohio, I invite you to go see the show. The countryside near Athens is beautiful, with lovely rolling hills of hardwoods. It's a nice drive to this quaint university town... If you can't make it to the show, you can get the Quilt National 2009 catalogue. It's not the same as seeing the exhibition, though.

Escaping for a few days

2009-05-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Going on a trip soon. First trip this season and oh so awaited... I'll see some old friends, meet some new friends, and look at a lot of textile art. Can't wait!

Going to visit my quilt at Quilt National, in Athens, Ohio. Here is a calendar item from the American Craft Magazine website. Also, if you look at the banner at the top of this blog, this is a detail shot of the piece, Tunicates #1.

Only a few more days before departure.

Dyeing Fabric en plein air

2009-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Barbra and I had a couple of hours of "nothing-to-do"... In the spring? How is that possible, you ask? With all those gardening chores awaiting? The cleaning of the windows? Well, I ask too. And then I do a classic Gallic shrug.

My excuse? The weather was just right and I needed to test my Procion dyes, to see if they still had any life in them, after 5+ years of storage in two basements. I had read reports of dyes being unusable after a year, but before throwing all my dyes out, I wanted to check.

Above: Plein air fabric dyeing workshop... the set-up. Basic, but not too shabby!

So we set up our dyeing table in the grass, in front of the house. The tilt of the table proved useful in directing spills over the edge... The big black thing is Finn-the-assistant. He supervised our activities throughout the session, from under the table... in the shade.

Above: First batch of half-yards in baggies: lemon yellow to fuchsia gradation

For Barbra, this was a first-time experience. So we used Adrienne Buffington's Hand-Dyed Fabric Made Easy, an excellent and simple how-to book. Every time I've used that book as a reference, I've been pleased with the results. It can be ordered from G&S Dyes in Canada, or Amazon.com in the US.

Above: Batch #3, earthy gradation of Golden yellow to Intense blue. I was in search of earthy browns and a certain russet...

All told, we did three colour gradations and then we decided to use up some of the prepared dye on a "pour and roll" technique someone had described to me... a long time ago. We improvised and we had fun.

Above: Two of the gradations, rinsed out after 2 hours in the sun, in baggies. The smallest container holds the "rag" we used to mop up spills. It looks brown, but don't be fooled, it's a beauty! In the background: Barbra's pour-and-roll yardage, curing in the large container.

We used a cotton sateen that I'd co-purchased with my friend Kit Vincent, back at Quilting-by-the-Lake in... oh... 2004? My goodness, how time flies! Anyway, while we were in the US, Kit and I bought an 80-yard bolt of sateen from Test Fabrics. It has a lovely sheen, and takes the dye beautifully.

Above: A close-up of Barbra's pour-and-roll... curing in the sun.

We allowed about 1.5 hours to 2 hours per batch in baggies, in the sun. When it was time to rinse and we picked up the baggies, they were noticeably warm. You could say the sun cooked them just right.

Above: The next day, after washing and ironing, here are the beauties, and their "cousins", the experiments to check the potency of other dyes, namely indigo and dark cherry.

From experience, I can tell that the turquoise and the fuchsia are somewhat weaker than they used to be. Also, we used Arm & Hammer Washing Soda instead of the usual soda ash solution, because we live on an island with a small general store... and did I mention we improvise? Although we doubled the quantity of soda fixative, the fact that laundry soda probably has surfactants and other such added in may have affected the intensity of the dyes. I'm not sure. I'll have to repeat the experience "by the book". Ahem.

The three fabrics on the left are experiments with indigo and golden yellow. I am in search of a dark rich earthy green. Quasi-bronze. Luckily, the indigo is still fairly potent.

Above: Barbra's pour-and-roll star on the left, and the spill-absorbing half-yard on the right.

Above: Close-up of my pour-and-roll yardage. Love the way the dark veins travel into the turquoise and yellow-turned green...

Even though the garden was unattended, the windows are still questionable, and the vacuuming... well, the vacuuming is on hold... we did not waste our time. We created some lovely and lively yardage, and I have to finish those containers of mixed dyes that are sitting in my cold room. Guess what I'm going to be doing this afternoon?

Elements Show Opening: Tomorrow

2009-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the Fibre Art Network (FAN), a group of textile artists from the Western provinces of Canada. I have a couple of pieces in the upcoming FAN show that opens tomorrow and runs until June 28 at FibreWorks Studio and Gallery, in Pender Harbour, BC.

The location of the gallery gives me an irresistible urge to go on a road trip. Pender Harbour is on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast of BC, a gorgeous area of Canada. Also, I have to point out that the FibreWorks Gallery is located in a yurt. How Lotusland is that?

If you miss the opening weekend and you happen to be a blues fan, then you can console yourself by picking the weekend of June 5-7, when the Pender Harbour Blues Festival is on... That way, you can combine some blues with some visual arts - all in a wonderful natural setting - for a complete cultural pick-me-up!!! (I should work for the Pender Harbour chamber of commerce...)

And when you say road trip in this neck of the woods, you know the road trip involves a ferry ride... Oh, the hard commute! So I may just get on the BC ferries next Friday, and head for Pender Harbour for the opening, who knows? I feel a road trip coming on...

Above: The BC Ferries transfer point at Mayne Island, lots of traffic

Above: Commuting on a BC ferry... you can read a book, or you can admire the scenery.

On the other hand, if I stay home, I just might finish repainting my kitchen and get some work done in the garden... and the studio. Weekends are usually packed with activities around here. Road trip or no road trip? That is the big question.

Messy Studio, continued

2009-04-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? Between assorted outdoor chores, I found time to go green in my studio. Originally, I wanted to repeat a successful assortment of rich earth shades, but when I started to unfold fabrics and evaluate shades, a palette of greens jumped out of my assorted boxes and I fell for it.

Above: the sketch is covered with some "units" that have been sewn... green it is!

And when you unfold fabrics to evaluate their shades and colours, well... the room takes on a slightly disorganized look. It's the joyful mess of creation! Time flies while I solve problems of balance and composition. While this design is based on a sketch, I am discovering that it evolves as I work on it. New ideas emerge and I go with the flow.

Above: the reverse side of a stitched stripe, a good deal of sewing, with wonderful results, you'll see...

For example, I had the bright idea to create a striped effect, because I needed a bit of tension and drama, to contrast with all those curves. At first, I had thought I'd go with the simplicity of large fields of colour, but I became interested by the contrast between fairly straight lines and curvy spaces.

Above: Unfurling sword fern, a world of green and of curvy lines

This brings me back to all the greenery around the island at this time of year. Now, I have to search for the shots of contrast that will bring the green to life. Right now, there are countless little calypso orchids on the forest floor, gorgeous little dots of fuchsia, like jewels. But I'm not in a fuchsia mood... So, we'll see.

Messy Studio = Work in Progress

2009-04-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Had to get my mink of "my online troubles"... So I got an old sketch out, and enlarged it, to get a start on something new.

Above: The beginnings of a new piece, and of a very messy studio

Most of the time, I don't use that method. I am usually happy just cutting into fabric without too much planning. This is a return to an old experiment. Jazz music is playing - loudly - and I'm busy adding to the mess. Selecting a palette... More later.

Hard Week, Conclusion

2009-04-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Above: Junior Bald Eagle... waiting for dinner and watching the world with sharp eyes...

This past week, I scrambled and got a new host for my website. I learned more techie things about pointing domains to servers and such than I ever thought possible... Things are more or less back to normal and most of the links to my website have been "adjusted". In the next couple of weeks, there will be more technical heavy lifting, updating the website and all.

I am immensely grateful to all the people I contacted for their willingness to help out, and update their links. It's annoying.

In case you missed it, my new website location is:

www.andreefredette.com

This week, the people who bought my previous domain name (the old www.studioandree.com) and tried to sell it back to me had the chutzpah to copy some of my website files onto their -now- domain.

I couldn't figure out the point of doing that... And neither could some of the savvy people I asked... Maybe it makes that domain name more marketable for the pirates, because it's got content rather than a blank page and draws the web crawlers, and better rankings... Anyway, after I warned them that they were venturing into copyright infringement, they took my copied files down. A big thank you goes out to the people who advised me on how to proceed. They know who they are.

And now, I return to the studio, to play with fabric

It's been a Hard Week

2009-04-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

I don't make a habit of discussing my troubles... but this week has been hard

Recently, I renewed my website hosting plan... and completely forgot about renewing my domain name (which was www.studioandree.com). And reminders sent by my domain host probably went into the great spam catcher round file...

Last Wednesday, when my website disappeared, I experienced a serious moment of panic. My knowledge of these things is limited... well, it certainly was earlier this week. I thought all the files had gone AWOL. But no, it was a matter of domain name. The place that points to where the files are stored.

To make a long story short, don't bother clicking on the above address, because when my domain name was not renewed, it became "available" and a certain Paul Lynch of Blackburn, Lancastershire, UK immediately snapped it up and "parked it". When I contacted him - he offered to sell it back to me "but I'm about to sell it to someone else for $120, so can you do better?"...

Nice way to make a living, Paul!

I had a chat with my friendly webmaster, who agreed with me that I shouldn't bargain with the pirate. No ransom payment. Instead, I got myself a new domain name.

From now on, my website is http://www.andreefredette.com/

If you prefer the Canadian approach, it's http://www.andreefredette.ca (Actually, it will be valid in the .ca version soon, but not quite yet...).

Big sigh of relief. Now that the website is back online, I've got to let people know about my new location. Then I can return to the work at hand: updating my website, with Chris the magician!

Here's a friendly reminder to all you owners of domain names out there: go into that control panel and check when your domain name renewal is up.

Better safe than sorry. Ask me how I know.

One Shot - Four Versions, playing with Photoshop

2009-02-18T22:30:00.000-08:00

On Monday, I posted a picture of ferns growing on a very old tree, on the moist side of the island. A very tropical look. I am reminded that the West Coast of Canada has a temperate rain forest, and this fern colony resonated with me. I like tropical forests... and miss them.

Above, the original picture, cropped a bit.

Because I am playing around with some textile compositions right now, and I am having a really hard time focusing, I find all kinds of ways to avoid my sewing table... Are you laughing with me? So instead of finishing some pieces, I decided to play with Photoshop Elements and modify this image... see what would come up with that experiment. You never know, I might come up with some texturing ideas in the process. And return to the work, the actual work.

Above: Version One, warm tones

This first version was obvious. Add a layer, invert, use that gradient tool - which is a real toy! - and voilà. I am very fond of the gradient tool (typical of novice Photoshop users...) Interesting, but meh.

Above: Version Two, in cool tones

This one is more interesting . Maybe it's the cool tones that attract my eye, maybe it's the orientation of the gradient... I "read" a water reflection, when in fact I was shooting straight upward, at the sky. Fun.

Above: Version Three, the ice effect

I like this one. Frosty effect, I just don't remember exactly how I got there. Could be useful in quilting, this version... It gives me ideas for thread painting.

Above: Version Four, outline

Now we're talking quilting! Look at all that texture that pops up! Good continuous lines, might be very useful tomorrow.

Colour and Texture: Just Open Your Eyes!

2009-02-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

While working on a couple of quilts, I am having trouble with the texturing. Too much hesitation. How much texturing is too much? How much is not enough? What is the "right" mark to add to this particular background? Very difficult to answer... and a nagging little voice in my head (yeah, I hear voices, take me away!), telling me that the section I've just finished is too much, not enough, not right. Sigh. That inner critic is very annoying.

So, to improve my mood, I went for a walk. In a very moist area of the island, I looked up and was surprised to see a colony of ferns on an old tree. It looked tropical. So I took a picture for my "idea bank"... Next, I'll play with that image in photoshop, see what I come up with. Stay tuned, I'll post this same image, and its modified versions.

Above: A fern colony established on an old tree, on the moist side of the island.

And the next picture shows that it pays to look closely at ordinary things. It's a close-up of a very ordinary plant, horsetail (Equisetum). Some consider horsetail a weed , and yet if you look at it up close, you'll see wonderful geometry. I especially like the bit where the leaves join the trunk (I know, very technical terminology...) Repetition... I'm finding that repetition is pleasing to the eye. So there you go, I'm going to texture those quilts, 'cause I feel like it!

After texture, the next item on the inspiration menu is colour. Subtle or not so subtle, colour is key. Below, an example from dusk, a few days ago. You can see the vibrations in the water, by the changes from blue, lilac and pink.

Above: Lovely evening colours reflected in the waters of Plumper Sound, with a Garry Oak silhouette.

And now, back to the work at hand. No more excuses, two pieces are being born. Can you hear me puff and push? Wish me luck.

Art: Coming to You Directly

2009-02-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

While waiting for things to happen (like for dyeing fabrics to cure, for example), I sometimes cruise around online. This morning, my cruising led me to a very interesting concept: a museum both online, live, and in public spaces on 7 continents. The STREAMING MUSEUM brings art directly to your computer, in a joyous and intelligent manner.

Click on the above link and have a look at the online current exhibition, and let your brain spend a little quality time at the computer...

I look forward to the next exhibitions. The ones I watched touched my soul, and it didn't hurt that the visuals were true eye candy, with humour and wit thrown in...

New Work...

2009-01-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Here is Coast, my newest quilt. I just finished it in time for an auction that will be held this Saturday, at the Robbie Burns Dinner organised by the Saturna Island Lions Club.
Proceeds will go to a good cause... Plus, this gave me a deadline, which I seem to need to get things done these days!

Above: Coast, quilted wall hanging - 41 x 35"

This is the statement that accompanies the quilt:

Since moving to Saturna in 2005, I have spent a lot of time paying
attention to details: the quality of the light on the water, the big sky in
front of my house and its constantly changing cloud patterns, the incredible
height of the fir trees, the countless shades of green that surround me and the
lacelike effect of water on the sandstone. All these elements find their way
into my textiles.

News from the Auction: The quilt was bought by a local collector, after vigorous bidding!

Art from Elsewhere, Source of Inspiration

2008-12-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

I was cruising the net for inspiration, checking out what other people are up to. And found an interesting video ad for vodka (of all things), featuring an installation piece by Glue Society, a multimedia collective from Sydney, Australia:

Chair Arch: A film by The Glue Society for 42Below Vodka. from Glue Society on Vimeo.

While watching the above video, I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu... Then, on their website, I found a commission they created for Nike, the "Flying Nike Shoe" (click and watch that video)... Now, one concept could be coincidental, but the use of two concepts that strongly evoke the work of a specific artist... that is not quite coincidental.

Both videos use visuals that remind me of the work of Brian Jungen, a Canadian artist.
Case in point:

Cetology (2002) by Brian Jungen. Collection of Vancouver Art Gallery, Courtesy Catriona Jeffries Gallery

Prototype for New Understanding #11, 2002 Brian Jungen
Nike Air Jordans, hair
Catriona Jeffries Gallery, Vancouver

It's safe to say that plastic chairs sculpture is nothing new, and neither is deconstructing Nike shoes... Both videos are takes on the work of Brian Jungen, a renowned Canadian artist who has shown his work and is collected internationally...

Looks like someone from that multimedia creative group went to a Brian Jungen exhibition and came out inspired... Then transposed his ideas to the great outdoors. Can you say derivative, anyone? I guess it's a consecration when the world of advertising takes your work, tweaks it, and uses it commercially.

And if these rumblings have piqued your curiosity about Brian Jungen, here is a link to the Catriona Jeffries Gallery, where he showed totems made out of golfbags in 2007; his bio on Wikipedia; and on Cybermuse (our tax dollars at work), you'll find short videoclips of the artist explaining his work, and why he became an artist...

So here's a convoluted thought: to make a statement about cultural appropriation and dilution, a native (part native?) artist uses mass-marketed consumer products to create pieces that evoke nature and West Coast aboriginal art. His work is then appropriated by a multimedia collective (newspeak for ad agency?) that in turn uses two of his concepts to create commercial videos to market more products... On another continent, no less... Is that an illustration of what goes around comes around?

The world is getting smaller. And my head hurts.

Arbutus Never Ceases to Amaze Me

2008-12-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

Couldn't resist: here's an arbutus "breast", half covered in old bark (the russet stuff) that is peeling away, revealing the fresh pistachio-coloured bark.

Above: An arbutus protuberance, quite suggestive...

I love the plastic quality of arbutus. This one just called to me, and reminded me of Molière's Tartuffe:

"Couvrez ce sein que je ne saurais voir.
Par de pareils objets les âmes sont blessées,
et cela fait venir de coupables pensées. " (Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur - Molière, 1664)

More Creative Block Busters!

2008-11-24T20:48:00.001-08:00

When trying to make deadlines, you can't always win. Conflicting projects get in the way. So does walking the dog, not to mention household chores. Pesky visitors. Just kidding!

Anyway, I am trying to get in gear and focus on a large piece. But the lure of bright little things (do I have some magpie genes, deep down?) pulls me back to small compositions, very colourful. So there I go...

Above, a fresh batch of little bags, assembled and ready for texturing. The fun stuff, where I can go into a zen state of "non thinking" and just embroider and quilt away, to some lovely tunes I've downloaded from Calabash Music, an online store for world music and lesser-known artists. Warning: you go to that site, you will be spending time there! Wonderful stuff. They are partners with National Geographic.

Music wise, I've become very fond of women's voices. Among my discoveries is Sara Tavares from Portugal and Cabo Verde. .. She has a very laid-back style that is perfect as a background sound for creative moods. If you decide to play this clip, use the full screen mode, and enjoy it!

Back to the sewing machine!