chief, cook and bottle washer

my faithful commentor and audience of one was wondering what my new job is, so I though I would post it, just in case there is someone else out there listening. I am the art gallery coordinator for the First Nations Art Gallery at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre. The gallery is going through some changes, and I am the catalyst, the labourer, and the staff. I have two Part-time staff members who are there to fill in for me, but basically I co-ordinate everything that happens in the gallery. It is a fairly large (and beautiful) space and I am excited to have the opportunity to do this. I expect I will learn a lot.

back in the grind

You haven't heard from me in a while because I have accepted a full time job. I have 90 days to prove myself. This is the end of week one and all I have proven is that I am not used to being amongst so many people and so much noise everyday. Working at home has been like working in isolation. It has been good in many ways, but I had no idea how 'bushed' I'd become. People are coming to me at work looking for quick decisions and I am still shocked that someone is even speaking to me. "What? Oh, you mean me? You want ME to decide?" Over the last 3 years the dogs really haven't said too much. The odd woof. The decisions were quite simple, dog food or treat?

peace in the middle east?

I was listening to a "rebroadcast" of Ideas on CBC the other night. The speaker was Ronald Wright. He was going on about the possibility of Neanderthals and the Cro-Magnons coexisiting peacefully in the area know as the Middle East, Neanderthals in the North and Co-Magnons in the south. The middle, he says, was sort of a meeting ground. Now, I don't know about you, but I was taught that the Neanderthals were big hairy bruits who walked upright but carried a big stick. But Ronald paints a picture of individuals whose brain capacity was much larger than Cro-magnon, and whose bodies were well adapted to the cold of the north where they lived. For example, sloping foreheads meant less surface area exposed to the wind, protecting the brain from becoming dangerously chilled. If those of you with these facial features today have now gained a new respect for your appearance, I have done a good thing. Of course, if you believe you were made in the image of a super-creative being, God, as I do, you won't have to worry where that heavy set of brows came from.

break from the familliar

Here I am with 6 hours of time on my hands every day. Both kids are back in school. My daughter, for the first time, goes to school all day, every day. I thought I would be a motivated machine accomplishing more than ever before, however old habits die hard and I find myself filling every day with the redundancy of housekeeping. How long will this continue? When will I have had enough? My canvases and brushes call to me everyday, begging me to pick them up, even if it is just for a little while. It will be good when I am finished with this self-inflicted punishment. Maybe I just don't know where to start. There is safety in the familiar. Maybe I could start with rearranging my studio space, but then that is just housework in disguise, isn't it?

no art...

I had this idea that I would post some of my art. The posting of the pathetic "glasses" illustration was an attempt to test out the process. Unfortunately, I still have technical problems that need not exist. What am I talking about? Well, I took pictures of some of my work, but for a while now, my digital camera software has refused to talk to the camera. I made a half-hearted effort to fix the problem, then abandoned the entire thing. I am now relying on Kevin to download my photos onto his laptop and pass them to me on the memory stick which is a very slow process. Sigh. I really hate trouble shooting THAT much.

I'd like to SEE if this works.

I'd like to SEE if this works.
Originally uploaded by My Art4Life.

Can you see these glasses? Let me know by posting a comment.

the ways in which you are known

I have been thinking about entity relationship diagrams, and how I can use these in my artwork. It seems to me that society is continually moving towards dehumanizing relationships. The general public is represented in a variety of different stats, for example, stats on violence, stats on obesity, stats on unemployed. Individuals are represented by titles at work, but more so by employee numbers, students = student numbers. Think about how many ways in which you, yourself are identified...most of them being numbers or codes, your social insurance number, your medical number, your drivers licence number. How many plastic cards do you own? Charge cards, debit banking cards, points cards, library cards. Could an entity relationship diagram of yourself, and all the ways in which you are "known" be an eye opening experience?

another sprain

I have been suffering with tooth pain ever since I had a filling done. I found out yesterday that I have inflammed the ligaments around my tooth. Yes, I have a sprained tooth! The filling was too high and the constant pounding of my teeth has caused the problem. I am more determined than ever to get in shape. Question: does anyone know any exersizes for teeth? v

group show opening

I am participating in a group show here in Prince George at Artspace during the month of August. There will be an opening on Friday, August 5th at 7pm, however, I will not be in attendance because, as an anonymous blogger commented, I have a wedding to go to on that day.

Artspace is upstairs in Books and Co. across from the Native Friendship centre. Hope you can make it! and if you like my work...please consider buying it. (shameless plug).

nuggets of wisdom

This from a co-worker: Don't blow on a bee or a wasp, it infuriates them.

This from my son: Did you know that cockroaches fart every 15 minutes?

This from my husband: Did I tell you who bought our red car we sold at the auction? Rent-a-wreck.

This from my daughter: Did you know we'll be naked in Heaven?

Again from my son: 1 minute of laughing equals 20 minutes on a rowing machine.

an arm and a leg...maybe

I just returned from a visit to several framing shops in town. I am preparing for a group show at Artspace here in Prince George for the first week in August. I know that framing costs are expensive, but I was truly shocked at the cost. I have 6 pieces of work that I want to show. Three small ones, 4"x4" are $50.00 each to frame. That means if I want to sell that art, I apply my price, then add for framing, you are looking at about $120.00 to buy one of my pieces that is 4 inches square. That piece took me about 3 - 4 hours to complete, that's about $15.00/hour I earn on that piece. Most people my age probably earn more than that where they work.So, next time you look at art and wonder why it is so expensive, think about the framing and the time involved to create the piece. I bet it will look like a much better deal!

of what value is my art?

I've been thinking about how hard I am on myself when I create. I think I am comparing my work to some unknown ideal. If you look around my small basement studio (closet), you will see many drawings, sketchbooks, and paintings that are half finished. They have been abandoned by their fickle creator for some other fancy. I'm sure some would think this small room a gold mine. I used to think that about my grandmother's living room. Under every chunk of furniture was a unique clay sculpture. Under the furnishings were the burial grounds for what she considered to be her failures. To me they were a treasure. She used to panic as we pulled out the pieces, "put that back, I hate it. It just doesn't look right." We used to "shop" under her couch at every visit. I still have 3 of her pieces, although not her best work, they are a reminder that Mary Berezan was a talented artist whose once lived in Athabasca Alberta. She dug her own clay out of the banks of the river, and created her sculptures of nature. Her artwork was(is) valuable as it represents the point of view of one who looked closely at nature. I owe a lot of my influence to her, also to my mom...but that's another story.

an almost new car

After much research and test-driving, I am happy to announce that we have purchased an "almost-new" car! The 2004 Toyota Corolla will come home tomorrow to join our aging stable of Toyotas. She is the beauty of the bunch and I hope the other vehicles don't pick on her. One thing I know, I will enjoy taking her out for a run!

rainy days = productive days

It has been raining every day for almost two weeks. When I was a kid, I looked forward to rainy days as it meant time indoors to read or draw. Each time the rain settles in, I have that same feeling. My mind turns inward. The bright sun is not a distraction today, therefore I will accomplish much indoors. Great justification...raining anyways, might as well work. It's important to have days like that when your workplace is also your home because sometimes the call of the birds and the warmth of the sun is just too much to resist. Needless to say, I have accomplished a lot these two weeks!

the nine multiple intelligences

I have had this idea to teach people to access their own creativity for years. Recently, I began to assemble an outline of what such a class would look like. This is not a class strictly for artists. This class is for all who recognize that unleashing your own creativity allows you access to an amazing amount of brainpower. Yes, you all have the ability to be highly creative in areas of your own choosing. In my research I came across an article in the Northword Magazine by Tanya Davidson. She discusses the "nine multiple intelligences" (Howard Gardiner, Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century, Basic Books, New York, 1999). Intelligence goes far beyond the IQ test! and by removing your blocks to creativity, you can access this pot of gold. Consider these: Linguistic Intelligence (word smart), Logical-mathematical intelligence (number/reasoning smart), spatial intelligence (picture smart), Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (body smart), Musical intelligence, Interpersonal intelligence (self smart), Naturalist intelligence (nature smart), and Emotional intelligence. You are only limited by your own negative self-talk! I am putting together a series of exercises that will open up that tunnel vision to a wide, panoramic view. Should be fun!