tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48331835357795994892024-03-19T07:26:03.329-04:00ART: ideas and process / idées et processusA journal of visual art, illustrations, stories and more. /
Un journal d'art visuel, d'illustrations, d'histoires et plus encore.ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-67513751722422844512024-01-16T21:39:00.000-05:002024-01-16T21:39:42.612-05:00A NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, it's 2024 and let's face it, one digit doesn't really change
anything in one's life, but what it does do is give us the incentive to
try.</span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not crazy about the word resolution. It's a bit too cast
in stone for me. There are a number of definitions, most of
them I equate with stubbornness rather than resolve. The former is not
always a bad thing, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">just aggravating when one is on the receiving end.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I like the medical definition: the reduction or disappearance of a swelling or inflammation without <a href="https://www.thefreedictionary.com/suppuration" target="_blank">suppuration</a>. I must admit I had to look up the last word. After I did, I wish I hadn’t but then it got me thinking.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2023
was a rather difficult year. There was a great deal of metaphorical suppuration in the air. I was totally stressed out for most of it for a
number of reasons, some good, some bad. I dealt with my frustrations and
anxiety by making art, although if truth be told, when things run amok, making art
usually becomes impossible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I mull over the past, which I rarely tend
to do, I reflect on how important it is not to know what will happen in
the future. I don’t want to rain on any fortune teller’s source of
income but come on! Who wants to know ahead of time that some personal
disaster is waiting in the wings?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was all positive on December
31st, January 1st and January 2nd. Because those days were rather low
key, I managed to prepare an art submission that I sent out way ahead of
the deadline. I thought YAY! I have everything under control ! I can do
this, that, and make way more art! But by January 3rd my
“can dos” flew out the window.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which leads me to this pulpit
where I choose to share a bit of homespun and trite philosophy. Never
anticipate anything. One need only look at the needless wars in the world to know that existing at all is a roll of the dice. Plan, try, prepare, but realize that you will never
have control over much of what happens in life. Once that’s
internalized then perhaps a person can relax and mutter, “Oh well, that’s
beyond my control!” </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Voting isn’t though (beyond your control that is). Please vote!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
third finger of my right hand has decided to become very arthritic
since the start of the new year but I’m going to use it anyway, and being
the eternal optimist, I'll pretend it’s going through a growth phase. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf4IAedtCGeVxJ0jTrBE2uym6g9KLP9I2Y72UdwqeYWecNRBjAXmm3aCyOQO4mgW7GnB4kykO7U0LADQom8wOyFTU39OhJaNUSttKAR3_5LDzwIjxwy0fAoaNwAbqsZCP5LBZqwug-Dwp_9kEYZdNlddSUPo_a5VZ-oAHgrdrvDlFdh0ESXgt8n0qrQ/s8946/Amaryllis%20finger%20flipped.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8946" data-original-width="5822" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf4IAedtCGeVxJ0jTrBE2uym6g9KLP9I2Y72UdwqeYWecNRBjAXmm3aCyOQO4mgW7GnB4kykO7U0LADQom8wOyFTU39OhJaNUSttKAR3_5LDzwIjxwy0fAoaNwAbqsZCP5LBZqwug-Dwp_9kEYZdNlddSUPo_a5VZ-oAHgrdrvDlFdh0ESXgt8n0qrQ/w417-h640/Amaryllis%20finger%20flipped.jpeg" width="417" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />My
New Year’s Revolution? My coup d’état? 2024 will be a year of wild abandon.
To hell with trying to control what happens in life. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
choose to breathe. Happy 2024!</span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-67215029826055381662024-01-16T21:37:00.001-05:002024-01-16T22:11:08.422-05:00UNE RÉVOLUTION DU NOUVEL AN<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oui, nous sommes en 2024, et soyons réalistes, un simple chiffre ne
modifie pas fondamentalement la vie de chacun. Cependant, ce qui en
découle, c'est l'incitation à essayer quelque chose de nouveau.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Le terme "résolution" ne m'emballe pas particulièrement.
Il me semble un peu trop rigide, trop définitif. On y retrouve plusieurs définitions, la plupart étant
associées, à mes yeux, plus à de l'entêtement qu'à une véritable
résolution. Le premier n'est pas toujours une mauvaise chose, bien que
cela puisse être agaçant lorsque l'on en est la victime.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">La définition médicale, quant à elle, me plaît bien : la réduction ou la
disparition d'un gonflement ou d'une inflammation sans <a href="https://www.linternaute.fr/dictionnaire/fr/definition/suppuration/" target="_blank">suppuration</a>. Je
dois avouer avoir dû rechercher le dernier mot. Après l'avoir fait, j'ai regretté presque de l'avoir fait, mais cela a suscité chez moi une
certaine réflexion. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">L'année 2023 a été difficile à bien des égards. Il y
avait une sorte de suppuration métaphorique dans l'air. J'ai été
complètement stressé la majeure partie du temps, pour des raisons
diverses, certaines positives, d'autres moins. Pour faire face à mes
frustrations et à mon anxiété, j'ai trouvé refuge dans l'art, même si,
soyons honnêtes, lorsque tout part en vrille, créer de l'art devient
souvent une mission impossible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">En revisitant le passé, une habitude que je n'ai pas souvent, je
réfléchis à quel point il est important de ne pas connaître l'avenir. Je
ne souhaite pas saboter la source de revenus des diseurs de bonne
aventure, mais sérieusement ! Qui veut savoir à l'avance qu'un désastre personnel est en embuscade ?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">J'étais pleine de positivité le 31 décembre, le 1er janvier et le 2
janvier. Comme ces journées étaient relativement calmes, j'ai réussi à
préparer une proposition artistique que j'ai envoyée bien avant la date
limite. J'ai pensé "Super ! J'ai tout sous contrôle ! Je peux faire
ceci, cela, et créer beaucoup plus d'art !" Mais le 3 janvier, mes "Je
peux" se sont évaporés. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ce qui m'amène à cette chaire où je choisis de partager un peu de philosophie simple et banale. Ne rien anticiper. Il suffit d'examiner les guerres inutiles dans le monde pour savoir que simplement exister est un coup de dés. Planifiez, essayez, préparez-vous, mais réalisez que vous n'aurez jamais le contrôle sur une grande partie de ce qui se passe dans la vie. Une fois que cela est intériorisé, peut-être qu'une personne peut se détendre et murmurer : "Eh bien, ça, c'est au-delà de mon contrôle !"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Voter, cependant, n'est pas au-delà de votre contrôle. Alors, je vous en prie, votez !</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Le troisième doigt de ma main droite a décidé de devenir très
arthritique depuis le début de la nouvelle année, mais je vais quand
même l'utiliser. Étant l'éternelle optimiste, je vais faire comme s'il
traversait une phase de croissance.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDzHRSRxYgkomAyJMc4ONc2IJ9WJ-OSpVa5OVDu9zoE2YIlTTClCXyj1ZteBGrKIWfLWqbG2LgQwFhecYrbDjb7Y0P5puNL4b2FODdk6c4ZjkmuNPbEmzyinVKf1h8ddGMJADpF6dtSNlw-o9bd1x7J52sV8G8TO3vKQbN5BfZ8tdHTE2s3V4XaDjWg/s8946/Amaryllis%20finger%20flipped.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8946" data-original-width="5822" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDzHRSRxYgkomAyJMc4ONc2IJ9WJ-OSpVa5OVDu9zoE2YIlTTClCXyj1ZteBGrKIWfLWqbG2LgQwFhecYrbDjb7Y0P5puNL4b2FODdk6c4ZjkmuNPbEmzyinVKf1h8ddGMJADpF6dtSNlw-o9bd1x7J52sV8G8TO3vKQbN5BfZ8tdHTE2s3V4XaDjWg/w416-h640/Amaryllis%20finger%20flipped.jpeg" width="416" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ma Révolution du Nouvel An ? Mon coup d'État ? 2024 sera une année d'abandon total. Peu importe d'essayer de contrôler ce qui se passe dans la vie.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Je choisis de respirer. Bonne année 2024 !</span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-59915616418926096422023-12-18T13:31:00.002-05:002023-12-18T15:44:22.811-05:00DÉTAILS RÉGLÉS<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Dans mon billet de blogue <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/tout-le-monde-un-livre-en-lui.html" target="_blank">"Tout le monde a un livre en lui ?"</a>, j'ai mentionné qu'il me restait quelques détails à régler concernant ma première tentative d'auto-édition. Eh bien, j'ai acquis quelques connaissances sur le patrimoine canadien/québécois et la création de livres, bien que je me trouve encore dans un bain de naïveté. Dans l'ensemble, ma première tentative a finalement abouti... du moins, je l'espère.<br /><br />Mon concept initial pour Hybrida Flores était relativement simple : écrire du texte pour un livre d'art, préparer les images, la couverture, la mise en page et voilà ! Croyant être prête à exceller dans un autre domaine créatif, j'ai été surprise d'apprendre que l'orbite de l'édition est tout aussi folle et complexe que celle du monde de l'art (excusez les analogies spatiales, mais honnêtement, l'expérience était bien plus étrange que je ne m'y attendais).<br /><br /><b>Apprentissage par essais et erreurs :</b><br /><br />J'étais incroyablement excité d'avoir réussi à créer une parodie funky d'un traité botanique tout en préparant simultanément une exposition d'art ! J'avais de très bonnes intentions.<br /><br />Par exemple :<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1</b></span> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>J'ai toujours été impressionné par les catalogues des musées d'art européens imprimés dans plusieurs langues au sein d'un même livre. Génial ! Une impression, plusieurs langues. Pas de problème de "Tour de Babel" ici. J'ai donc créé un manuscrit bilingue (français et anglais) afin d'atteindre autant de personnes que possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2</b></span><br /><br />J'ai veillé à ce que l'écriture soit suffisamment grande pour permettre aux personnes de plus de quarante ans de le parcourir à loisir sans avoir à sortir une loupe pour le lire. Oui, vous l'avez deviné ! Je déteste les flacons de pilules.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3</b></span><br /><br />J'ai placé des images dans un cadre fin et linéaire pour évoquer les volumes de référence scientifique anciens. Un peu de latin décalé n'a pas nui non plus.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPbsK5VS4cH04vPD3cP-TnirTb9L5RBv_Ayphiys_U_zdiYdJ7_QIyj1xpR1XWSAeSeNLzanFIfttbtpgJno7QflZxOJAE84PX6TMCPKxH1A_7xMYTgniYFuaeJ16vbnafm1tXMVZkEY9_FnxOPF55zbFKzAjSdpT2e8QR1oveLlZW5j1yFTp_SV2iw/s3300/Monica%20Captionem%20Insectum.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPbsK5VS4cH04vPD3cP-TnirTb9L5RBv_Ayphiys_U_zdiYdJ7_QIyj1xpR1XWSAeSeNLzanFIfttbtpgJno7QflZxOJAE84PX6TMCPKxH1A_7xMYTgniYFuaeJ16vbnafm1tXMVZkEY9_FnxOPF55zbFKzAjSdpT2e8QR1oveLlZW5j1yFTp_SV2iw/w480-h640/Monica%20Captionem%20Insectum.sm.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4</b></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>J'ai choisi des couleurs vibrantes pour exciter, attirer et maintenir l'intérêt du spectateur, et ajouté des éléments inattendus sur certaines pages pour un peu de piquant... comme ce triste tournesol par jour venteux.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00yvgXEqR1S0k-kH4Fs3dl8kC1zUvZYi_XQIsCjdOjzJgpBnyJzLtCWbKmLigDVZWiDr3Y52TSyA2L7NnhSgbrJFbA2c7s0rFlzszaCmLhltrU71oZVJLBuXC7vHVI5KcRa421mp_QkkgyKRywCjsJjza0_YQiFhZTUypWwAKx_tjCp8Bc0-uXCzd0g/s7200/Tristis_Helianthus.WINDY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7200" data-original-width="5400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00yvgXEqR1S0k-kH4Fs3dl8kC1zUvZYi_XQIsCjdOjzJgpBnyJzLtCWbKmLigDVZWiDr3Y52TSyA2L7NnhSgbrJFbA2c7s0rFlzszaCmLhltrU71oZVJLBuXC7vHVI5KcRa421mp_QkkgyKRywCjsJjza0_YQiFhZTUypWwAKx_tjCp8Bc0-uXCzd0g/w480-h640/Tristis_Helianthus.WINDY.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>J'avais prévu les frais d'édition pour un petit nombre de livres et mis de l'argent de côté. Cependant, j'ai été étonné par mes coûts finaux (ajoutez le prix de la première épreuve et les frais d'expédition et les taxes deux fois, une fois pour la première épreuve et encore pour la commande en volume). Et puis les problèmes inévitables ont commencé et je ne suis pas sûr de vouloir tous les énumérer. Ce billet pourrait durer éternellement, mais essayons d'être concis en laissant quelques détails de côté.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>L'outil de conception <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/" target="_blank">BookWright de Blurb</a> est très convivial. J'étais sûr d'avoir tout sous contrôle. Après avoir reçu ma première épreuve, j'ai apporté des modifications mineures et j'ai pensé que j'avais terminé. J'ai écrit à <a href="https://bibliotheque-archives.canada.ca/fra/Pages/accueil.aspx" target="_blank">Bibliothèque et Archives Canada </a>et obtenu un numéro ISBN. À des fins patrimoniales, il me fallait leur envoyer une copie du livre une fois publiée.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Lorsque j'étais prête à commander mes exemplaires, j'ai saisi mon précieux numéro ISBN dans l'outil de conception Blurb. Cela semblait parfait, mais étant moi-même, j'ai décidé de vérifier le tout une dernière fois, et c'est là que tout a dérapé. Lorsque j'ai essayé de commander, Blurb ne m'a pas permis d'utiliser le même numéro ISBN, car l'outil de conception, incapable de faire preuve du moindre jugement, a supposé que je l'avais déjà utilisé. Comment ça ? Je n'avais encore rien commandé !</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Parlons maintenant du service client à notre époque sans être trop acerbes. Le processus implique d'obtenir quelque chose appelé un "ticket" et d'écrire "ad infinitum" à propos de votre problème par courriel. Chronophage ? Absolument ! Le téléphone ? ... un outil de conversation qui permet à deux personnes de résoudre un problème en cinq minutes ? Oubliez ça ! Impossible !</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Il a fallu des jours pour résoudre le problème et l'expédition depuis les États-Unis a également pris du temps. Les "livres" devaient être prêts pour l'ouverture de mon exposition, mais bien sûr, ils ne l'étaient pas. Seule la première épreuve à 82,00 $ était disponible pour que les visiteurs la consultent. Un bel exemple de <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_de_Murphy" target="_blank">la loi de Murphy</a>.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Mais ça ne s'est pas tout à fait arrêté là, n'est-ce pas ?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Entre-temps, j'ai découvert par des amis que, selon la loi, je devais également envoyer une copie à l'équivalent québécois de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, <a href="https://www.banq.qc.ca/" target="_blank">la BAnQ</a>. Je n'avais jamais anticipé que la réalisation d'un livre pourrait me conduire en détention. Quelques formulaires plus tard, et les deux gouvernements ont finalement reçu leurs exemplaires.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>La cerise sur le gâteau, c'est qu'au moins trois de mes livres avaient une impression décolorée et devaient être refaits. Une fois de plus, ce problème a été résolu en envoyant une série de photos par courriel au service à la clientèle de Blurb. Les exemplaires pâles ont finalement été remplacés par trois d'excellente qualité. Il faut cultiver la patience dans ce monde.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Alors, qu'ai-je appris ?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>1</span></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Donnez-vous amplement de temps lorsque vous souhaitez créer quelque chose lié à l'édition. Les choses peuvent mal tourner même lorsque vous pensez faire tout correctement.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>2</span></span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Blurb imprime de magnifiques livres, mais ne vous attendez jamais à parler à un être humain si vous avez un problème. ET n'oubliez pas d'ajouter votre numéro ISBN à la fin du processus, seulement lorsque vous êtes sur le point de payer votre commande.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>3</span></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Imprimez suffisamment d'exemplaires pour le gouvernement. J'ai approfondi cette question et presque tous les pays exigent une copie de ce que leurs citoyens écrivent, que le livre ait ou non un numéro ISBN attribué. Qui aurait cru ?</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Franchement, l'épreuve en valait la peine, car chaque fois que je tourne une page d'Hybrida Flores, je souris. Ci-dessous, une vidéo rapide de à quoi ressemble mon recueuil de plantes inexistantes au format souple de 8" x 10".</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='588' height='386' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-b9Oh9yu0_FVKpChBe6QvwnNg0MI2yzFoO5QPVgP_vYlGraFyO_kLlcc0Hn_DVfFG4xG0MaF-rd38YeLevA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><p></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-71730518172924154362023-12-18T13:19:00.001-05:002023-12-18T13:21:38.029-05:00IRONING DONE!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In my blogpost <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/everyone-has-book-inside-them.html" target="_blank">"Everyone has a book inside them?"</a>, I mentioned that I still had a few things to iron out in regards to my first attempt at self-publishing. Well I acquired <i>some</i> knowledge about Canadian/Québec Heritage and book creation although I'm still swimming in a bath of naivete. For the most part, my first attempt has finally come together...</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I hope.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My initial concept for Hybrida Flores was relatively straightforward; write text for an art book, prepare the images, cover, layout and voilà! Believing I was ready to ace another creative domain, I was surprised to learn that the publishing orbit is just as crazy and complex as the art sphere (excuse the space analogies but frankly, the experience was way more alien than I expected). </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Learning by trial and error</b>: </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was incredibly excited that I actually managed to create a funky parody of a botanical tome while
simultaneously preparing an art exhibition! </span></span>I had really good intentions (and yes, I am familiar with the road to hell).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For example: <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was always impressed with catalogues in European art museums that were printed in various languages within one book. Brilliant! One printing, many tongues. No "Tower of Babel" problem here. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So I created a bilingual manuscript (French and English) in order to reach as many people as possible. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 </b></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I made sure the writing was big enough to allow people over forty to peruse it at their leisure without having to pull out a magnifying glass to read it. Yes, you guessed it! I hate pill bottles. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3</b></span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I placed images within a slender, linear frame to echo vintage scientific reference volumes. A bit of funky Latin didn't hurt either.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8roD5f_08LKwF1GfAU9VzKBpw67OwnXAx7920lDzhdqpvKgDKYT14WGC8CQ0xX5BMyrViQ00eMvINDQvPQP37cEjFy26QmKZxmAxwmpRoOrXEEmQ57o0UAN7QXp_Dg26gVJLWPuYa7-Q4XNEgBhyphenhyphenD0WRjnXhnnqli0xKAuGOSj8mHEkZhGuJPQvXrxw/s3300/Monica%20Captionem%20Insectum.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8roD5f_08LKwF1GfAU9VzKBpw67OwnXAx7920lDzhdqpvKgDKYT14WGC8CQ0xX5BMyrViQ00eMvINDQvPQP37cEjFy26QmKZxmAxwmpRoOrXEEmQ57o0UAN7QXp_Dg26gVJLWPuYa7-Q4XNEgBhyphenhyphenD0WRjnXhnnqli0xKAuGOSj8mHEkZhGuJPQvXrxw/w480-h640/Monica%20Captionem%20Insectum.sm.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4 </b></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I chose vibrant colours to excite, catch and keep the viewer's interest, and added unexpected elements in some pages for a bit of piquant...such as this sad sunflower on a windy day.<br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0ZzQKpQwa5ni6Rihs2B8SZ0pEkYHe6MYcyKtBhH3ErMUf71jjvZZpO3Y50P2jbAnWg9U9AvCdniy8yT3yGR5psllAywfk4sag2l5R5PEusF5SlfdvlF-sGH83pNqoXYWIHDVrrDZ4faLMDdzqGO5PYNPUUz9QhqEhS6X3zvsqZCN8qxjF4Mxsm5SYw/s7200/Tristis_Helianthus.WINDY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7200" data-original-width="5400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0ZzQKpQwa5ni6Rihs2B8SZ0pEkYHe6MYcyKtBhH3ErMUf71jjvZZpO3Y50P2jbAnWg9U9AvCdniy8yT3yGR5psllAywfk4sag2l5R5PEusF5SlfdvlF-sGH83pNqoXYWIHDVrrDZ4faLMDdzqGO5PYNPUUz9QhqEhS6X3zvsqZCN8qxjF4Mxsm5SYw/w480-h640/Tristis_Helianthus.WINDY.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I foresaw the expense of
publishing a small number of books and put some money aside. Ultimately though, I
was still astounded by my final costs (add the price of the initial proof and shipping and taxes twice, once for the proof and once for the volume order). </span>And then the glitches started as they invariably do, and I'm not sure I want to enumerate them all. This post might go on forever but let me attempt to be concise by leaving a few things out.<br /></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.blurb.ca/bookwright" target="_blank">The BookWright design tool from Blurb</a> is very user friendly. I was sure I had everything under control. After receiving my initial proof, I made minor changes and felt I was done. I wrote to </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng" target="_blank">Library and Archives Canada</a></span> and obtained an ISBN number. For heritage purposes, I was required to send them a copy of the book once it was published.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I was ready to order my copies, I entered my <i>precious</i> ISBN number into the Blurb design tool. It looked great but me being me, I decided to triple check everything one last time and that's when everything went south. When I tried to order, Blurb wouldn't allow me to use the same ISBN number because the design tool, (unable to display any judgment whatsoever), assumed I had already used it. Say what? I hadn't ordered a thing yet! <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now let's talk about customer service in this day and age without getting overly </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">trenchant</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">. The process involves getting something called a "ticket" and writing "ad infinitum" about your problem via email. Time consuming? You betcha! Telephone? ...a conversation tool that allows two people to resolve an issue in five minutes? Forget it! Not doable!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It took days to solve the problem and shipping from the U.S. also took time.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The "books" were meant to be
ready for the opening of my show but of course they weren't. Only the $82.00 proof was
available for visitors to peruse. A fine example of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law" target="_blank">Murphy's Law</a>.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it didn't quite end there did it? </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meanwhile I found out through friends that by law, I was also required to send a copy to the Québec equivalent of Library and Archives Canada, <a href="https://www.banq.qc.ca/" target="_blank">BAnQ</a>. I never anticipated that putting together a book might land me in lockup. A few forms later and both governments eventually received their copies.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The icing on the cake was that at least three of my books had faded printing and had to be redone. Once again, this issue was resolved by sending a slew of pictures via email to Blurb customer service. The pale ones were eventually replaced with three of excellent quality. One needs to cultivate patience in this world.<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So what did I learn?</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></b> </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Give yourself plenty of time when you want to create anything to do with publishing. Things can go wrong even when you think you are doing everything right.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2</b></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Blurb prints beautiful books but don't expect to ever talk with a human being if you have a problem. AND please do not forget to add your ISBN number at the end of the process, <i>only </i>when you are about to pay for your order.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Print enough copies for the government. I have looked into this some more and nearly all countries require a copy of what their citizens write whether the book has an assigned ISBN number or not. Who knew? <br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Frankly the ordeal was well worth the effort because every time I turn a page of Hybrida Flores, I smile.</span></span></span> Below is a quickie video of what my 8" x10" soft cover compendium of non-existent plants looks like. </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='651' height='513' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqxOLVefsrJ646Z-AHwK07CeXOBWhiX-OSRPs1F4owrUx8OvAmqnOiaDHVe5wmDgOdyCQwGSOyGJUBcSE8bw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-65859239032364148502023-11-04T12:16:00.001-04:002023-11-04T12:31:58.477-04:00DE LA TEMPÊTE DE VERGLAS AU GNOME DE JARDIN<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Montréal a connu l'une de ses célèbres tempêtes de verglas en avril 2023. Je n'aurais jamais pensé que cela aboutirait à la création de quelques œuvres d'art et thèmes pour un projet futur, mais la vie a ses propres plans.<br /><br />La plupart d'entre nous étaient reconnaissants que cela ne se soit pas produit en février. Lorsque des événements bizarres comme celui-ci se produisent, j'essaie personnellement de m'accrocher aux “éléments positifs" où je peux les trouver. Mon conjoint et moi avons eu de la chance car nous avons un poêle à bois très efficace dans ce que nous appelons la pièce rouge. Nous avons isolé la zone du reste de la maison en fermant les portes et avons commencé à brûler notre bois factice non polluant pour que je puisse mettre des tasses d'eau dessus afin de préparer du thé tiède.<br /><br />Presque tout le monde a perdu l'électricité pendant cette tempête, certains pendant des périodes plus longues que d'autres. J'ai acheté un chargeur de téléphone dès que j'ai pu après cela. C'était terriblement stressant de voir ma batterie se décharger alors que j'essayais de fonctionner dans le noir. Les téléphones cellulaires prennent une importance majeure lors des pannes de courant.<br /><br />Le toit de ma voiture avait des enfoncements créés par les lances de glace qui tombaient des arbres. Des branches ont transpercé notre jardin, et cela a pris à mon partenaire tout l'été pour tout nettoyer. Certaines branches étaient énormes et vraiment dangereuses, pénétrant d'un pied de profondeur dans l'herbe.<br /><br />Habituellement, lorsque l'électricité est coupée et qu'il fait froid, nous dormons beaucoup. En de telles occasions, je pense toujours à nos ancêtres qui travaillaient à la lueur des bougies. Je suis étonné que l'humanité ait réussi à accomplir quoi que ce soit. Cela dit, beaucoup n'étaient probablement pas au Canada à essayer de se réchauffer.<br /><br />Certains de mes amis essayaient aussi de se réchauffer, en se glissant sous leurs couvertures portant des manteaux d'hiver, des tuques et des mitaines. Mon amie Josée a pris une photo de son conjoint Roland portant une tuque extra longue.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEKZSFeeFIX0wMC3Jlb-g3Mxia9aVZZmmhZl2s6Yi56cKeL5EpwXbbB6OUn0kDlpJFU5RpXINYL-ruzjSlR51G4NsTmF53ntmS7q3VTB8hz63yFj9-mq9Wm9PEhATc8SzyPAsrnUNhkZQKGRGXLBu2LcY0FUpVwDkUt0WqqR7Dj4FcyhF0fQ60nt60A/s1008/Roland.sm.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEKZSFeeFIX0wMC3Jlb-g3Mxia9aVZZmmhZl2s6Yi56cKeL5EpwXbbB6OUn0kDlpJFU5RpXINYL-ruzjSlR51G4NsTmF53ntmS7q3VTB8hz63yFj9-mq9Wm9PEhATc8SzyPAsrnUNhkZQKGRGXLBu2LcY0FUpVwDkUt0WqqR7Dj4FcyhF0fQ60nt60A/w288-h400/Roland.sm.JPG" width="288" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ils ont gentiment envoyé des photos de leur aventure en contribution à mon projet <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/la-naissance-dune-suite-botanique.html" target="_blank">Suite Botanique</a>. J'étais fasciné par les vêtements d'hiver, en particulier la tuque tricotée de Roland avec son extrémité effilée. Plus je dessinais, plus il me rappelait un gnome de jardin (un beaucoup plus beau bien sûr). <br /><br />Sachez maintenant que j'ai cultivé divers jardins au cours de ma vie mais n'ai jamais possédé de gnome de jardin. J'ai décidé de partir sur l'idée de l'ornement de jardin et j'ai fini par créer plusieurs œuvres. J'en ai choisi deux pour l'exposition hybride. Peu d'artistes envisagent les gnomes de jardin comme source d'inspiration pour créer des œuvres d'art, mais j'aime les sujets insolites.<br /><br />Pendant un certain temps, mon dessin est passé de l'horizontal au vertical. J'ai particulièrement apprécié de dessiner la barbe et la bordure tissée de la tuque.<br /><br />Alors parlons un peu plus des gnomes : qui sont-ils et comment ont-ils fini dans les jardins ? <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome" target="_blank">Selon un peu de recherche sur Internet,</a><br /></span><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Les gnomes ne sont pas très grands, environ 45 centimètres de haut,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Ce sont des habitants de la terre qui se déplacent aisément à travers le sol,</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Ils étaient des femmes prudes dans leurs vies passées </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(prudes, oh mon cerveau </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">s'emballe !),</span> </span></span> </span> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Les gnomes féminins sont appelés des "gnomides ou gnomesses",</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Ils existent depuis longtemps, surtout en Europe,</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Ils protègent et aident les jardins à pousser.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ils semblent être des aides parfaites pour un jardin futuriste post-catastrophe climatique. <br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ci-dessous, mon tout premier dessin d'un gnome de jardin traditionnel. J'avais prévu de le faire suspendre à quelque chose, alors j'ai dessiné un bras tendu. J'adore les grands pieds. Ceux de ce gars sont peut-être un peu hors de caractère pour lui </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto">mais le sont certainement dans le mien</span></span>. Les pieds sont des extrémités fascinantes.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTeQRyS8wEYaVHLllX_jT9U6FaDvAJ7HlZ2Zf5OCeviHPo3xvESNweZf_mRcCiv0uSgeExS0ATjiFEQJZjpvG8xiTyWADeFFzRBpyH6WWejQKXtQXfLEGsSCm0HePEztGtpu1pj2V_D5r9UYxxh_IX9xKBob-FgSbSfvAEFnA0B_dOYkz6i8empskRw/s1080/GNOME.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTeQRyS8wEYaVHLllX_jT9U6FaDvAJ7HlZ2Zf5OCeviHPo3xvESNweZf_mRcCiv0uSgeExS0ATjiFEQJZjpvG8xiTyWADeFFzRBpyH6WWejQKXtQXfLEGsSCm0HePEztGtpu1pj2V_D5r9UYxxh_IX9xKBob-FgSbSfvAEFnA0B_dOYkz6i8empskRw/w462-h640/GNOME.sm.jpeg" width="462" /></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mon gnome de jardin s'est fusionné avec le dessin que j'ai fait de Roland, et j'ai fini par avoir plusieurs alternatives sur mon iPad. J'en ai choisi seulement deux pour mon exposition et mon livre compagnon <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/tout-le-monde-un-livre-en-lui.html" target="_blank">Hybrida Flores</a>. "Renaissance" est le premier que j'ai imprimé.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4ZE_fqWLBPLry32ALEMiiwpaGganRcIVwh5JLX2nont9vF5g16Q-Cz-LsvhadPeEQ2ee34mTzs1IaM4q2rljgf51COs-FXY33twau9q9WxIKbaLn0MRJ59-AiuJTMxMDN0BJ8CnkKe2tDpHLDfmeHURwM_7L8dUi0IY69zLPI5hSUKr1Xb6GTKjKcQ/s2664/Roland.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="2664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4ZE_fqWLBPLry32ALEMiiwpaGganRcIVwh5JLX2nont9vF5g16Q-Cz-LsvhadPeEQ2ee34mTzs1IaM4q2rljgf51COs-FXY33twau9q9WxIKbaLn0MRJ59-AiuJTMxMDN0BJ8CnkKe2tDpHLDfmeHURwM_7L8dUi0IY69zLPI5hSUKr1Xb6GTKjKcQ/s16000/Roland.sm.jpeg" /></a></div> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Puis est venu "Suspendu".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyyIVjPPk1Sh2F192dA5UBNSbXtHp8gbl6thzofmkUKmb6Ln3t5krKAkWXIrwIQjdrmiTgLA0rCDUM9V_p0yxnKvazBBFJiXrgCjIwMA-YjvUf9Xm-wu85_UiklPWNNoGhBKjpBLapfj4noJ9k9mi7gmQnOqiMw8J7ah2Hvuzm7wq6Cg4xqhA-34JZw/s1080/Roland%20Gnome.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyyIVjPPk1Sh2F192dA5UBNSbXtHp8gbl6thzofmkUKmb6Ln3t5krKAkWXIrwIQjdrmiTgLA0rCDUM9V_p0yxnKvazBBFJiXrgCjIwMA-YjvUf9Xm-wu85_UiklPWNNoGhBKjpBLapfj4noJ9k9mi7gmQnOqiMw8J7ah2Hvuzm7wq6Cg4xqhA-34JZw/s16000/Roland%20Gnome.sm.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On pourrait penser que cela serait la fin de mes aventures gnomiques, mais non, pas si vite ! Ne savez-vous pas que ma chère amie <a href="https://claudineascher.com/" target="_blank">Claudine Ascher</a>, artiste extraordinaire et jardinière passionnée, m'a demandé de créer une œuvre d'art où elle serait une gnomide de jardin ? C'est génial, non ? Elle a déjà posé pour une série de photos dans son jardin fleuri fantastique. <br /><br />On dirait que je suis enracinée à ce projet pour un bon moment à venir.</span><br /></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-32109768653469878862023-11-04T12:11:00.001-04:002023-11-04T12:11:36.878-04:00FROM ICE STORM TO GARDEN GNOME<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Montreal had one of its infamous ice storms last April 2023. I never thought it would lead to the creation of a couple of artworks and themes for a future project, but life has a way of leading us where it wants to.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most of us were thankful it didn't happen in February. When freaky events like this occur, I personally try to hold on to "positives" wherever I can find them. My companion and I were particularly lucky because we have a very efficient wood stove in what we call the red room. We isolated the area from the rest of the house by closing doors and started burning our non-polluting fake wood so I could put cups of water on top to make some lukewarm tea.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nearly everyone lost power during that storm, some for longer periods than others. I bought a phone charger as soon as I could after that. It was terribly stressful to see my battery fade while trying to function in the dark. Cell phones take on major importance during power failures. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The roof of my car had indentations created by the ice spears that fell from trees. Branches stabbed our yard, and it took my partner all summer to clean everything up. Some limbs were huge and positively deadly, penetrating over a foot deep into the grass. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Usually when the power goes out and it's cold, we sleep a lot. At times like these, I always think of our ancestors who worked by candlelight. I'm amazed that humanity managed to achieve anything at all. Mind you, many were probably not in Canada trying to keep warm. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some friends of mine were also trying to keep warm, and they got under their bed covers wearing </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">winter coats, hats and mitts. Josée took a photo of her partner Roland wearing an extra long tuque.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nq2lwIBGLt7ShOlt-KHV6QynMSzVp6Nagsskz_Ekl3RW-SJLJSDig_2CtseSPF7yrhcxEx0skqLAWANWxjCwbIvIwIqnDj-Wrij_btXnTD9wi1mGwomnl9ZdUvC6YcHtX6jSEwYtt0GJ21aU1O3iqgdpVQpogTGNTBmvDZoONI3UC_v7fnduzmHy_Q/s1008/Roland.sm.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nq2lwIBGLt7ShOlt-KHV6QynMSzVp6Nagsskz_Ekl3RW-SJLJSDig_2CtseSPF7yrhcxEx0skqLAWANWxjCwbIvIwIqnDj-Wrij_btXnTD9wi1mGwomnl9ZdUvC6YcHtX6jSEwYtt0GJ21aU1O3iqgdpVQpogTGNTBmvDZoONI3UC_v7fnduzmHy_Q/w288-h400/Roland.sm.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They kindly forwarded pictures of their adventure as a contribution to my project <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-birth-of-botanical-suite.html" target="_blank">Suite Botanique</a>. I was fascinated by the winter garments, especially Roland's knitted cap with its long tapered end. The more I drew, the more he reminded me of a garden <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome" target="_blank">gnome</a> (a much more handsome version of course). </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now let it be known that I have grown a variety of gardens in my lifetime but have never owned a gnome. I decided to run with the garden ornament idea and ended up with a number of artworks. I
chose two for the hybrid show. Few artists contemplate gnomes as inspiration for creating artwork, but I find weird subject matter challenging. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For a while, my drawing veered from horizontal to vertical. I particularly enjoyed drawing the beard and the woven border of the hat.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So more about gnomes: what are they and why/how did they end up in gardens? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnome" target="_blank">According to a bit of Internet research</a>,<br /></span></span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gnomes aren't very big, about 18 inches high, </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They are earth dwellers who move effortlessly through terra firma,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They were prudish women in their past lives (prudish, oh-oh! my brain is now on overdrive!),</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Female gnomes are known as "gnomides or gnomesses",</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.patioproductions.com/blog/fascinating-stuff/history-of-garden-gnomes/" target="_blank">They've been around for a long time, especially in Europe, <br /></a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They protect and help gardens grow. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></li></ol><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They sound like perfect helpers for a futuristic garden post climate disaster.</span><div style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Below is my first ever drawing of a traditional gnome. I planned on having </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">him </span>hang from something so I drew an outstretched arm. I love big feet. The ones on this guy are perhaps out of character for him but definitely in character for me. Feet are fascinating extremities.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpBg0NNOSjImC06z7l5Xkzgpvas2pR6vjJVunWNhkpy-IuaXmxn3FPyAdtET-VrNM-1ydzvpoZ4AhvlHIseLDKsaSwQdJuMHORRngg8V5G3oht-HX8riW_pxocOgg_KPUuez4opKm7irRj9wMVKiBY0voSOtjwaELvopazAvMduy7pnDJAYo88bY4mQ/s1080/GNOME.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpBg0NNOSjImC06z7l5Xkzgpvas2pR6vjJVunWNhkpy-IuaXmxn3FPyAdtET-VrNM-1ydzvpoZ4AhvlHIseLDKsaSwQdJuMHORRngg8V5G3oht-HX8riW_pxocOgg_KPUuez4opKm7irRj9wMVKiBY0voSOtjwaELvopazAvMduy7pnDJAYo88bY4mQ/w461-h640/GNOME.sm.jpeg" width="461" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My gnome fused with the drawing I did of Roland, and I ended up with a variety of alternatives on my iPad. I only chose a couple for my show and companion book <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/everyone-has-book-inside-them.html" target="_blank">Hybrida Flores.</a> "Rebirth" is the first one I printed.</span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVezyOS2gKOuw1gMj1JhIXXLh1_Ohvv45dwgoJpnWoPKfro1H18Mcpp8moVz70IZIn_sVDpcGW8i0Hgtx9ZJSPJG1ItKfLBOLperYneJllBKWJmUefLIWgFnXjjZOWcdELL2GFt-qUdBAZILEzKuqGVk7Pleex-yUsb1SVUk4mOhbkX9HKgk_K-N385A/s2664/Roland.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="2664" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVezyOS2gKOuw1gMj1JhIXXLh1_Ohvv45dwgoJpnWoPKfro1H18Mcpp8moVz70IZIn_sVDpcGW8i0Hgtx9ZJSPJG1ItKfLBOLperYneJllBKWJmUefLIWgFnXjjZOWcdELL2GFt-qUdBAZILEzKuqGVk7Pleex-yUsb1SVUk4mOhbkX9HKgk_K-N385A/s16000/Roland.sm.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then came "Suspended".</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DK1enWIthvURrqw_madSIWIs-bwi5rWauDRA2BuegcEYkoyWm0nabIEShEdkY_H0OJXs0BYdiFMKI7qS2NZXoAXXo9yebm6_pEUMOFMUcJMD31QuNAoEdsknMY3V6eTmFWJRDL071g0-7R_cjpe4plHLNdS5bsljNnsMxoEtpzI7QDlBGc6ld-mTNQ/s1080/Roland%20Gnome.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DK1enWIthvURrqw_madSIWIs-bwi5rWauDRA2BuegcEYkoyWm0nabIEShEdkY_H0OJXs0BYdiFMKI7qS2NZXoAXXo9yebm6_pEUMOFMUcJMD31QuNAoEdsknMY3V6eTmFWJRDL071g0-7R_cjpe4plHLNdS5bsljNnsMxoEtpzI7QDlBGc6ld-mTNQ/s16000/Roland%20Gnome.sm.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now one might think this would be the end of my Gnomadic adventures, but nyet, not so fast! Wouldn't you know that my dear friend <a href="https://claudineascher.com/" target="_blank">Claudine Ascher,</a> artist </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">extraordinaire </span>and avid gardener, has asked me to create an artwork starring her as a gnome? How cool is that? She has already posed for a slew of pictures in her fantastic flowering garden. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Looks like I'm rooted to this project for a while to come.</span></p></div>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-68642164268669244472023-10-12T15:33:00.005-04:002023-12-18T15:37:49.568-05:00TOUT LE MONDE A UN LIVRE EN LUI ?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">En tant qu'amoureuse des livres, j'ai toujours pensé que ce serait
vraiment cool d'en écrire un. J'ai ressenti un sentiment
d'accomplissement ambigu lorsque j'ai écrit mon <a href="https://www.dianecollet.com/details/thesis.pdf" target="_blank">mémoire de maîtrise</a>. Il
ressemblait à un livre, il était relié comme un livre, ça devait être un
livre !</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mais non, ce n'était pas le cas.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peut-être parce
que l'écriture universitaire n'est pas particulièrement divertissante,
un mémoire ne semble pas tout à fait être une réalisation artistique.
Pour être juste, en écrire un mène généralement à des études et des
réflexions approfondies de la part du lecteur, mais tout cela se passe
dans le contexte académique. Seule une petite fraction de personnes a
réellement l'occasion de le lire !</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">L'un de mes rêves profondément
enracinés est de concevoir éventuellement un roman graphique, mais pas
selon ses innombrables règles et conventions. Mon imagination va plutôt
dans la direction de <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Favorite-Thing-Monsters-Emil-Ferris/dp/1606999591" target="_blank">"My Favorite Thing is Monsters"</a>. Je ne
sais pas encore comment le concrétiser. J'ai l'impression que le
chaudron mijote mais mes idées et concepts sont encore beaucoup trop
vagues. Il semble que de sérieux gribouillages se produiront dans un
avenir proche.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cependant, j'ai commencé à m'amuser et à
m'auto-éditer dans le domaine de la fiction. J'ai créé plusieurs
impressions numériques d'hybrides humains/plantes pour ma récente
exposition d'art, <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/la-naissance-dune-suite-botanique.html" target="_blank">Suite Botanique</a>, qui a ouvert ses portes le 29
septembre 2023 au centre d’artistes autogéré <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart.</a> Alors que je
dessinais, je ne pouvais m'empêcher de penser que l'exposition avait
besoin d'un codex compagnon. Étant donné que ma végétation hybridée était
inexistante, j'ai décidé de créer une documentation pseudo-scientifique
similaire aux anciens livres de botanique. Je n'avais pas beaucoup de
temps pour me préparer et j'ai travaillé avec acharnement sur sa
création en utilisant <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/bookwright" target="_blank">BookWright de Blurb</a>, tout en continuant à dessiner
d'autres œuvres sur mon iPad Pro pour mon exposition.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Voici la
couverture de mon Recueil de fleurs inexistantes (plus de détails sur le
livre viendront dans un prochain billet de blogue. J'ai encore quelques choses à régler.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtWUwr3IS85zxAdwi4RQBW4dbC4CL4jrSeWirDcj51lvDqe5IbgIBucNNsBMv9NeuELPXui-k276Y3d5ZPT0TkvOkNvn9vurGrvkv4Yo1-wLnNCxlqYUWP8WYILP8y56XfCcNIMXBoh_ZQ_Qnff5ifQv74AGyG9GHEfFzCbCm5uAXj-E_KaFCUbe7gA/s3300/Hybrida%20Flores.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtWUwr3IS85zxAdwi4RQBW4dbC4CL4jrSeWirDcj51lvDqe5IbgIBucNNsBMv9NeuELPXui-k276Y3d5ZPT0TkvOkNvn9vurGrvkv4Yo1-wLnNCxlqYUWP8WYILP8y56XfCcNIMXBoh_ZQ_Qnff5ifQv74AGyG9GHEfFzCbCm5uAXj-E_KaFCUbe7gA/w494-h640/Hybrida%20Flores.jpg" width="494" /></a></span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Je suis contente du résultat final. Ce n'est
pas tel que je l'avais initialement imaginé, mais il a grandi et évolué.
Si je devais en commencer un autre, il serait probablement différent,
bien que peut-être pas. J'avais initialement envisagé un concept rigide
qui faisait écho aux recueils traditionnels, avec chaque plante
s'insérant parfaitement dans un cadre. J'imaginais des descriptions en
petits caractères <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empattement_(typographie)" target="_blank">avec empattements </a>de style romain. Mais ma nature rebelle étant ce
qu'elle est, les cadres ont commencé à se déformer et sont devenus de
plus en plus indomptables. Pour citer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzHmunZxJeM" target="_blank">Popeye, je suis ce que je suis</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">La
plupart des artistes seraient d'accord pour dire que lorsque nous
sommes plongés dans la création, l'important c'est l'action. Il faut
"créer" pour continuer à apprendre et à s'améliorer. Les artistes sont
rarement satisfaits de leur travail, c'est pourquoi nous continuons à
produire jusqu'à ce qu'il n'y ait presque plus de place dans nos
demeures ou nos studios pour fonctionner efficacement. Nous poursuivons
ce sentiment insaisissable d'avoir créé un chef-d'œuvre.
Malheureusement, ils sont rares et souvent trouvés dans un coin,
recouverts de poussière.</span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-19268551376690476812023-10-11T23:09:00.004-04:002023-10-16T12:54:55.491-04:00EVERYONE HAS A BOOK INSIDE THEM?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As a lover of books, I’ve always thought it would be really cool to write one. I had a ambiguous sense of accomplishment when I wrote my <a href="http://dianecollet.com/details/thesis.pdf" target="_blank">Master's thesis</a>. It looked like a book, it was bound like a book, it must be a book!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But no, it wasn’t.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Perhaps because scholarly writing isn’t notably entertaining, a thesis doesn’t quite feel like an artistic achievement. In all fairness, writing one usually leads to further study and reflection on the part of the reader, but this all happens within the context of academia. Only a small cross-section of people actually get to read it!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One of my deep-rooted dreams is to eventually conceive a graphic novel, but not according to its innumerable rules and conventions. My imagining is more along the lines of <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Favorite-Thing-Monsters-Emil-Ferris/dp/1606999591" target="_blank">“My FavoriteThing is Monsters.”</a> I’m not sure how to divine it yet (and I don't use that word loosely). I feel as though the cauldron is boiling but my ideas and concepts are still way too vague. Looks like some serious doodling will happen in the foreseeable future.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have however started to frolic and self-publish in the fiction arena. I made a number of digital prints of human/plant hybrids for my recent art exhibition, <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-birth-of-botanical-suite.html" target="_blank">Suite Botanique</a>, which opened on September 29th, 2023, at the <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart artist-run centre</a>. As I was drawing, I kept thinking that the exhibition needed a companion codex. Given that my mongrel vegetation was non-existent, I decided to create pseudo-scientific documentation not unlike ancient botany books. I didn’t have much time to prepare and worked furiously on its creation using <a href="https://www.blurb.ca/bookwright" target="_blank">BookWright from Blurb</a> while continuing to draw other works on my iPad Pro for my show.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the cover of my Compendium of non-existent flowers (more on the book will come in a future post. I still have a few things to iron out.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LsoK5qTbxxu1TVem_vl8fOGH-dYqZaXnJVmdFbh6Z45Eh_xa8HdS0t9wPpD0B-6dx3fk_3HxpmpHxotny00xtAoWYHxvbNmPrFeyA9Nw9o6t1evNhEbJtZ3uCEoqVKB2SZ0nR0vi5SPTYDElqw-9ST5HxAmE-1kNy7BUGjZgPTM9jR2SV9kwatnJvw/s3300/Hybrida%20Flores.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LsoK5qTbxxu1TVem_vl8fOGH-dYqZaXnJVmdFbh6Z45Eh_xa8HdS0t9wPpD0B-6dx3fk_3HxpmpHxotny00xtAoWYHxvbNmPrFeyA9Nw9o6t1evNhEbJtZ3uCEoqVKB2SZ0nR0vi5SPTYDElqw-9ST5HxAmE-1kNy7BUGjZgPTM9jR2SV9kwatnJvw/w494-h640/Hybrida%20Flores.jpg" width="494" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m happy with the final result. It’s not as I envisioned it, but rather, has grown and evolved. If I were to start another it would most likely turn out differently, then again maybe not. I initially visualized a rigid concept that echoed traditional compendiums, with each plant fitting tightly within a frame. I imagined descriptions in small Roman-style <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serif" target="_blank">serif font</a> text. But my rebellious nature being what it is, the frames started warping and became increasingly untamed. To quote <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzHmunZxJeM" target="_blank">Popeye, I yam what I yam.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most artists would agree that when we are in the throes of creation, the important thing is action. One has to "make" to keep learning and improving. Artists are rarely satisfied with their work, which is why we keep producing until we have barely any room left in our abodes or studios to function effectively. We pursue the elusive feeling of having created a masterpiece. They unfortunately, are few and far between and often found in a corner covered in dust.<br /></span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-56478836207319383852023-10-05T08:36:00.000-04:002023-10-05T08:36:49.870-04:00LA NAISSANCE D'UNE SUITE BOTANIQUE<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="flex-grow flex-shrink-0 tabular-nums"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">La vie peut parfois donner l'impression d'être un train lancé à toute vitesse. Cette année a commencé dans un tourbillon d'inquiétude et de chaos. Les personnes qui me sont chères ont dû faire face à des maladies et des accidents, me laissant sans autre choix que de mettre mon art en veilleuse pendant un certain temps.</span></div><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3 max-w-full" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words overflow-x-auto"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Les premiers mois sont un souvenir flou, les événements se mélangeant les uns aux autres. Puis, une brève accalmie est arrivée - une précieuse fenêtre de quelques semaines où ceux qui m'entourent se sont retrouvés brièvement en phase de rétablissement. Incertaine de combien de temps cette pause durerait, j'ai décidé de saisir l'instant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mon projet a commencé avec une série d'autoportraits numériques. J'ai capturé des selfies candides, peu flatteurs mais profondément expressifs, et les ai utilisés comme base pour mes dessins. Ci-dessous se trouve un aperçu du processus à différentes étapes.</span></p></div></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyVrEv1bL3QZYa3mEiunSPX4iuoAYqfQvGm_q9o01NVdAPGPsZeDq241D5GurbIlN6ybeon8YsSXwmfZZ7mwGfH7gxYAPoEttt5lAhhlszaXh-ju5t3qlKWdCmOMUWsLWVOeAVrA1e-7KoQOcZxM_1WNfECj3U6wWEjfdIA8HOm81B9jn_4GPZm__Q/s2036/Me.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="1831" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyVrEv1bL3QZYa3mEiunSPX4iuoAYqfQvGm_q9o01NVdAPGPsZeDq241D5GurbIlN6ybeon8YsSXwmfZZ7mwGfH7gxYAPoEttt5lAhhlszaXh-ju5t3qlKWdCmOMUWsLWVOeAVrA1e-7KoQOcZxM_1WNfECj3U6wWEjfdIA8HOm81B9jn_4GPZm__Q/w360-h400/Me.jpeg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpa4Yv7nxccqpncFEe1Fpeo547UTHI3jEcTET5VZNW0nmQh2wV_2YyKGcyp-YhXnxNLTFjHHqv5LSDHQi5cYLEhNT_L6EgGyottX1FxxUoXwA55j9OEpxZd8IES2f8lZmKMntr4tlFF-eRe5GRyBpLQO3lwvdhcXMLe-38iMtTmEi1O0BmB2bM6HGuw/s7200/Me%20transparent.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7200" data-original-width="5400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpa4Yv7nxccqpncFEe1Fpeo547UTHI3jEcTET5VZNW0nmQh2wV_2YyKGcyp-YhXnxNLTFjHHqv5LSDHQi5cYLEhNT_L6EgGyottX1FxxUoXwA55j9OEpxZd8IES2f8lZmKMntr4tlFF-eRe5GRyBpLQO3lwvdhcXMLe-38iMtTmEi1O0BmB2bM6HGuw/w240-h320/Me%20transparent.PNG" width="240" /> </a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuiB1mIpNGshRjnAljPMcZ1G_QjfVYevXUpPZcQQzVoUifTbdmB4oMEAOUSTPc8A0tIz_RIL3iKFfQq2v84IShEiOZ4mSc-_HgLLlCT8GIsNLjVZ9qzNW8_xsJN1GWA4MTGGVHWwv7fdUIWs3KMChDFJXxjnwfVrj_ugZ_Fhj0H8ZYUtIhRrMj9oZaQ/s1497/Me%20coloured.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="1433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuiB1mIpNGshRjnAljPMcZ1G_QjfVYevXUpPZcQQzVoUifTbdmB4oMEAOUSTPc8A0tIz_RIL3iKFfQq2v84IShEiOZ4mSc-_HgLLlCT8GIsNLjVZ9qzNW8_xsJN1GWA4MTGGVHWwv7fdUIWs3KMChDFJXxjnwfVrj_ugZ_Fhj0H8ZYUtIhRrMj9oZaQ/w611-h640/Me%20coloured.jpeg" width="611" /></a></div><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3 max-w-full" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words overflow-x-auto"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pendant ce temps, un "appel aux artistes" a atterri dans ma boîte de réception. Le thème m'a propulsé dans des imaginations fantastiques de ce à quoi nos vies pourraient ressembler dans le futur. Si nous sommes assez insensés pour détruire le monde tel que nous le connaissons, que pourrait-il ou que devrait-il advenir ?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dans l'œil de mon esprit, une végétation imposante s'est dressée, insatiable et impitoyable, reprenant les vestiges de l'existence humaine. J'ai semé un concept au plus profond de ma psyché, donnant naissance à une vision de formes de vie inédites, une fusion étrange et parfois grotesque de l'humanité et de la flore. Ce qui avait commencé comme de simples réflexions numériques a éclos en une passion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mes premiers dessins ont évolué en une "Fleur Frustrée" à un seul œil.</span></p></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqrNR982-Nsvyw3a2XEhw5GmExMaL7ffarZQdqDptrzzI26Y0Nmm2LfupM5OPpWgHgUcuMwOT881fY-pM7j2y_qrYThMsthqD0s3QbasATwQ4FGl0hBagTGfjRKgXUYZ1oxBDmNsjWrAv1o51cCn6WpIC9I1s9INaErD9xo8SnCuvTW9zLBdYeMZ6g/s792/Frustrated_Flower.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqrNR982-Nsvyw3a2XEhw5GmExMaL7ffarZQdqDptrzzI26Y0Nmm2LfupM5OPpWgHgUcuMwOT881fY-pM7j2y_qrYThMsthqD0s3QbasATwQ4FGl0hBagTGfjRKgXUYZ1oxBDmNsjWrAv1o51cCn6WpIC9I1s9INaErD9xo8SnCuvTW9zLBdYeMZ6g/w550-h640/Frustrated_Flower.sm.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Un autre croquis de moi-même, affichant un sourire éclatant, </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lj9YYiBc9S141pWQHLQsPY2KIOAMLi1_HI-MkCNjAB59MBFr7APIAzcUqaGfWt6nmNHcvDOvKfPq_5ed127p1AeMDJfEFv_NYvrbByPXK_MwQaYzDhPCzXrI6pqZ3stpAEfZ3Bsnr82OkH5_DzTBjQCB5dH6mV54YPhgHsY-GEcxrzFrXY8T99w5xQ/s3300/Me%20smiling.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lj9YYiBc9S141pWQHLQsPY2KIOAMLi1_HI-MkCNjAB59MBFr7APIAzcUqaGfWt6nmNHcvDOvKfPq_5ed127p1AeMDJfEFv_NYvrbByPXK_MwQaYzDhPCzXrI6pqZ3stpAEfZ3Bsnr82OkH5_DzTBjQCB5dH6mV54YPhgHsY-GEcxrzFrXY8T99w5xQ/w400-h300/Me%20smiling.sm.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">s'est transformé en une prairie de "fleurs sauvages".</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLO2Mhv-RMsvu2PRErX_vd_dkXmgu5R7rNaQllMcIde3w8_adocsykbMwCL_WtPQGQn4p9Oq3EVEdIUbLASv6qCU94EKI0jYDPMFRCgStWqyptcJN2xECKY5d3p9nAx-GK9mpAKolwis1xygdDS-fbCM4O2BvYFobLkFYqJMT2BVkGCxi5JmThmm2A/s2423/Flores%20ferae.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="2423" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLO2Mhv-RMsvu2PRErX_vd_dkXmgu5R7rNaQllMcIde3w8_adocsykbMwCL_WtPQGQn4p9Oq3EVEdIUbLASv6qCU94EKI0jYDPMFRCgStWqyptcJN2xECKY5d3p9nAx-GK9mpAKolwis1xygdDS-fbCM4O2BvYFobLkFYqJMT2BVkGCxi5JmThmm2A/w640-h640/Flores%20ferae.sm.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3 max-w-full" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words overflow-x-auto"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bien que partir de mon propre visage fût tout à fait satisfaisant, je sentais qu'une plus grande variété de sujets pourrait apporter du piquant à mes créations verdoyantes. J'ai demandé à des amis et à ma famille s'ils étaient prêts à poser pour moi. Seuls les plus intrépides ont accepté de participer à cette aventure loufoque. Ils étaient conscients que les dessins numériques subiraient déformations, étirements, mutilations, et endureraient une multitude d'autres transformations horribles, tout au nom de l'art.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">C'est ce que j'appelle de l'amour (et beaucoup de confiance en soi de leur part).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Le projet évoluait lentement quand un autre "appel aux artistes" a atterri dans ma boîte de réception de mon centre d'artistes autogéré préféré, <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart</a>. Ils sollicitaient des propositions pour une exposition individuelle. Au début, des doutes ont surgi - pourrais-je vraiment créer suffisamment de nouvelles œuvres en seulement quelques mois ? L'enthousiasme l'a emporté et j'ai réussi à créer plus de trente-deux impressions numériques ainsi qu'un recueuil pseudo-scientifique compagnon à la mi-septembre. Le dévoilement a eu lieu le 29.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPKL4SAcUpY-_bY9GJZdtoj50yHHQsXUiisVuL4KWIchJvx3ASe68LC1TuPRNblVniQgGH6XUHo9vHWnoDZb7dKaeRs381G7bzEF9m8lZExWlXrbc6kAwT21FeRoAQcESO4p6-FywoLq6duddcBWaJsVbfxRcS1zdSz08tnzbQCLTOT6jVGDFLqJqYg/s9027/Invitation__Suite_Botanique.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5405" data-original-width="9027" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPKL4SAcUpY-_bY9GJZdtoj50yHHQsXUiisVuL4KWIchJvx3ASe68LC1TuPRNblVniQgGH6XUHo9vHWnoDZb7dKaeRs381G7bzEF9m8lZExWlXrbc6kAwT21FeRoAQcESO4p6-FywoLq6duddcBWaJsVbfxRcS1zdSz08tnzbQCLTOT6jVGDFLqJqYg/w640-h384/Invitation__Suite_Botanique.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Étonnamment, un nombre surprenant de personnes de mon entourage
expriment désormais le désir de se métamorphoser en hybrides et gnomes (j'en parlerai davantage dans un prochain billet de blogue), dans le but (je présume) de m'aider à concevoir un jardin encore plus
grandiose et excentrique. Qui
aurait pensé qu'ils prendraient plaisir à se soumettre à ces types de
transmutations ? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">J'ai rappelé à chacun de garder à l'esprit le contexte : je crée un
monde post-crise climatique qui, espérons-le, ne verra jamais le jour.</span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-14007886256106067282023-10-04T21:06:00.001-04:002023-11-05T11:50:35.966-05:00THE BIRTH OF A BOTANICAL SUITE<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Life sometimes feels like a runaway train. This year started with a whirlwind of worry and chaos. People dearest to me faced illness and accidents, leaving me with no choice but to <span>put my art on the back burner for a while</span>.</span></p><div class="flex flex-grow flex-col gap-3 max-w-full" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="min-h-[20px] flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words overflow-x-auto"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The early months are a hazy memory, events blurring together. Then a brief respite emerged—a precious window of a few weeks where those around me found themselves fleetingly on the mend. Uncertain of how long this reprieve would last, I decided to seize the moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My project began with a collection of digital self-portraits. I captured candid selfies, unflattering yet profoundly expressive, and used them as the foundation for my drawings. Below is a snapshot of the process at various stages.</span></p></div></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyVrEv1bL3QZYa3mEiunSPX4iuoAYqfQvGm_q9o01NVdAPGPsZeDq241D5GurbIlN6ybeon8YsSXwmfZZ7mwGfH7gxYAPoEttt5lAhhlszaXh-ju5t3qlKWdCmOMUWsLWVOeAVrA1e-7KoQOcZxM_1WNfECj3U6wWEjfdIA8HOm81B9jn_4GPZm__Q/s2036/Me.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="1831" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyVrEv1bL3QZYa3mEiunSPX4iuoAYqfQvGm_q9o01NVdAPGPsZeDq241D5GurbIlN6ybeon8YsSXwmfZZ7mwGfH7gxYAPoEttt5lAhhlszaXh-ju5t3qlKWdCmOMUWsLWVOeAVrA1e-7KoQOcZxM_1WNfECj3U6wWEjfdIA8HOm81B9jn_4GPZm__Q/w360-h400/Me.jpeg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpa4Yv7nxccqpncFEe1Fpeo547UTHI3jEcTET5VZNW0nmQh2wV_2YyKGcyp-YhXnxNLTFjHHqv5LSDHQi5cYLEhNT_L6EgGyottX1FxxUoXwA55j9OEpxZd8IES2f8lZmKMntr4tlFF-eRe5GRyBpLQO3lwvdhcXMLe-38iMtTmEi1O0BmB2bM6HGuw/s7200/Me%20transparent.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7200" data-original-width="5400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpa4Yv7nxccqpncFEe1Fpeo547UTHI3jEcTET5VZNW0nmQh2wV_2YyKGcyp-YhXnxNLTFjHHqv5LSDHQi5cYLEhNT_L6EgGyottX1FxxUoXwA55j9OEpxZd8IES2f8lZmKMntr4tlFF-eRe5GRyBpLQO3lwvdhcXMLe-38iMtTmEi1O0BmB2bM6HGuw/w240-h320/Me%20transparent.PNG" width="240" /> </a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuiB1mIpNGshRjnAljPMcZ1G_QjfVYevXUpPZcQQzVoUifTbdmB4oMEAOUSTPc8A0tIz_RIL3iKFfQq2v84IShEiOZ4mSc-_HgLLlCT8GIsNLjVZ9qzNW8_xsJN1GWA4MTGGVHWwv7fdUIWs3KMChDFJXxjnwfVrj_ugZ_Fhj0H8ZYUtIhRrMj9oZaQ/s1497/Me%20coloured.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="1433" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuiB1mIpNGshRjnAljPMcZ1G_QjfVYevXUpPZcQQzVoUifTbdmB4oMEAOUSTPc8A0tIz_RIL3iKFfQq2v84IShEiOZ4mSc-_HgLLlCT8GIsNLjVZ9qzNW8_xsJN1GWA4MTGGVHWwv7fdUIWs3KMChDFJXxjnwfVrj_ugZ_Fhj0H8ZYUtIhRrMj9oZaQ/w611-h640/Me%20coloured.jpeg" width="611" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meanwhile a 'call for artists' dropped into my inbox. The theme jolted me into fantastical imaginings of what our lives might be like in the future. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If we are dumb enough to destroy the world as we know it, what would or could come next? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In my mind's eye, towering vegetation reared up, insatiable and
merciless, reclaiming the remnants of human existence. I sowed a
concept in the depths of my psyche, birthing a vision of novel life
forms, an uncanny and sometimes grotesque fusion of humanity and flora. What started as mere
digital musings blossomed into a passion. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My first drawings morphed into a one-eyed "Frustrated Flower".</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqrNR982-Nsvyw3a2XEhw5GmExMaL7ffarZQdqDptrzzI26Y0Nmm2LfupM5OPpWgHgUcuMwOT881fY-pM7j2y_qrYThMsthqD0s3QbasATwQ4FGl0hBagTGfjRKgXUYZ1oxBDmNsjWrAv1o51cCn6WpIC9I1s9INaErD9xo8SnCuvTW9zLBdYeMZ6g/s792/Frustrated_Flower.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqrNR982-Nsvyw3a2XEhw5GmExMaL7ffarZQdqDptrzzI26Y0Nmm2LfupM5OPpWgHgUcuMwOT881fY-pM7j2y_qrYThMsthqD0s3QbasATwQ4FGl0hBagTGfjRKgXUYZ1oxBDmNsjWrAv1o51cCn6WpIC9I1s9INaErD9xo8SnCuvTW9zLBdYeMZ6g/w550-h640/Frustrated_Flower.sm.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Another sketch of myself with a toothy smile</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lj9YYiBc9S141pWQHLQsPY2KIOAMLi1_HI-MkCNjAB59MBFr7APIAzcUqaGfWt6nmNHcvDOvKfPq_5ed127p1AeMDJfEFv_NYvrbByPXK_MwQaYzDhPCzXrI6pqZ3stpAEfZ3Bsnr82OkH5_DzTBjQCB5dH6mV54YPhgHsY-GEcxrzFrXY8T99w5xQ/s3300/Me%20smiling.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="3300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lj9YYiBc9S141pWQHLQsPY2KIOAMLi1_HI-MkCNjAB59MBFr7APIAzcUqaGfWt6nmNHcvDOvKfPq_5ed127p1AeMDJfEFv_NYvrbByPXK_MwQaYzDhPCzXrI6pqZ3stpAEfZ3Bsnr82OkH5_DzTBjQCB5dH6mV54YPhgHsY-GEcxrzFrXY8T99w5xQ/w400-h300/Me%20smiling.sm.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">became "Wild Flowers".</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLO2Mhv-RMsvu2PRErX_vd_dkXmgu5R7rNaQllMcIde3w8_adocsykbMwCL_WtPQGQn4p9Oq3EVEdIUbLASv6qCU94EKI0jYDPMFRCgStWqyptcJN2xECKY5d3p9nAx-GK9mpAKolwis1xygdDS-fbCM4O2BvYFobLkFYqJMT2BVkGCxi5JmThmm2A/s2423/Flores%20ferae.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="2423" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qLO2Mhv-RMsvu2PRErX_vd_dkXmgu5R7rNaQllMcIde3w8_adocsykbMwCL_WtPQGQn4p9Oq3EVEdIUbLASv6qCU94EKI0jYDPMFRCgStWqyptcJN2xECKY5d3p9nAx-GK9mpAKolwis1xygdDS-fbCM4O2BvYFobLkFYqJMT2BVkGCxi5JmThmm2A/w640-h640/Flores%20ferae.sm.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While my face as a point of departure was all very fine and good, I felt greater variety of subjects might add spice to my verdant creations. I asked friends and family if they were willing to pose for me. Only the most intrepid agreed to be part of this wonky adventure. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They were aware that the digital drawings would undergo warping, stretching,
mutilation, and endure a multitude of other horrific transformations,
all in the name of art.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now that's what I call love (and plenty of self-confidence on their part). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The project was evolving slowly when another 'call for artists' landed in my inbox from my favourite artist-run centre <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart</a>. They were soliciting submissions for a solo show. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> At first, doubts crept
in—could I possibly conjure enough new pieces in just a handful of
months? Enthusiasm prevailed and</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span>I managed to create more than thirty-two digital prints as well as a companion, pseudo-scientific compendium by mid-September. The unveiling took place on the 29th. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPKL4SAcUpY-_bY9GJZdtoj50yHHQsXUiisVuL4KWIchJvx3ASe68LC1TuPRNblVniQgGH6XUHo9vHWnoDZb7dKaeRs381G7bzEF9m8lZExWlXrbc6kAwT21FeRoAQcESO4p6-FywoLq6duddcBWaJsVbfxRcS1zdSz08tnzbQCLTOT6jVGDFLqJqYg/s9027/Invitation__Suite_Botanique.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5405" data-original-width="9027" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPKL4SAcUpY-_bY9GJZdtoj50yHHQsXUiisVuL4KWIchJvx3ASe68LC1TuPRNblVniQgGH6XUHo9vHWnoDZb7dKaeRs381G7bzEF9m8lZExWlXrbc6kAwT21FeRoAQcESO4p6-FywoLq6duddcBWaJsVbfxRcS1zdSz08tnzbQCLTOT6jVGDFLqJqYg/w640-h384/Invitation__Suite_Botanique.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oddly, a surprising number of people in my entourage now want to morph into hybrids and gnomes <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2023/11/from-ice-storm-to-garden-gnome.html?sc=1699202850145#c7679015458563136464" target="_blank">(more on that in a future post)</a></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, with the purpose (I assume), of helping me craft an even grander and more eccentric
garden. Who knew they would enjoy submitting to these types of transmutations? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I reminded everyone to keep the context in mind, that I am creating a world post climate crisis that will hopefully never materialize.<br /></span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-73406761370341783692023-05-19T09:28:00.008-04:002023-05-19T20:34:08.851-04:00LES GRANDS BALAIS DE VAUDREUIL-DORION<div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKSeJNnqTwLtNKkg-eKkolbcwQB0OjgFHFOHF5GKFFhxxK2l6qqiIiDQawDiggqB0SXcdPlBZKm-HMKWg7JC6IJub50kegNZUmYUAidumh76GvCz6g8ql-oQhB1-NR3AjV0Ui5mlwHKw8ufsysMIWOIeg59OO7GNebE_BLwpbtp4VFO5p2foafQ/s1517/Les%20Grands%20Balais.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKSeJNnqTwLtNKkg-eKkolbcwQB0OjgFHFOHF5GKFFhxxK2l6qqiIiDQawDiggqB0SXcdPlBZKm-HMKWg7JC6IJub50kegNZUmYUAidumh76GvCz6g8ql-oQhB1-NR3AjV0Ui5mlwHKw8ufsysMIWOIeg59OO7GNebE_BLwpbtp4VFO5p2foafQ/s16000/Les%20Grands%20Balais.jpg" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In summer 2022, t</span>he City of <a href="https://www.ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/fr" target="_blank">Vaudreuil-Dorion</a> requested submissions for their Éclat event which was to take place at Le 405 Park during the Artefact Music Festival. Mine was one of five selected by the committee.</span><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Each artist was asked to create an immersive three minute digital art video </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">which the City planned to show on three eight-foot-high LED </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> panels</span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">. Every screen had to be different. A</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">rtists were provided with technical assistance during creation if required while specialists performed necessary tests to ensure that the videos played correctly on the outdoor screens.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f4euMelaR8owBdmg9UME8VkkpJzTfXEcGHPxmpyvPc4BtUCOs8FBmRLuponBo6uw_wV42q-RffrQI5YQCUnhHqM7UpSMyIXGX-8yhS8MK0u9Zkv_UvEcPn5Ldn1sh89TgqQI_rojFU0ur8HsQYqiL5Ds4OcdzSptyZlFdzde4YSZlw8GdV7rzg8/s4800/The%20Broom.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f4euMelaR8owBdmg9UME8VkkpJzTfXEcGHPxmpyvPc4BtUCOs8FBmRLuponBo6uw_wV42q-RffrQI5YQCUnhHqM7UpSMyIXGX-8yhS8MK0u9Zkv_UvEcPn5Ldn1sh89TgqQI_rojFU0ur8HsQYqiL5Ds4OcdzSptyZlFdzde4YSZlw8GdV7rzg8/w200-h400/The%20Broom.PNG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rustic broom</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1X09u4B1QjcWLkpCCrsaLPGJUfD7Vz1ZK9BuRUNSNal9l6HdDP0us7McA4529Dnk2Qi2WeohmNjcdfZjrBlAKQkQYG4zH_OgUx5WkMGgKEkF4-hETbZT7zyAfnypxJIMA4Pyu-mPe625DaQQp_M0WiL9Yq7UtRiDYcc948OYGyH7yhBByE3XmE/s640/Broom%20%20Twirl.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW1X09u4B1QjcWLkpCCrsaLPGJUfD7Vz1ZK9BuRUNSNal9l6HdDP0us7McA4529Dnk2Qi2WeohmNjcdfZjrBlAKQkQYG4zH_OgUx5WkMGgKEkF4-hETbZT7zyAfnypxJIMA4Pyu-mPe625DaQQp_M0WiL9Yq7UtRiDYcc948OYGyH7yhBByE3XmE/s320/Broom%20%20Twirl.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pointe shoes & ribbons</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My loosely woven creation is </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a homophonic adventure</span> which revolves around the words BALLET and BALAI, homophones in French. One spelling refers to dance, the other, a broom. My headliner is a broom of the rustic variety. He dreams of dancing and in his reverie, begins to transform. Pointe shoes with ribbons wrap around his handle. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span>He morphs into strange creatures and characters </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> the spirits residing within him escape</span></span>.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had to create my screens intuitively because I didn't have an application or software that allowed me to see all three simultaneously. </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My goal was to entertain the general public. I thought a ballet or
dance theme would be perfect for the music festival. I had recently
finished a series of paper works on which I had collaged pieces of
sheet music. The imagery grew to depict a <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2022/05/four-so-far.html" target="_blank">funky ballet character</a>. I was motivated to keep working on the idea of dance and these are the elements and characters that ended up in my ballet. </span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OBJECTS:<br />- rustic brooms<br />- pointe shoes and ribbons<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">CHARACTERS:<br />- Napoleon Bonaparte<br />- his wife Josephine<br />- a mummy wrapped up in pointe shoe ribbons<br />- a chubby dancer<br />- linear, transparent dancers<br />- a spirit that inhabits the broom handle <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2021/11/transe-wild-ride-from-start-to-finish.html" target="_blank">Having created a first video with entirely digital components in 2021 (for the Natura project)</a>, I wanted to approach this work
differently. The upper body of my Joséphine, the shadow Napoleon, and coloured shapes were digitally extracted
from an unfinished acrylic painting, while the ballet legs and</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Napoleonic hat </span></span>were
taken from some of my mixed media works on paper. Other
characters and objects in the video were all drawn digitally in Procreate.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhiN0DP5wgoDO0db0XZfWie5nyW3vlt6Ccj9J2iFvOqDqS3qb6_K5q2DPe8jfWPbftRPiSV6KGYenBTFCaAYvldD4Q-KYf4KTefQ6qlG96eF157knZg6JJ7VDWJjPcSjdE8oXvhZNu1UkpsTlRlzVVeob2qVXtYgMbAtkJ0vp4xecwOwhmSos45I/s936/Ballet%20leg.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="936" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhiN0DP5wgoDO0db0XZfWie5nyW3vlt6Ccj9J2iFvOqDqS3qb6_K5q2DPe8jfWPbftRPiSV6KGYenBTFCaAYvldD4Q-KYf4KTefQ6qlG96eF157knZg6JJ7VDWJjPcSjdE8oXvhZNu1UkpsTlRlzVVeob2qVXtYgMbAtkJ0vp4xecwOwhmSos45I/s16000/Ballet%20leg.sm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ballet leg</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZNMQhEPIGkuNJXhN9Jj_3mehqSHcUoyi7yfunQQR08GYLmiijWOwGTGJD7IVdR6AExKVyDhPuMPA6hC7S_mIS4blxpXUw5IhVKmaKIQh8AJmnftJn5HBn_4NaDCF28r8Xt0pCOtAiy9eBWWM5vvxQian_Rjde48gYbuu-ExCjQuhxit3wsW9_Y4/s1000/Jo%20with%20nap's%20hat.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZNMQhEPIGkuNJXhN9Jj_3mehqSHcUoyi7yfunQQR08GYLmiijWOwGTGJD7IVdR6AExKVyDhPuMPA6hC7S_mIS4blxpXUw5IhVKmaKIQh8AJmnftJn5HBn_4NaDCF28r8Xt0pCOtAiy9eBWWM5vvxQian_Rjde48gYbuu-ExCjQuhxit3wsW9_Y4/w339-h640/Jo%20with%20nap's%20hat.sm.jpg" width="339" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Josephine with Napoleon's hat</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The
learning curve is endless when it comes to digital art and my works have evolved
a great deal over the past 10 years. For this project, I wanted to improve my mastery of the applications I use on a regular basis to achieve
flexibility of execution during my creative process. When
acquiring new skills, it's often difficult to obtain a desired
result right from the get go.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I experimented with frame-by-frame animation in Procreate. Since this
process is <i>extremely </i>laborious, intensive, and time-consuming, I created and
incorporated a short clip in the centre screen panel.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuQx-VrFLJbxfcZ2rJm8qkyrtsqZKM8m37_d2FPkp-LIOkJx9dpgSxZDQh7Ag1EI8vddDpe9sF5DnR-4n0bjJkv7O6FZg3wlGIlWeQ1r0cCwdb4rBWVR6iCHquerXQQpijgX9b2cvioFFFkxtgqpfuGrekV4vlPOycMrtlaJweQ5YfAwOqK65nXE/s792/Spirit%20in%20the%20handle.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="396" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuQx-VrFLJbxfcZ2rJm8qkyrtsqZKM8m37_d2FPkp-LIOkJx9dpgSxZDQh7Ag1EI8vddDpe9sF5DnR-4n0bjJkv7O6FZg3wlGIlWeQ1r0cCwdb4rBWVR6iCHquerXQQpijgX9b2cvioFFFkxtgqpfuGrekV4vlPOycMrtlaJweQ5YfAwOqK65nXE/w320-h640/Spirit%20in%20the%20handle.sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Spirit in the handle (frame by frame animation)</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
switched between several applications on my iPad to create my video,
mainly Procreate, Keynote and Video Joiner. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgbiCW_jvXl7OtLjCllzLOisehmDpfFb1VxJ8--TFsHmfXD21ClssU_b5LUrHzPhoG1V_Ze0qaIRnbv-Qs5fKGulEdyK6PvphdkWahjLy5AnLXGn5kHM1E-K1yZCMDS_TQipaQuSxZWUicK2lDadFJYqAXZsY8BWINSt5k4aYT9FPj9U2v0gGVd0/s720/Nap%20with%20ballet%20legs.cropped.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgbiCW_jvXl7OtLjCllzLOisehmDpfFb1VxJ8--TFsHmfXD21ClssU_b5LUrHzPhoG1V_Ze0qaIRnbv-Qs5fKGulEdyK6PvphdkWahjLy5AnLXGn5kHM1E-K1yZCMDS_TQipaQuSxZWUicK2lDadFJYqAXZsY8BWINSt5k4aYT9FPj9U2v0gGVd0/s16000/Nap%20with%20ballet%20legs.cropped.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Napoleon with ballet legs</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many
animations were conceived in Keynote particularly the broom dance. I repeated and distorted objects to create rotations.
Exported videos from Keynote were way too slow and clunky so I imported
them into Video Joiner to increase their speed and to add special effects. I achieved relatively smooth movements in various clips.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyvfCcPYbPglXujNEmfY6QjgHvoJTMcbuzMwuInqJ2hbVQYOI-BrLBFRffRQ097tlBR7-Qgtoj9zzM9-tIz7W1TADfdoh2QuoduuhPh3ip67MvEGIFGSWEYhmmFqc_jXodqGR_ewsSz-6rmyHhhVeZiP59H45KdOUIzdL0u6XkR7ZUzsOBYdbzUQ/s792/Trois%20Jose%CC%81phines.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyvfCcPYbPglXujNEmfY6QjgHvoJTMcbuzMwuInqJ2hbVQYOI-BrLBFRffRQ097tlBR7-Qgtoj9zzM9-tIz7W1TADfdoh2QuoduuhPh3ip67MvEGIFGSWEYhmmFqc_jXodqGR_ewsSz-6rmyHhhVeZiP59H45KdOUIzdL0u6XkR7ZUzsOBYdbzUQ/s16000/Trois%20Jose%CC%81phines.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Josephine with broom handle legs</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I used time-lapse videos to create other segments
and also inserted two small mirror videos of mummies wrapped in pointe shoe ribbons in the central screen above
the chubby dancer character. This gave the illusion of fluttering
butterflies. I was delighted to discover that I could insert
videos into videos.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQbtxh_39rx3JvTlW7qTInRX0xWU_a5KbDnN_wBwjHURWmtki4rJfR4zi-UvT2H5CehJtx3NDret3h29ndShgM4D5OxjKmc9MJXfE8iD5tziKbQQlPwwDXnG76HbKFDlViCAfsg7DBr7pnlT89agby0TpO81sQsKL9YO-aRjZ0qgGG_13PD-BVCA/s864/Mummy%20wrapped%20in%20pointe%20shoe%20ribbons.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQbtxh_39rx3JvTlW7qTInRX0xWU_a5KbDnN_wBwjHURWmtki4rJfR4zi-UvT2H5CehJtx3NDret3h29ndShgM4D5OxjKmc9MJXfE8iD5tziKbQQlPwwDXnG76HbKFDlViCAfsg7DBr7pnlT89agby0TpO81sQsKL9YO-aRjZ0qgGG_13PD-BVCA/s16000/Mummy%20wrapped%20in%20pointe%20shoe%20ribbons.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mummy wrapped in pointe shoe ribbons</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6JkDbP9sx2Qwv2XPO_bgzt0XQaMKlvJpiQCvPavDCM98Xz-4unXPLzzIZ03IPlRvUoHlqJnbUbj9IY9Vau0rVGPnaWBIhTXhNqY-gtrwLlqb-nNrBg9F5PjD_puF_fR5bUDAE0K07vyL-BYC5ZpWYk_KoTc_8D0hs-scF26kV48BsHvxEnMyZA8/s1080/Chubby%20Dancer.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6JkDbP9sx2Qwv2XPO_bgzt0XQaMKlvJpiQCvPavDCM98Xz-4unXPLzzIZ03IPlRvUoHlqJnbUbj9IY9Vau0rVGPnaWBIhTXhNqY-gtrwLlqb-nNrBg9F5PjD_puF_fR5bUDAE0K07vyL-BYC5ZpWYk_KoTc_8D0hs-scF26kV48BsHvxEnMyZA8/w512-h640/Chubby%20Dancer.sm.jpeg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chubby dancer</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I interlaced all my segments in
the Video Joiner application screen by screen. Once my three final panels were done, I met with the
municipal lab technician and with his help and knowledge of Adobe Premiere, adjusted
the length of the three videos to arrive precisely at three minutes each. Credits were added by a graphic designer hired by the city.</span><br /></div><div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Videos created by the other four artists were merged with mine and the
final work was shown on a loop every night during the Artefact Music
Festival held on August 18, 19 and 20, 2022. The videos were silent as they were shown during live music shows. This was the third time
the municipality presented large-scale outdoor videos with the purpose of giving citizens access to digital public art in the
Vaudreuil-Soulanges region.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once the Festival was over, I added a soundtrack to my video. The lab technician again provided valuable assistance in producing an electronic version of the Nutcracker overture which worked well with my characters' rhythms.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I learned so much during the creation of this project but often felt as though my head was about to explode. It never did (mind you, I might not be aware of the aftermath!) </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmh70MRzN4kAs2b5odmJwlm4UD_h6XdqQpt1p4Dh99QgV22ObfC1z-qpmL3mW58aADECsO2ekML6eVFs0aHH3HNyPpz8yq4ln23diAhc80wNgfRW6zw9nJ6L5qxhSMEND_3LH8YEx7ydhKRIUJWXRj38VDxS4Id_aaT96lA9S4NqNe-UiFqiOOWQ/s2048/Grands%20Balais.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmh70MRzN4kAs2b5odmJwlm4UD_h6XdqQpt1p4Dh99QgV22ObfC1z-qpmL3mW58aADECsO2ekML6eVFs0aHH3HNyPpz8yq4ln23diAhc80wNgfRW6zw9nJ6L5qxhSMEND_3LH8YEx7ydhKRIUJWXRj38VDxS4Id_aaT96lA9S4NqNe-UiFqiOOWQ/w640-h427/Grands%20Balais.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In situ - Photo: Je suis Mozaik</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I invite you to enjoy</span></span></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/p83BVetBHi0">Les Grands Balais de Vaudreuil-Dorion</a> !</span><br /></div></div>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-13318765906921221812022-11-06T17:07:00.002-05:002022-11-06T21:10:47.398-05:00KUNST KABINETT (PART 2)<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I wish I had a gazillions in grant money, engineers and technicians to bring my ideas to life but I don't. I do however have access to kind, creative individuals who help me achieve my goals. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I really wanted to participate in the <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart </a>sculpture park so
I came up with the idea of building a Cabinet of Curiosities to display my
little sculptures outdoors. Since Gueulart is an artist-run space, it's the
perfect venue to experiment and try new things. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I hired Jacques Grenier who had previously built the pole cover for my <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2022/06/flowers-on-my-sofa-eveil-awakening.html" target="_blank">Éveil </a>project to help me create the unit. The cabinet is basically a box with two shelves. I painted the inside of the box matte black so the contrasting, silken-like figures would stand out. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGG116K15oqlV7-SPXP2C4PkJOim9HflnMfbY0dzceUMUDC__IADu2naPKu9TJWFPY1rf1edzXSQNRqY8TjAXKRgVZ7nGGbpYAmdf1DSNt5UJNWCtOgpDzWkCNrarofDj60BB_AWk8bfq6AVD3SA5ew21jm72pqr5Tsyp33beXnjkEEPcn86OakuQ/s1309/Inside%20Black%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="776" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGG116K15oqlV7-SPXP2C4PkJOim9HflnMfbY0dzceUMUDC__IADu2naPKu9TJWFPY1rf1edzXSQNRqY8TjAXKRgVZ7nGGbpYAmdf1DSNt5UJNWCtOgpDzWkCNrarofDj60BB_AWk8bfq6AVD3SA5ew21jm72pqr5Tsyp33beXnjkEEPcn86OakuQ/w380-h640/Inside%20Black%202.jpeg" width="380" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It was important for me that viewers see the back of the figures. I thought a mirror might solve the problem. My friend <a href="http://www.monicabrinkman.com/" target="_blank">Monica Brinkman</a>,
a wonderful mosaic artist, suggested a mirror mosaic for the rear wall
of the cabinet to create a shattered effect. I am forever
grateful for the beautiful patchwork of reflections she created for me.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I wanted the cabinet to appear somewhat circus-like, reminiscent of those fortune teller booths in carnival sideshows. I applied funky pink paint and a pale border trim in summer cottage green. A black stripe with gold polka dots separating the two colours created an interesting effect.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGoByQfnfTfMy6FA7niNhSy3kkSY3vLBIWS4K1MMUOh3q2zQwSYO0eX4fiNk54wJdleyH8YpsGbcVZ5RJdFOxL0ziZ0M-hgRpPeByaW-uqX3s0SCS1pFErMF29TscVnhUOHMkuFkd85sqQ-jmhS9IRjUB4Frh7qlQ1QqNSldFWIS57ocI_wv3OUw/s2340/Cabinet%20colours%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1728" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGoByQfnfTfMy6FA7niNhSy3kkSY3vLBIWS4K1MMUOh3q2zQwSYO0eX4fiNk54wJdleyH8YpsGbcVZ5RJdFOxL0ziZ0M-hgRpPeByaW-uqX3s0SCS1pFErMF29TscVnhUOHMkuFkd85sqQ-jmhS9IRjUB4Frh7qlQ1QqNSldFWIS57ocI_wv3OUw/w472-h640/Cabinet%20colours%202.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hefty fence posts turned into legs. They were incredibly heavy but solid. I painted the legs black. After flipping them over, I poured pink paint from the top to create a dripping effect. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BAubvkqEffHlYgjuQBggyLxqZDUgpxhZLW8oKwkesof_4kbb3ny9FXEvylqjkAdXocBgK2u7T1ij3dG7cpaTfPPNEw0mmzFTEZBxuc-m3EhB7bFbPfXbmJs6xIPH2Ty6EFmvsUeA6CnyniThijirD-4h6Je5Ah3CELC2ze8C1l0BAGhXtQHQ1Jk/s4000/Legs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BAubvkqEffHlYgjuQBggyLxqZDUgpxhZLW8oKwkesof_4kbb3ny9FXEvylqjkAdXocBgK2u7T1ij3dG7cpaTfPPNEw0mmzFTEZBxuc-m3EhB7bFbPfXbmJs6xIPH2Ty6EFmvsUeA6CnyniThijirD-4h6Je5Ah3CELC2ze8C1l0BAGhXtQHQ1Jk/w480-h640/Legs.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I needed to make the back of the cabinet as interesting as the front since people were going to walk around it in the sculpture park. I outlined a big eye with wings to spark the interest of those who came up to the work from behind. It became a "viewer observer".<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWpta36Rs78s2PHa415eqYPhNSzIlIji6apX-iwmdZs6qWTB4eHehoOBNqVS3ThckrRnNFeb5Q7YmrRv1mQZF9MAqMg3v2qqsJGbZJtygQDix_sJzRhNjfiXv5_BgVuG-fJ80oN8uP87YUaz1iuuuUoUHXutlM9EgJjIa3SJeIOGT6oRWdP54WXY/s2630/PINK%20EYE.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="2630" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWpta36Rs78s2PHa415eqYPhNSzIlIji6apX-iwmdZs6qWTB4eHehoOBNqVS3ThckrRnNFeb5Q7YmrRv1mQZF9MAqMg3v2qqsJGbZJtygQDix_sJzRhNjfiXv5_BgVuG-fJ80oN8uP87YUaz1iuuuUoUHXutlM9EgJjIa3SJeIOGT6oRWdP54WXY/w640-h388/PINK%20EYE.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jacques gave me a small decorative shelf that he was about to throw out that looked perfect screwed in upside down on
top of the unit. I added umbrella handles that were left over from a previous project. <a href="http://claudineascher.com/" target="_blank">Claudine Ascher, friend and sculptor</a>, gave me some interesting decorative brass elements that I nailed onto the sides, top and back.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Time came to give the cabinet a title. I wanted something exotic and researched Cabinets of Curiosities. I thought the German equivalent sounded perfect for my project. The name Kunst Kabinett would most likely provoke questions (which can't hurt during an exhibition right?). I painted the letters black, glued and nailed them onto the inverted shelf.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzqW8r5oTWoVKEvn9NIgJP2Wolgg4Q_rv9lvpwshqVmtM7XCpEJvl4jib75sfhIT8i8RII6n8ItRshKfA79wDcWP9ibem8un6Zet-_XwOR1hs0Nz5GPJhIAks7OqxmnMZ9ORQCwMB3vLwofoA5FII87wd1ewQ1ruSmsVbHt3GcJmZuXSuM9ce-V0/s2606/Signage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="2606" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzqW8r5oTWoVKEvn9NIgJP2Wolgg4Q_rv9lvpwshqVmtM7XCpEJvl4jib75sfhIT8i8RII6n8ItRshKfA79wDcWP9ibem8un6Zet-_XwOR1hs0Nz5GPJhIAks7OqxmnMZ9ORQCwMB3vLwofoA5FII87wd1ewQ1ruSmsVbHt3GcJmZuXSuM9ce-V0/w640-h178/Signage.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had all the parts. Now all I needed to do was put them together. Here is Jacques during the assembly phase at the sculpture park. He planted metal posts deep into the ground and attached them to the legs so the cabinet wouldn't move in windy weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqwNM1GlnXt9iGhXcg4BXLiVfkxvOIlGYfT4P4xKousywhCZcVP1KDkMa2NS4AR4aMVqvMJkxxwov0GYX1xfP1fen3rkFPed5OrtYWDqh28J1ZxL6yTa8D2YKVf3EO-UvL_WpoW1j_njBmNehj-As_VYlfBGg3w6I6PRq4IFoCGiTKtZ0_vCMA2Q/s4000/20220619_143841_HDR.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="4000" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqwNM1GlnXt9iGhXcg4BXLiVfkxvOIlGYfT4P4xKousywhCZcVP1KDkMa2NS4AR4aMVqvMJkxxwov0GYX1xfP1fen3rkFPed5OrtYWDqh28J1ZxL6yTa8D2YKVf3EO-UvL_WpoW1j_njBmNehj-As_VYlfBGg3w6I6PRq4IFoCGiTKtZ0_vCMA2Q/w640-h282/20220619_143841_HDR.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I learned how to use silicone. I placed all my figures inside and applied a dab under each one so they wouldn't move. Jacques attached a plexiglas sheet with anti-theft screws to protect the artwork and I put silicone around the edges so rain wouldn't penetrate and damage the unit. Holes were made in the base and covered with little screens to prevent condensation and to hamper any invasions by sundry insects.<br /><br /><div class="x78zum5 x13a6bvl"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></div><div class="x10wlt62 x6ikm8r x9jhf4c x30kzoy x13lgxp2 x168nmei" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic"><div><div><div><div class="x1n2onr6"><div class="x6s0dn4 xi81zsa x78zum5 x6prxxf x13a6bvl xvq8zen xdj266r xktsk01 xat24cr x1d52u69 x889kno x4uap5 x1a8lsjc xkhd6sd xdppsyt"><div class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1iyjqo2 x6ikm8r x10wlt62"><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id="jsc_c_2f9"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a xhtitgo"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id="jsc_c_2f9"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a x1vjfegm"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="x1ja2u2z" role="toolbar"><span class="x6s0dn4 x78zum5 x1e558r4" id="jsc_c_2f9"><span class="x6zyg47 x1xm1mqw xpn8fn3 xtct9fg x13zp6kq x1mcfq15 xrosliz x1wb7cse x13fuv20 xu3j5b3 x1q0q8m5 x26u7qi xamhcws xol2nv xlxy82 x19p7ews xmix8c7 x139jcc6 x1n2onr6 x1xp8n7a x1ja2u2z"><span class="x12myldv x1udsgas xrc8dwe xxxhv2y x1rg5ohu xmix8c7 x1xp8n7a"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j"></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXxsYoutsgbe147R7kTdxqvd9k6KfuxbeU0I39AYaN3EvAhzZ7kwfjqfSDP3xnRj0L5t0Z9BhdfthdHD1obq9fVl3r_8H9OdwZI4V04WbxvcRS1JLJ6f9wlFTHVCXYDg9nYOZkjMnsgIkK7yn8WdW7Wy51kXIdHuDQ1efyRHcfqdxVplgdiicBck/s1625/Kunst%20Kabinett.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="937" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXxsYoutsgbe147R7kTdxqvd9k6KfuxbeU0I39AYaN3EvAhzZ7kwfjqfSDP3xnRj0L5t0Z9BhdfthdHD1obq9fVl3r_8H9OdwZI4V04WbxvcRS1JLJ6f9wlFTHVCXYDg9nYOZkjMnsgIkK7yn8WdW7Wy51kXIdHuDQ1efyRHcfqdxVplgdiicBck/w370-h640/Kunst%20Kabinett.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef6VesCwgHZaxr2nmZsp82L9QYydkLUaeTfrw6r4pcj0bNN-3-dZUM6n5QcybcBBDORuaJwf_qqzJ5JimlGMgJNhCQEiCYVL5D_Y3wsBgUOTJV5iQINkoE2i-00jwY8Ru1agzZLKR9CrmrtPv3xQayNapTxWgzpWfmloYcUkfQp4bEV0lLPY_SGY/s1460/Kabinett%20Back%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="902" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef6VesCwgHZaxr2nmZsp82L9QYydkLUaeTfrw6r4pcj0bNN-3-dZUM6n5QcybcBBDORuaJwf_qqzJ5JimlGMgJNhCQEiCYVL5D_Y3wsBgUOTJV5iQINkoE2i-00jwY8Ru1agzZLKR9CrmrtPv3xQayNapTxWgzpWfmloYcUkfQp4bEV0lLPY_SGY/w396-h640/Kabinett%20Back%20View.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Note the fluorescent pink birds nest. It's a real one that I painted and added as an invitation to my favourite dinosaurs.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zZcvE3X1UUYccfJDIqFOC2SblV-ysRECpTTS-nYp3eJk9pJ7Rjx7tMCnZgZXOYrIPUb8nail_6Q6FWp67tHH39lWQ4qeDXmCGzmMJYZfoBoqNU0bWwQ05nZLlGzsEE2KqfXdebnSjy2KRGAS7cW8sIcNo_oRu9O6lVxMlucPuLNlVwA5_6T2i2E/s3042/20220620_134417_HDR%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3042" data-original-width="1760" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zZcvE3X1UUYccfJDIqFOC2SblV-ysRECpTTS-nYp3eJk9pJ7Rjx7tMCnZgZXOYrIPUb8nail_6Q6FWp67tHH39lWQ4qeDXmCGzmMJYZfoBoqNU0bWwQ05nZLlGzsEE2KqfXdebnSjy2KRGAS7cW8sIcNo_oRu9O6lVxMlucPuLNlVwA5_6T2i2E/w370-h640/20220620_134417_HDR%20(1).jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy me!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9zisc9wtvKiT_aMxy8TQCjna-3bvW5nXWKnExSeFjIzQ5qNEv2u6BvSHGy0I26laPngFNsdY0ipO3kYE54kcLrVxhpkRXaimmJLn2Rit-NZN4KhSednvcKAtbpmiOkvSoQaWKNIFB8C7XZrDOq3Oh_OiOIRWXzbCY1I0hrqLKpUQu6aljUv3_Dg/s2048/Kunst%20Kabinette%20KID.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9zisc9wtvKiT_aMxy8TQCjna-3bvW5nXWKnExSeFjIzQ5qNEv2u6BvSHGy0I26laPngFNsdY0ipO3kYE54kcLrVxhpkRXaimmJLn2Rit-NZN4KhSednvcKAtbpmiOkvSoQaWKNIFB8C7XZrDOq3Oh_OiOIRWXzbCY1I0hrqLKpUQu6aljUv3_Dg/w640-h426/Kunst%20Kabinette%20KID.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love it when kids look interested! Photo: Gueulart</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOOd7wP_HW9DxrXQhw2C6c8hkfEjNNKxGlJ2MmRCwDxg4El_8ZTcBuM1goi_CMQdhgW4tCgJ3IndYmVLpZxICWaKGaodhZxVn8dLbXUBNn7DoKNtZQDMcLHA6bdwu_i0lGz5zFSx48YAxEIcmKMI3mf-tJwBl7KkZoG3g_xacpEU3l6320-gbAQU/s2048/Kunst%20Kabinett%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOOd7wP_HW9DxrXQhw2C6c8hkfEjNNKxGlJ2MmRCwDxg4El_8ZTcBuM1goi_CMQdhgW4tCgJ3IndYmVLpZxICWaKGaodhZxVn8dLbXUBNn7DoKNtZQDMcLHA6bdwu_i0lGz5zFSx48YAxEIcmKMI3mf-tJwBl7KkZoG3g_xacpEU3l6320-gbAQU/w640-h426/Kunst%20Kabinett%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Gueulart<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">Where there's a will, there's a way. Thanks to Jacques Grenier, Monica Brinkman and Claudine Ascher for their help and expertise in the realization of my idea for the Kunst Kabinett.</span> I was really happy with the final result. It was exhibited in a group exhibition until the end of October 2022 at <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x x4zkp8e x41vudc x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto">the Parc de sculptures de la Mairie, 671 Saint-Régis, St-Isidore. See all the other beautiful works that were in this exhibition at the <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/evenements/exposition-a-ciel-ouvert/" target="_blank">Gueulart</a> website.<br /></span></p><div><p></p><p></p></div><br />ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-34355958460343212722022-11-03T09:52:00.003-04:002022-11-06T17:04:15.283-05:00KUNST KABINETT (Part 1)<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been so busy the last few months that my blog thoughts have had to simmer on the back burner. I've undertaken various projects so I'll start with this one which began innocently enough back in September 2021.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm in an artist group of five, <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-power-of-groups.html" target="_blank">Les Sorcières de Soulanges</a>, that meets every now and then. Sometimes we just have lunch, other times we take part in art workshops just for fun. Last year we participated in a clay workshop with <a href="https://www.etlaterre.com/" target="_blank">André Leroux Potier</a> because two members of our group were already creating there.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This little fella, <i>Red Claws</i>, was the first sculpture I made in the workshop. I glazed him but quickly realized that in future, I wanted to handpaint my creations and add things to them as well. I am definitely NOT a clay purist.<br /></span></p><p></p><p>Different views.<img border="0" data-original-height="3208" data-original-width="2488" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EADluumBXoR0EyvueGv7wv-BFAw78nr28WOPfR2ImmUKtOjpvsgsnEB5vl1fhi8KZhLD7DG9YANuj8lKHe9FCxEY-UZKO9_riwkzzT7QXalToc6oe1zh-lkuhHB-f08FFn4_bZ-kAEP84qESYjbKYEOtPQ3rp8rRP0EUlJU6A22IvtlL3Wk7LLI/w496-h640/Griffes%20rouges.jpg" width="496" /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMBsaAj1vUSVJKgAu4bfy4feus9FfSA2ewy4CgCsZmXQ91skKs0_HFg_ervCugqz6dsoROsD0nZ6VjgYOZS3rGbCJCKReFxu6Af9x_vwP8syR9Mn9SDusPHdeEr0WSmlMMAM13qfegoWIYb56gs5dLESfKF7iVLLOpPlrKHSONoXTYo7-vJ8kifw/s657/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-02%20at%207.13.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="657" height="549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMBsaAj1vUSVJKgAu4bfy4feus9FfSA2ewy4CgCsZmXQ91skKs0_HFg_ervCugqz6dsoROsD0nZ6VjgYOZS3rGbCJCKReFxu6Af9x_vwP8syR9Mn9SDusPHdeEr0WSmlMMAM13qfegoWIYb56gs5dLESfKF7iVLLOpPlrKHSONoXTYo7-vJ8kifw/w640-h549/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-02%20at%207.13.12%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Mother of Pearl </i>was more ambitious. I initially painted her pearly white which led to my sticking pearls all over her. I added other colours mixed with pearl medium but I must admit she looked at me as though she was tired of metamorphosing. ENOUGH ALREADY!<br /></p><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo4FboNr0Qml6hDd7PEJ-bPaGdypt3RU7n5wAo7IPlBIM93tOcH6mZuGktxuuqm556L3lUiQYVXUEIjI_hltD9OUMAIFE23WXvCt45DJb3Ose-6xQZvhC0MtNQhoB4S9kCTPGqIxqwJQCIYAZ_xAZ5et1A-4v8PLlc_SebYnISBfwfl7SRD-5QpQ/s4032/La%20me%CC%80re%20nacre%CC%81e.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOo4FboNr0Qml6hDd7PEJ-bPaGdypt3RU7n5wAo7IPlBIM93tOcH6mZuGktxuuqm556L3lUiQYVXUEIjI_hltD9OUMAIFE23WXvCt45DJb3Ose-6xQZvhC0MtNQhoB4S9kCTPGqIxqwJQCIYAZ_xAZ5et1A-4v8PLlc_SebYnISBfwfl7SRD-5QpQ/w480-h640/La%20me%CC%80re%20nacre%CC%81e.PNG" width="480" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWMT3xPyIKJRJvqU7cQDVfwWXyPNH0krqyX855cQBbYYI9kmsbKKDXt-VDeLdDOc61xF7C_KJ30oqciV34BdK9jsc6mZr2ed1M3Pf8uZjkZmtV7bU8HIjU_H4lIJt2eKSEGX4VvOrzp-WZXuxbZAsNIlZjtdDvWYUkZmZOYY0m5W_QhPZY70p66I/s1584/Combo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1584" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWMT3xPyIKJRJvqU7cQDVfwWXyPNH0krqyX855cQBbYYI9kmsbKKDXt-VDeLdDOc61xF7C_KJ30oqciV34BdK9jsc6mZr2ed1M3Pf8uZjkZmtV7bU8HIjU_H4lIJt2eKSEGX4VvOrzp-WZXuxbZAsNIlZjtdDvWYUkZmZOYY0m5W_QhPZY70p66I/w640-h204/Combo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have a friend <a href="http://claudineascher.com/" target="_blank">Claudine Ascher </a>who is an amazing clay sculptor. She invited me to create something in her studio and <i>Three Left Feet </i>was born. Below is a little video that shows him from all sides. He's a god with golden wings of course! Kind of clumsy though, his having five feet and all.<br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuX9YkMQnD2-9HOVHtSGLOhrP2OFzLcZ17G1mr7UALjGAar5hi8vi8ktG7Mqn039shhXs6x3pbo36FcvcxlAhUGYqMMV_obVpBwTVy4QlaAMg8Yogck5Db-QP7SUtB7tZSeYJB5vK6oMLzlKsgu9KYFkaI381692_ldkirKQntKUGwfR_MHFLlFY/w566-h640/Trois%20pieds%20gauche.PNG" width="566" /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYKe6cDM7zQs2TIocv80fYpYe1RYNXO8CHLfi7UaDrz9OuN5bXIAZpimG_mONctG5t7voRu9lkIC6Is2o5cg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I bought a box of clay and attempted a bigger work. I dreamt (seriously) of dripping paint all over this figure. Someone told me that <i>Miss Drippy</i> reminded them of ice cream with chocolate sauce. Interesting association. </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyR10s6Ei3P_yFEgtU3eqgGOizDCwx65X5Cuc42TZ1wE8Dlz-lOBHuRYTB1qRh0tZ2x35quwqWjmmKi49ohowiPuQpkDal-8jWNvOm33dDbPsg8p8uPsDlhrcYhUr_5cimXX3OCwVqk4T6T7fd6E7q3pekgONkQBfD53ucVK0Gv7KVV6Ke3hXvcg/s2829/De%CC%81goulinante.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2829" data-original-width="1595" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyR10s6Ei3P_yFEgtU3eqgGOizDCwx65X5Cuc42TZ1wE8Dlz-lOBHuRYTB1qRh0tZ2x35quwqWjmmKi49ohowiPuQpkDal-8jWNvOm33dDbPsg8p8uPsDlhrcYhUr_5cimXX3OCwVqk4T6T7fd6E7q3pekgONkQBfD53ucVK0Gv7KVV6Ke3hXvcg/w362-h640/De%CC%81goulinante.PNG" width="362" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VkY6rGkEKisRgSuUQSY-mGqPWtDO42R7LSkrxpDwhUp1anRLsbSIc57ntsX8IIMeHOiqXO_wagcvWlPA2gP8fYpNiecORme1QtPekxSUAe7Et1gf0j7gZcagyP7D1LYTW7AvVs-_q1EwIligblrMoLD7Wdbst_lnYRyCxUz27nx0Dqdx9nhn3mo/s2048/Miss%20Drippy%20all%20views.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1147" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VkY6rGkEKisRgSuUQSY-mGqPWtDO42R7LSkrxpDwhUp1anRLsbSIc57ntsX8IIMeHOiqXO_wagcvWlPA2gP8fYpNiecORme1QtPekxSUAe7Et1gf0j7gZcagyP7D1LYTW7AvVs-_q1EwIligblrMoLD7Wdbst_lnYRyCxUz27nx0Dqdx9nhn3mo/w224-h400/Miss%20Drippy%20all%20views.JPG" width="224" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyR10s6Ei3P_yFEgtU3eqgGOizDCwx65X5Cuc42TZ1wE8Dlz-lOBHuRYTB1qRh0tZ2x35quwqWjmmKi49ohowiPuQpkDal-8jWNvOm33dDbPsg8p8uPsDlhrcYhUr_5cimXX3OCwVqk4T6T7fd6E7q3pekgONkQBfD53ucVK0Gv7KVV6Ke3hXvcg/s2829/De%CC%81goulinante.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next incarnation was more complex because I experimented with a garlic press that I used as an extruder. Below are various views of my <i>Feathered Hybrid</i>. I used white <a href="https://en.pebeo.com/catalogue/famille/v160-colours/vitrea-160-relief-outliner-20-ml-sun-yellow--114060" target="_blank">Pebeo Relief Outliner </a>to create a plucked chicken look.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GQZhsmhAPLtG6Wsxxo7CUiz_gf23CiALfYyqOp-O647zccivKXV3RzGaIjhle7Vn7cIf8hrwDY-RZd4ZDpyUEl432SMaCkGgGJDrV7rMexNvIUXYeR5upfEw_1nLHp_L7dnJQDJeoVSXn_-5zAkB1iCE2sKNEJmv0IrDKn1d9iYVYuMWCsB__HI/s2778/Hybride%20plume%CC%81.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="2778" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GQZhsmhAPLtG6Wsxxo7CUiz_gf23CiALfYyqOp-O647zccivKXV3RzGaIjhle7Vn7cIf8hrwDY-RZd4ZDpyUEl432SMaCkGgGJDrV7rMexNvIUXYeR5upfEw_1nLHp_L7dnJQDJeoVSXn_-5zAkB1iCE2sKNEJmv0IrDKn1d9iYVYuMWCsB__HI/w640-h404/Hybride%20plume%CC%81.PNG" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquR9P0A-troJnQJQJVF0S5yobiGwBf5ikWyhtyaHfVRMlvdIEYCr2nlb5-eHggVMZIRWcHU_3jcWurVhr7CfszlPJz--60IDLoV-oRWlw3mswe5bcle4vzdgquyywimY1zL7VcVbrvXe7OVXEv1fWlv6jZuzhEOXHjNuPP46jzj8Gsrd3JiFWU3g/s2048/Feathered%20hybrid%20all%20views.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquR9P0A-troJnQJQJVF0S5yobiGwBf5ikWyhtyaHfVRMlvdIEYCr2nlb5-eHggVMZIRWcHU_3jcWurVhr7CfszlPJz--60IDLoV-oRWlw3mswe5bcle4vzdgquyywimY1zL7VcVbrvXe7OVXEv1fWlv6jZuzhEOXHjNuPP46jzj8Gsrd3JiFWU3g/w640-h640/Feathered%20hybrid%20all%20views.JPG" width="640" /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>I only had a small amount of clay left so naturally the final piece is diminutive but extremely complex. I spent two days painting <i>Mushroom Friends </i>with a teensy brush. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> <br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8gT4yarPSa4M_5_Mhpn_lajXvt3qOFCd-hccMHYyiOPJ-l4XQ1zv7DcC4L4qfR6pZ2GhpmZSunrgydsinWsL7Ywj7xThJQmueh2f3BZQH6Pw3STE9fEBhTHiHIr2DXcL1cO0nPmswy4ZP5-LA4S5TlYD-rPZ1FQ_qZswh9yja3RqG-ncU88AmsA/s2038/Mushroom%20friends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="1401" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8gT4yarPSa4M_5_Mhpn_lajXvt3qOFCd-hccMHYyiOPJ-l4XQ1zv7DcC4L4qfR6pZ2GhpmZSunrgydsinWsL7Ywj7xThJQmueh2f3BZQH6Pw3STE9fEBhTHiHIr2DXcL1cO0nPmswy4ZP5-LA4S5TlYD-rPZ1FQ_qZswh9yja3RqG-ncU88AmsA/w440-h640/Mushroom%20friends.jpg" width="440" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAh-JYbjv5tEMbcaJbvzROTDtQodokDD9m-5_NLyPFlwui9NzoWsh-M8TwqYEEjLU_1kVaiDzil84MW1nkSKNfYSXXI5ACS3pY34_wDHIzIToodEWIybLdLQoVzI5mHnryx5-KS-texrQtA0PGKeLlTw9r8aVhJ2XwyqxCpCkQEjJWc2NyjrndYc/s2598/Mushroom%20ppl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="2502" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAh-JYbjv5tEMbcaJbvzROTDtQodokDD9m-5_NLyPFlwui9NzoWsh-M8TwqYEEjLU_1kVaiDzil84MW1nkSKNfYSXXI5ACS3pY34_wDHIzIToodEWIybLdLQoVzI5mHnryx5-KS-texrQtA0PGKeLlTw9r8aVhJ2XwyqxCpCkQEjJWc2NyjrndYc/w616-h640/Mushroom%20ppl.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Kunst Kabinett project came about because <a href="https://www.gueulart.com/" target="_blank">Gueulart</a>, an artist run gallery that I am a member of, organised an outdoor sculpture show in <a href="http://St-Isidore-de-Laprairie.">St-Isidore-de-Laprairie.</a><a href="http://www.municipalite.saint-isidore.qc.ca/loisirs-et-vie-communautaire/organismes/coeur-de-village/" target="_blank"> </a>I wanted to participate in order to show what I had recently completed but my sculptures were way too tiny to be left outside in the elements and they were also prime candidates for theft.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The concept I ran with was way out of my comfort zone, a big deal of my own making but luckily I had help.</span> You may have deduced by now the my Kunst Kabinett is a Cabinet of Curiosities and the curiosities within are my funky clay sculptures. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span>More to come in Part 2.</span></span></span></p><p></p></div>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-63964285056341181312022-06-21T21:50:00.001-04:002022-06-22T09:19:57.383-04:00FLOWERS ON MY SOFA - ÉVEIL (AWAKENING)<div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupTfGh9foPeS_TE1aRH3TrfRcj4Ow0lYUIEFejFuEQ0HUwefA0UeMJKMHIgeB8WXuhLPmpDcqnlxPLEyMbkDLFpjG3zdrq4-Ep2NJkNN4nhKmflw_0cXW025_Ldopxqo2E0e8ZvImGL4GgmtRWAYozIQ3JKQMiyH2v2qZXjrsaMiFHw2_p5db3Ow/s4032/Flowers%20on%20the%20sofa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupTfGh9foPeS_TE1aRH3TrfRcj4Ow0lYUIEFejFuEQ0HUwefA0UeMJKMHIgeB8WXuhLPmpDcqnlxPLEyMbkDLFpjG3zdrq4-Ep2NJkNN4nhKmflw_0cXW025_Ldopxqo2E0e8ZvImGL4GgmtRWAYozIQ3JKQMiyH2v2qZXjrsaMiFHw2_p5db3Ow/w640-h480/Flowers%20on%20the%20sofa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Another project done!. Life is
too short to twiddle my thumbs.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It fascinates me how elements of projects</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> look HUGE</span> in my home but when viewed in an outdoor environment, they seem teeny weeny. It's the sky's fault. The ceiling is a tad too high.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For Vaudreuil-Dorion's Éveil </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(Awakening) </span>project, the municipality wanted us to re-purpose some of their accumulated art stash if possible. I went over to the building that houses magic bins full of fabrics, chicken wire and more, and tried to imagine what I could possible use to create some faux flora. I came across a bunch of </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">discreet, (one might say boring) black </span>umbrellas and thought that an open umbrella kind of resembled a flower. My only concern was that the stem and handle were in the wrong direction. I'd have to invert it, as though it had been blown out by the wind. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu9mBY-ZbZ5vGwfv-ezxji5Q5YN1INdboA_xnLGvbrSsknm0UoTQ6Zu0mhVyrDjuSW_A6p7hp6d06o4IiNIjJgfJgFht5IxwboPZAO33AAqP6jgUuFjjni5PdG9XWiaGVYYsEC87KIRKcVWnZDKvsoQH5eOcXhArUhTQ1hRHThuGzRtIXub6Hoh8/s2880/Inverted%20Umbrella.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu9mBY-ZbZ5vGwfv-ezxji5Q5YN1INdboA_xnLGvbrSsknm0UoTQ6Zu0mhVyrDjuSW_A6p7hp6d06o4IiNIjJgfJgFht5IxwboPZAO33AAqP6jgUuFjjni5PdG9XWiaGVYYsEC87KIRKcVWnZDKvsoQH5eOcXhArUhTQ1hRHThuGzRtIXub6Hoh8/w500-h640/Inverted%20Umbrella.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My initial dilemma was trying to figure out how to attach the flower to the pole the city provided in an aesthetic way. I hoped the umbrella stem might fit into one of the many holes that perforated the pole but unfortunately the diameter of the umbrella rod was a tad too large. An artist friend suggested using tie wraps but that didn't really light my fire.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I spoke to Jacques Grenier who is an "ace" at solving these kinds of problems, and he suggested adding a box over the pole to which I could attach the umbrella rods with special metallic tape. I agreed and Jacques built me a beautiful pole cover out of wood. He also advised adding wooden dowels to the spokes of the umbrella to reinforce it. I completed the buttressing process by sewing the spokes of the umbrella from top to bottom to the existing fabric. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My plan was to have only one flower but I ended up with three. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>CREATING THROUGH FAILURE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kvnJZf4DwzPMRktWQThGKnRDrK4Wjl5HSudf8FhUBhyFWjibahIAEikG8_UG2Hxa8Qv5M2VSxAguYH_hysDwq86zCCOhe3-MpaVmuDIJxAQaITRTLbOyPZ6KR0etCMxVUKIgYld31uNEdCdpOZ1fqnO7TjNtGcxXj4Nonb0ftXyBJ5s2r4Xco6w/s2159/Canvas%20flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="2159" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kvnJZf4DwzPMRktWQThGKnRDrK4Wjl5HSudf8FhUBhyFWjibahIAEikG8_UG2Hxa8Qv5M2VSxAguYH_hysDwq86zCCOhe3-MpaVmuDIJxAQaITRTLbOyPZ6KR0etCMxVUKIgYld31uNEdCdpOZ1fqnO7TjNtGcxXj4Nonb0ftXyBJ5s2r4Xco6w/w640-h638/Canvas%20flower.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Funny how technical preoccupations affect creativity and the making of things. I was afraid the umbrella fabric wouldn't hold up against the elements so I painstakingly stuck on heavy duty canvas to make the material stronger. It took forever because the umbrella fabric objected to merging with the canvas. I slathered on glue and held everything together with safety pins, straight pins (that didn't want to penetrate the canvas) and bulldog clips. This made the flower extremely heavy. Jacques started cutting up my first attempt in his workshop so it would fit into a nearby garbage can. I yelled "WAIT" and suddenly, we both saw the potential of removing the material between the spokes. <br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I returned home with the damaged umbrella and proceeded to cut away more fabric with heavy duty scissors to create a daisy shape. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the yellow spray paint I bought so I turned to my "artist quality heavy body" acrylic paint to get the colour I wanted. I applied it with a good old paint brush. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaYrSuyk6lkXl70IdYgHjNhVlz2wH41BCU_HWq-jvzpHZSOkwPExoKkUeK1C4RYfSYH4WWdWT6KIYCqYGWgDbkMlYdJEwI9CrEzW6O9NWIS1MzQ72lt-0G7kqp7YGcsP3ldHOmxvxbq4EnIjeYPRtzRFrCKE3QPc02k_2tDWrMpQLpD7_81p8PwE/s2265/Susan%20in%20progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="2265" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaYrSuyk6lkXl70IdYgHjNhVlz2wH41BCU_HWq-jvzpHZSOkwPExoKkUeK1C4RYfSYH4WWdWT6KIYCqYGWgDbkMlYdJEwI9CrEzW6O9NWIS1MzQ72lt-0G7kqp7YGcsP3ldHOmxvxbq4EnIjeYPRtzRFrCKE3QPc02k_2tDWrMpQLpD7_81p8PwE/w640-h602/Susan%20in%20progress.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I began spraying black paint on styrofoam rings and balls but they started to bubble up and disintegrate. What in heaven's name was in that spray can? I switched over to a <i>good old paint brush</i> once more and applied black gesso. I sawed off the tip of the umbrella to flatten out the circle centre.</span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">SPRAY PAINT FROM HELL<br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meanwhile I still wanted a full flower created from an inverted umbrella. </span> I prepared another but didn't glue any canvas to this one except on the tips of the spokes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTwZVdd58DOkihAYDwVMloQXWvV0medDwbloRhVsquVLjXyrCgys41UdVIt4jBQSlioZ1wmfzdLidekUrdRhV4fSKtVFjFgGuO9NZ9jXUztBh1Ks8OcY060tXQ-3GWMXHh8zKHgo64cPxF8yttCrA-m2T6qDTqG0hQda0ZBu7CdEXEXSg7o2pHFw/s2286/Gluing%20bits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2091" data-original-width="2286" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTwZVdd58DOkihAYDwVMloQXWvV0medDwbloRhVsquVLjXyrCgys41UdVIt4jBQSlioZ1wmfzdLidekUrdRhV4fSKtVFjFgGuO9NZ9jXUztBh1Ks8OcY060tXQ-3GWMXHh8zKHgo64cPxF8yttCrA-m2T6qDTqG0hQda0ZBu7CdEXEXSg7o2pHFw/w640-h586/Gluing%20bits.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJbSB8DGJjW5XXV94rpxXT-P6OB-kUa7Rr0zbVBlb0NXSUiDsHoQ5tcTuh-AgGc_fdblJhiEOkmzdXsDQmscECDFGw-zpG6VywjMdPhfqOAkdIClM2RtqJIPTkqPBJ8YzYkxfu5a1ZeZ7s5smc7bc1K6jL1ZzvIKqctm_kxBPRRSSPNi_GgUfMKo/s4032/Flowers%20in%20progress%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJbSB8DGJjW5XXV94rpxXT-P6OB-kUa7Rr0zbVBlb0NXSUiDsHoQ5tcTuh-AgGc_fdblJhiEOkmzdXsDQmscECDFGw-zpG6VywjMdPhfqOAkdIClM2RtqJIPTkqPBJ8YzYkxfu5a1ZeZ7s5smc7bc1K6jL1ZzvIKqctm_kxBPRRSSPNi_GgUfMKo/w480-h640/Flowers%20in%20progress%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Challenges ensued with the spray paint. I decided on pink for this flower and started with a brand from the local hardware store to do the back of the umbrella. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5-lr6hbIdPQij8jrHx13q1cIWbCLpNSH3rbMKOIQ-y_S-4NNHF3thfzR0creO44HjQM543kENmQHON0-fcdN8PyfJraiJ7Hg3HDXk4AAeHv7NbowwWhQdEAYjslHse-FQvFdY8q2_Mu9L5vLc_feJ_DUoAkD5bLFSYSTcTuyA8SpEwc76FXoBKU/s2641/Exterior%20Pink.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="2238" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5-lr6hbIdPQij8jrHx13q1cIWbCLpNSH3rbMKOIQ-y_S-4NNHF3thfzR0creO44HjQM543kENmQHON0-fcdN8PyfJraiJ7Hg3HDXk4AAeHv7NbowwWhQdEAYjslHse-FQvFdY8q2_Mu9L5vLc_feJ_DUoAkD5bLFSYSTcTuyA8SpEwc76FXoBKU/w542-h640/Exterior%20Pink.jpg" width="542" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Echoing nature, I felt I could get away with many shades of pinks for my flower so I went to the local art store and purchased other hues. I used pig pink for the post and fluorescent pink for the interior of the umbrella. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I cut out half-moon shapes of anti-slip rug material and glued them to the perimeter.</span></span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WWDBdZUiWEi364CsHpNsgoRcso__zCULc-31RC-CQOz3rk8OKzGsZxKvcTm2xZ2ET_KAMXbsS-HZbeQ1oLrjGaqLSqffkmwtSPmqN2tWYs2GKxWkJo5uSqoMQvolcNZdFVm6Bv1UDlghO016zQKlNDjYBe-0MrFKlMVEYjjda8x_kbwM0U48JnQ/s2946/Flowers%20in%20progress%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2946" data-original-width="2755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WWDBdZUiWEi364CsHpNsgoRcso__zCULc-31RC-CQOz3rk8OKzGsZxKvcTm2xZ2ET_KAMXbsS-HZbeQ1oLrjGaqLSqffkmwtSPmqN2tWYs2GKxWkJo5uSqoMQvolcNZdFVm6Bv1UDlghO016zQKlNDjYBe-0MrFKlMVEYjjda8x_kbwM0U48JnQ/w598-h640/Flowers%20in%20progress%203.jpg" width="598" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The hardware store pink that I painted on the
outside of the umbrella permeated the fabric and repelled the paint I applied to the interior. I had visions of fluorescent
pink dripping down on visitors after a rain. I had to find a solution. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As an ultimate test, I
took a hose to the umbrella to see how much of the fluorescent pink
would come off. It remained in some areas but not in others. I varnished what stayed on, painted over dark areas with more paint, varnished it
again, and finally achieved a decent level of adherence. </span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCRcH9MiY-nY1iN9Rg8ERJD6_2n5Is10tKhy7Z9LbXe7nBCzEAwYpXLV4dr3J4fLF5X-ZgBT7rMoHjtlyJqnfcBQBJOl1-UnEOIgZ1sGq0Ww2an2wnNilf9Tkh88MgAJl18OwKkYm3DjciePQyilp38_rvb_s-xw3GkFEdbap_f2l6xs4pa0Sao/s2815/Flowers%20in%20progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2815" data-original-width="2236" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCRcH9MiY-nY1iN9Rg8ERJD6_2n5Is10tKhy7Z9LbXe7nBCzEAwYpXLV4dr3J4fLF5X-ZgBT7rMoHjtlyJqnfcBQBJOl1-UnEOIgZ1sGq0Ww2an2wnNilf9Tkh88MgAJl18OwKkYm3DjciePQyilp38_rvb_s-xw3GkFEdbap_f2l6xs4pa0Sao/w508-h640/Flowers%20in%20progress.jpg" width="508" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I took another umbrella and cut off the end of the spokes. They were a bit long so I trimmed them again before glue-gunning them onto the centre bit of the umbrella </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to create my stamens</span>. I used special tape on top to make sure they were solidly attached. I used black styrofoam rings and balls for the centre of the flower and attached trimmed spokes that radiated from the centre. The result resembled a vibrant pink poppy-like flower. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiH7Pp2tCMvxE3su1Y5dCiYGJy8iZFxxIRbZxWSJ2wa84Trp_EMQX2cIIKKFcNVtYWytND9oTrxNZCKGcChkjOh2c6mOmjjKRA9f7Q1h9aex2cBglhl71GYiG7R_o93uvb5k_9HDUzmwfXzAGEMe7LZ8Ik9N4gbukpn-W9Uwx4q2AaHGh9KwpUJw/s4032/Spokes%20in%20the%20middle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiH7Pp2tCMvxE3su1Y5dCiYGJy8iZFxxIRbZxWSJ2wa84Trp_EMQX2cIIKKFcNVtYWytND9oTrxNZCKGcChkjOh2c6mOmjjKRA9f7Q1h9aex2cBglhl71GYiG7R_o93uvb5k_9HDUzmwfXzAGEMe7LZ8Ik9N4gbukpn-W9Uwx4q2AaHGh9KwpUJw/w640-h480/Spokes%20in%20the%20middle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I worked with styrofoam rings to create the centre of the yellow flower. The slightly disintegrated hoops spawned a beautiful texture. One has to work with accidents. I added some black polka dots.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN19FUGTUPobnpko50nrTgqMUKtyjcQOWZC4VRGqDDZjMiWVkgCjyR8cyJlMxFsYkqguRnKp8jdtCaOhMmobrGn2ADIkovcETqDaETb377f1TDOfbz8KJEmrCZyVVMIRE8PqFAW1nH-YH4rpR7zl6xY5ScNLSw2cagdGB2hS0aQekj1KUAOvU_IY/s4032/Interior%20of%20yellow%20flower.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN19FUGTUPobnpko50nrTgqMUKtyjcQOWZC4VRGqDDZjMiWVkgCjyR8cyJlMxFsYkqguRnKp8jdtCaOhMmobrGn2ADIkovcETqDaETb377f1TDOfbz8KJEmrCZyVVMIRE8PqFAW1nH-YH4rpR7zl6xY5ScNLSw2cagdGB2hS0aQekj1KUAOvU_IY/w640-h480/Interior%20of%20yellow%20flower.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">BUGS ON THE POST<br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I painted the post pig pink but it still looked rather plain. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My <a href="https://www.twotwentyone.net/peonies-and-ants/" target="_blank">peonies</a> confirmed that ants love living with flowers. </span>It was time for giant ants. I drew one on a letter-sized piece of paper to create a stencil and painted a row of ants on each side of the post in black paint, one army going down and the other going up. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU90Xkmi7lZPYhXNbopNk51mc-S2tLsoOB2UJCZCjFD69UrYKy28qb-ob5yyf_9AUJxnJtAh8Ve2so0iQ6lVTYsLeDKxFDyALbeOEFiYMhgNmq9yPGZDfzBHJdZeIP67akviLK6SwvW5r_ulecSe-V0wUbM5vwoteUOy9dkC86Mg_lfOKLetAPI44/s1705/Ant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1705" data-original-width="811" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU90Xkmi7lZPYhXNbopNk51mc-S2tLsoOB2UJCZCjFD69UrYKy28qb-ob5yyf_9AUJxnJtAh8Ve2so0iQ6lVTYsLeDKxFDyALbeOEFiYMhgNmq9yPGZDfzBHJdZeIP67akviLK6SwvW5r_ulecSe-V0wUbM5vwoteUOy9dkC86Mg_lfOKLetAPI44/w304-h640/Ant.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A SMALL BOUQUET </span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two flowers attached to a post made for a rather small bouquet and it soon became evident that I needed a third bloom. I took the "cropped-spokes" umbrella and sewed the overhanging material back onto the spokes that remained. I painted this smaller flower a dark turquoise blue. More non-slip rug material placed at the centre projected lovely shadows.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZlMh2giZoN85UhOp4pQYG2hWviDTnyDy1_zRXy-M0z0_AXaO4yrHo8SL04PmFkXr2YChGhOyrPiKkQKTUbAJ2n1wIR8Yg8KYIfMP8rYK1HGBfGVMsGLbObjtCXNxOC94b6NnQaQNWzInj3YMU2BDa4Vwl-ath7bZIaCdk7GTAoqLX858RnH-Q_M/s4032/Turqoise%20flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZlMh2giZoN85UhOp4pQYG2hWviDTnyDy1_zRXy-M0z0_AXaO4yrHo8SL04PmFkXr2YChGhOyrPiKkQKTUbAJ2n1wIR8Yg8KYIfMP8rYK1HGBfGVMsGLbObjtCXNxOC94b6NnQaQNWzInj3YMU2BDa4Vwl-ath7bZIaCdk7GTAoqLX858RnH-Q_M/w640-h480/Turqoise%20flower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The flowers decorated my floor while the paint cured. I then parked them on my sofa until the installation date.</span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My partner is a very patient man. I literally took over the house with this project. Elements were everywhere<b> </b>and I didn't hear a peep out of him.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwdwEUjOzxvw3OZwrWLli5PrywzdvkLCF_aXqLi8fwevRKcxJClk_3isBZ87wfMU9jOKlgg2OFnEqu3Dfq1D3J37F6kZDjB6i8toV70e8bdBj_P2AhzyrZZsFx6UcpXLlNYl-T__SeiJnIZMj83ELGxFrzgiP0bPAIUFaY2mCKgKu6LhFkyimA24/s2675/Three%20Flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2675" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwdwEUjOzxvw3OZwrWLli5PrywzdvkLCF_aXqLi8fwevRKcxJClk_3isBZ87wfMU9jOKlgg2OFnEqu3Dfq1D3J37F6kZDjB6i8toV70e8bdBj_P2AhzyrZZsFx6UcpXLlNYl-T__SeiJnIZMj83ELGxFrzgiP0bPAIUFaY2mCKgKu6LhFkyimA24/w640-h538/Three%20Flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">LEFTOVER TRIANGLES <br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I painted the leftover triangles of fabric from the black-eyed Susan </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">various shades of blue, green and violet. I added these at the top of the ant pole to create more fullness up there.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iz3MnE6i-YkAvb5P5koi07YiUlqChNLJ0jeKXCgv7AoljimBeDyOs6JTxzoS7psICSdEtDKZfYv_GwYdAgT_gKKYXzQL406XdjArO0jX_Smpws2qrqdvF7HCI92ESC0VIbQ_Rd-dpaGuGZBSnQo5tf7SaTtS33e1uOPuExiS17Ul5wQXiGgKYPo/s742/Ambiguite%CC%81%20Florale%20Top.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iz3MnE6i-YkAvb5P5koi07YiUlqChNLJ0jeKXCgv7AoljimBeDyOs6JTxzoS7psICSdEtDKZfYv_GwYdAgT_gKKYXzQL406XdjArO0jX_Smpws2qrqdvF7HCI92ESC0VIbQ_Rd-dpaGuGZBSnQo5tf7SaTtS33e1uOPuExiS17Ul5wQXiGgKYPo/s16000/Ambiguite%CC%81%20Florale%20Top.jpeg" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The city installed the flowers of the ten invited artists in a nearby wooded park along the waterfront. Public works did a beautiful job. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="3" data-phrase-index="2"><span class="Q4iAWc">FINAL INSTALLATION: <br /></span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="3" data-phrase-index="2"><span class="Q4iAWc"></span></span></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrJVLu_rJA4EDTPvX0ppg2_Me4YVbaK52Yg7Bk5R6oYOFxCcE4yLwYk-S5ALzZuuH01Yez_bTyryawRKEPeG_svWg-6680U5_DR2-C5hLCNxwco2IdtcCp0RXd8kx4u4UoDinD9UQM9cE5kGuQ4U7kKNUfDMUpLuuwxVowro8NpbwlWD5RE7um7o/s3027/E%CC%81veil%20installation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1682" data-original-width="3027" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrJVLu_rJA4EDTPvX0ppg2_Me4YVbaK52Yg7Bk5R6oYOFxCcE4yLwYk-S5ALzZuuH01Yez_bTyryawRKEPeG_svWg-6680U5_DR2-C5hLCNxwco2IdtcCp0RXd8kx4u4UoDinD9UQM9cE5kGuQ4U7kKNUfDMUpLuuwxVowro8NpbwlWD5RE7um7o/w640-h356/E%CC%81veil%20installation.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhcU4OgMaBEpefcT_Wacus9wURLNwt9wFNp9fGNVDXfWudDSMR94kDItimz7ruFwPZRf08zNkTYHdV88jmEwPNThFA9gYA5LOi_VdI2pwisMVNpEIudVzCJtl3cZlGZJT8v85v8iybmU14wMaxd3jlzDhlZrYGsPs-NHzi3e9afPU9cZWyvBzGWI/s3284/Ambiguite%CC%81%20Florale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3284" data-original-width="1445" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhcU4OgMaBEpefcT_Wacus9wURLNwt9wFNp9fGNVDXfWudDSMR94kDItimz7ruFwPZRf08zNkTYHdV88jmEwPNThFA9gYA5LOi_VdI2pwisMVNpEIudVzCJtl3cZlGZJT8v85v8iybmU14wMaxd3jlzDhlZrYGsPs-NHzi3e9afPU9cZWyvBzGWI/w282-h640/Ambiguite%CC%81%20Florale.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is my upright creation in its beautiful location. May it attract an abundance of pollinators!</span><p></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-66740077650653773332022-05-02T08:15:00.001-04:002022-05-02T08:19:30.483-04:00FOUR SO FAR<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been creating digital artwork for over ten years now and still feel as though I've merely scratched the surface of its possibilities. I alter my creations in various applications and print an incredible number of test runs on my fancy (meaning expensive and finicky) Epson Photo Printer. Naturally, I end up with tons of experiments that lead to new ideas. Being a pack rat artist, I can't throw these test images out. <i>That would be both ecologically and artistically wasteful wouldn't it?.</i> By amassing a pile of rejected images, I plan on creating new artworks using collage elements.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've always loved collage but haven't done all that much in recent years. I had some free time at the beginning of the year and decided to try something new. A haunted face that grew from mirroring one of my digital drawings possessed me. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chirp (Part 1) </span></b><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A friend of mine gave me a pile of old sheet music, one of which was a faded, aged, torn and seductive shade of gray-blue. It had the shape of an upper body. I placed both elements, the face and body, on a 18"x24" paper. I glued them down and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">drew a bent arm that pointed skywards from the torso </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">using ink on a surface that was slightly dampened.</span> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Something had to land on that pointed finger. It looked like the perfect perch for a bird. I threw a bit of fluid paint on another sheet of paper (à la Jackson Pollock) and blew it about with a straw. While it was drying, I created and cut out a bird stencil that I traced over the ink splashes. I scanned the completed reddish bird and printed up three more black and white versions in slightly altered sizes. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyzB-T0KyCgBdOkJOZcDktNU4uyHE6ZK5U2u4-Xo3sUBMaybfUc4Qro0W7AfovuqKbblNh830dwtuloqJP38X0jEsNOXw2iiBkC3E6D7sRAoVq5bpQgU6OPSNvjFwCJQw5cZ-xxLtTHMsElEx6zgs6tiBcr3hy72Vn2VNVvKuhgJJ8r4TYj6srnY/s2893/Bird.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1957" data-original-width="2893" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyzB-T0KyCgBdOkJOZcDktNU4uyHE6ZK5U2u4-Xo3sUBMaybfUc4Qro0W7AfovuqKbblNh830dwtuloqJP38X0jEsNOXw2iiBkC3E6D7sRAoVq5bpQgU6OPSNvjFwCJQw5cZ-xxLtTHMsElEx6zgs6tiBcr3hy72Vn2VNVvKuhgJJ8r4TYj6srnY/w640-h432/Bird.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I experimented with the placement of the birds which begged to extend beyond the borders of the paper. That made me smile. Of course they couldn't be confined to an 18"x24" format! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I placed my character within a nest and added more painterly elements. The</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> figure had to keep growing, figuratively and literally. I felt compelled...no obsessed, to create legs for my subject! </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The nest reminded me of a ballerina's tutu.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="801" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTp9awg-QfYpS2GHPxThg9iWaTh4YIZ1-zZzbu0JutMOf-IjXFKLlcU3JyLfGxKctiqjlduRkQd0FnEMyAL0JNknf1vRPnzLKZtI-7WF4F2sJLCTX2y0SkdWOh9LmCAUGjihSBlD7nXIfbxa6GKuhTmrQz-Sgd8y0Wx1Jw-yU0W74udCyJkouvLs/s16000/CHIRP.sm.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chirp (Part 2)<br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Out came another 18"x24" sheet of paper for my next work. I reprinted the music sheet in a slightly different colour to echo the torso of the first image, rotated and glued it on the paper. I drew the legs and a "tutu nest" and giggled all the while as I did it. The lower half needed some pizzazz and in keeping with an avian spirit, I decided to add some hungry baby birds. </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O6mSV6AOGOA6nwrEhM_hI0T5X-VU164TmD3BTPe4FhUTXtJNuxXuthk-z66O9tVgj7i5UgoRvivBhKOtw2IHAP0PUeQbSxKZbKKsM-l_3BePuh33UNLrtlebaHUNzNf_-4x3iDBOIp_xjJAOtF6JFz84cSDNL6_ZkwbkzLLNcz5xoJE3_74ROlQ/s1440/Chirp%20(Part%202).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O6mSV6AOGOA6nwrEhM_hI0T5X-VU164TmD3BTPe4FhUTXtJNuxXuthk-z66O9tVgj7i5UgoRvivBhKOtw2IHAP0PUeQbSxKZbKKsM-l_3BePuh33UNLrtlebaHUNzNf_-4x3iDBOIp_xjJAOtF6JFz84cSDNL6_ZkwbkzLLNcz5xoJE3_74ROlQ/s16000/Chirp%20(Part%202).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">BALLERINO</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The more I looked at the two finished works, the more I wanted to combine them. I decided to do so digitally to see what would happen. I loaded up photos of the two images in Procreate on my iPad Pro and fiddled with the elements to merge them. I wanted the connection of both parts to feel a tad uncomfortable. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The nest was way too narrow so I widened it. "Ballerino"...a new digital print, was born.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHw4dOwUuxKSGGRsJzVjF1mCTFmjbB1wrFdGq0WUWeEIrtctSXE0VH7md4Bk2-O3r5BDdEeQRC-n1AetcwZ553ZQxR0kIipGhQcBVK1AjJaPAQe2qso1FVTBQgkrguB-RBxYM8EslWt2oHhvxWqX_Mz3myCwknJigNeuFfW9xw1GR5Ru-9rkZN-g/s600/Diane%20Collet.Ballerino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHw4dOwUuxKSGGRsJzVjF1mCTFmjbB1wrFdGq0WUWeEIrtctSXE0VH7md4Bk2-O3r5BDdEeQRC-n1AetcwZ553ZQxR0kIipGhQcBVK1AjJaPAQe2qso1FVTBQgkrguB-RBxYM8EslWt2oHhvxWqX_Mz3myCwknJigNeuFfW9xw1GR5Ru-9rkZN-g/w435-h640/Diane%20Collet.Ballerino.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Song and Dance<br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Russia invaded Ukraine and in concert, a call for entry appeared on Facebook from the Conseil des Arts et de la Culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (CACVS) for the 2022 Edition of their Contamination Culturelle outdoor exhibition. This itinerant show has traditionally taken place during the summer months in different municipalities of the region. I decided to continue working with Chirp 1 & 2 and Ballerino. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
work is coloured by what is happening in our world right now. It is
nourished by war, a pandemic and a seriously hurting global population.
Along with death, there is also birth, renaissance, and the will to
survive. The way I understand life is that every dark event has a
positive side but the opposite is also true. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For "Song and Dance", I multiplied my character’s legs to suggest movement and added a dark, turbulent sky that hints at an impending storm. Hungry bird babies try to eat the tips of the ballet slippers that hang over their beaks because they resemble worms (an illusion of food). I also added a hatchling in the tutu nest who appears to be squawking </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Don't leave me!" </span>to one of the mature birds taking flight. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkI2CU7gZGkaImS2y8H8Z-eMsw6dWoaNhErFImGQXmKrmRGgftoc2h04MAjpsKdNRNqdyrxeIvNMB02fAzT1shXkkwz9mCWmavS0-DYmRW2W0i2wKH619LqfVyUL28MG7I4cu0qER3Fb6_SUEvZ-HPamB2L2lHP0Qk_pgm3u6lvyYyDUZPRP3EE/s1100/SONG%20AND%20DANCE.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkI2CU7gZGkaImS2y8H8Z-eMsw6dWoaNhErFImGQXmKrmRGgftoc2h04MAjpsKdNRNqdyrxeIvNMB02fAzT1shXkkwz9mCWmavS0-DYmRW2W0i2wKH619LqfVyUL28MG7I4cu0qER3Fb6_SUEvZ-HPamB2L2lHP0Qk_pgm3u6lvyYyDUZPRP3EE/s16000/SONG%20AND%20DANCE.sm.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From one tiny digital drawing of a face, I now have four works of art.
They have gone through the sieve of traditional media (collage, drawing
and painting) and various digital applications. This final image is
absurd yet deals with serious themes: flight/escape, birth, joy,
vulnerability and craving. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have no idea what our new normal will be in future or whether art can
bring about change. All I know for sure is that art is continuously
censored or used as a propaganda tool so it must have power. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I add my voice to those who scream.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-41297464938533228922022-02-22T11:24:00.008-05:002022-02-23T12:13:18.283-05:00A LIGHT FROM WITHIN<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The <a href="https://www.ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/en" target="_blank">City of Vaudreuil-Dorion</a>'s outdoor winter project was fascinating this year. The organizing committee invited ten resident artists to create giant lanterns for an installation in a local park. The final works weren't "suspended" as one would expect of lanterns but the result was nonetheless magical.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The city asked <a href="https://www.philippecorriveau.com/" target="_blank">Philippe Corriveau,</a> graphic designer and visual artist to coordinate the project. He liaised with the city and public works to have structures built for the lanterns and found a supplier capable of printing on the right type of fabric for this outdoor exhibition. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At first, the city planned on using three eight foot shapes: cubes, pyramids, and houses. Artists chose the shape they wanted to work with. Eventually only two were used, cubes and houses. Philippe gave each person the template of their choice. Some artists chose to create artwork via traditional means (paintings, drawings, mosaics) while </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">other artists like myself, decided to work digitally. Once</span> completed, images created by hand were photographed and printed on fabric while digital works were printed directly onto fabric from the file. All were attached to the structures by public works. The exhibition was up from the 10th of December 2021 to February 6th, 2022.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeXAidQh1FHAcoLvothDBcesoRjqSoP9O64xZLGlJZ4mcPzPREuwinjPQSWkzwwB1Rj-b51TXNxaNawOrX4v7m30yh4lRIxBZQKOSbF7qc3uGzj_OPM_kJu62hNc955EsUOcmUEXXH-jgLDbIckQvxryf2MwACc7MU7ZrCsBAR5fadbARGQQ79Auk=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq9y1sPFKn31Upp8f-ez_L44ESlxmszyY3cANToF2jhgdQzYSygkVNTo4sCDh1fJZAXyifUHS-N0N6mV4ZRdyVJSfo7yssofgf2EavkCLo-upSbfrdZ4vBXaFs9vT2Gr3aXLSXTL_hRqJ2fDH926afxxXWOE7DH76SqVQbvNjqj1XHmziyo5eTezs=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq9y1sPFKn31Upp8f-ez_L44ESlxmszyY3cANToF2jhgdQzYSygkVNTo4sCDh1fJZAXyifUHS-N0N6mV4ZRdyVJSfo7yssofgf2EavkCLo-upSbfrdZ4vBXaFs9vT2Gr3aXLSXTL_hRqJ2fDH926afxxXWOE7DH76SqVQbvNjqj1XHmziyo5eTezs=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo - Parc 405, City of Vaudreuil-Dorion</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I chose the house shape. After photographing and enjoying the neighbour's cat over the years, I went with a feline theme (yeah, a <i>cathouse</i>). The template was later modified because roof elements couldn't be viewed properly at the initial angle. I had to make alterations to my design but the final result worked out well. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I created images in "chunks" on the iPad Pro (Procreate app). Arthur the cat was sound asleep in most of my photos and I could easily envision him resting inside an egg </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">as he wound himself up into embryonic shapes</span>. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The first element I drew was a sleeping Arthur. I then housed a number of semi-transparent snoozing Arthurs on an egg background that I had created a few weeks earlier. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ0TzUwTeyjgL4tRaTX1QjM-5WbaEuDKs2iM6JtEU55KjuR3UVnheWZQMbq1R95k9Mha-Op2jy5CsCOtSj-OLqxbiA6IwaNn7XTiviy_dyGKhDWFAT8qefBVPbd33U7Wg7l7ZW6hYYu0MY0KxnGplEq597wS_WQct5f4HxvtHykUrwzksZZGj46KY=s1504"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQ0TzUwTeyjgL4tRaTX1QjM-5WbaEuDKs2iM6JtEU55KjuR3UVnheWZQMbq1R95k9Mha-Op2jy5CsCOtSj-OLqxbiA6IwaNn7XTiviy_dyGKhDWFAT8qefBVPbd33U7Wg7l7ZW6hYYu0MY0KxnGplEq597wS_WQct5f4HxvtHykUrwzksZZGj46KY=w532-h640" width="532" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKSB1KmtdV4qLWF6F1gHkzdaUq1HNhiC1djFExCt1wscze91Aq53ZXqsCxWxI8dJt6UhmO47zMwjw7L1TZoovBP9Bw6GMDBxKbqnHC8-s_l4taMgOjioTbqLnFqv0GCWDmY-JJTD6lm9YRTTIkXq3XqrcOHpEXBxqiX4CYYGGOu0sxKsuYWnAUhUo=s640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKSB1KmtdV4qLWF6F1gHkzdaUq1HNhiC1djFExCt1wscze91Aq53ZXqsCxWxI8dJt6UhmO47zMwjw7L1TZoovBP9Bw6GMDBxKbqnHC8-s_l4taMgOjioTbqLnFqv0GCWDmY-JJTD6lm9YRTTIkXq3XqrcOHpEXBxqiX4CYYGGOu0sxKsuYWnAUhUo=w470-h640" width="470" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Egg background</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcilsT13S1IHgFnMpq7GvsYebse-EjwOdiiNZnBkTSgX-1vu-8-qHaNfHeiN_1XQqL2kgtE35oAfEFjP92-0WImN4xBcIMsHSpxTFlyjW1hJkX9tMe6IH8_JgV1qCzmQyv-UJ8Y1icBZLG3wBsqCDQK4mQweLEjeajNJlRz7dLgP_hRobFhEnYot0=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcilsT13S1IHgFnMpq7GvsYebse-EjwOdiiNZnBkTSgX-1vu-8-qHaNfHeiN_1XQqL2kgtE35oAfEFjP92-0WImN4xBcIMsHSpxTFlyjW1hJkX9tMe6IH8_JgV1qCzmQyv-UJ8Y1icBZLG3wBsqCDQK4mQweLEjeajNJlRz7dLgP_hRobFhEnYot0=s16000" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While I loved the softness and mood of the image, I felt the final work needed more pizzazz and dynamic emotional contrast. I was also worried that a dark background would not work well as a lantern. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I opted for a "cat" dream sequence wherein Arthur could be more active.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now what does a chubby yellow cat dream of? We always want to be what we're not and that led me to fantasize about Arthur. I imagined he might see himself as an athlete</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> who loves to flaunt his assertive side</span>...hmmm...think like a cat...<i>"does he dream of being a wild Tom who juggles eggs?</i>" You may have noticed that I love absurd scenarios.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Primary and complementary hues tend to be punchy so I started with those.<br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAGDk0vFNpYW8ahD5OIhTDfxcc6CpSHBQHrTreYiSf32ql4Eh4FNDuMe6i6M6q6NhE4gYfBzQKHPkojzkfGRn4ghCmZuBEmws_3WEzsbYx4Xrv0ZaPo37mjEo9KZMQyo_vVRk6IirQ5lO6lIP3kkGHLf_oZPb1xu0gLFs_CI2Ck2jF9bcghlyH3zU=s1076" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1076" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAGDk0vFNpYW8ahD5OIhTDfxcc6CpSHBQHrTreYiSf32ql4Eh4FNDuMe6i6M6q6NhE4gYfBzQKHPkojzkfGRn4ghCmZuBEmws_3WEzsbYx4Xrv0ZaPo37mjEo9KZMQyo_vVRk6IirQ5lO6lIP3kkGHLf_oZPb1xu0gLFs_CI2Ck2jF9bcghlyH3zU=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pink and blue egg shapes</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I placed Arthur within the pink egg shape and the wild cat juggling fried eggs in blue. (A fried egg has more or less the same shape as an "uncracked" egg and the deep yellow yolk echos Arthur's colouring.)<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZfOU6qoUp2bS6MgJHhaZqzPnEiF1rE1JmO3rztnga8LBCrFuhxFCRcq9jg2O-2p9yp1w1wG0WXfoaBm1m-EraAd5PwFP76H482EEJKTiG_S8Pb2DCsoqJHPPS3Sme3XhDe8Dm3Ar_4QBM3H5eKGLMyuI1ZNW65qD9L-EgBLJVGwmikiLVgenY_os=s3722" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3722" data-original-width="2770" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZfOU6qoUp2bS6MgJHhaZqzPnEiF1rE1JmO3rztnga8LBCrFuhxFCRcq9jg2O-2p9yp1w1wG0WXfoaBm1m-EraAd5PwFP76H482EEJKTiG_S8Pb2DCsoqJHPPS3Sme3XhDe8Dm3Ar_4QBM3H5eKGLMyuI1ZNW65qD9L-EgBLJVGwmikiLVgenY_os=w476-h640" width="476" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsWm5X9-K1RVkWTtpxFeE8ejQBPBt6WCCfaAxJ7Oe3dF_U9JVZxGFSdnC9LYCJrlYS9sM5FE-6F6tFcg33MR_Pxrv4G-_eevolyHBAAgfVR5qoZhIw9t3K5heawdYcNF9-cxV4LKUTGrkwgI8OOWNBnWaBSheJ2O1UEIkQYyAEvHpATNC24wk5WzY=s675" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsWm5X9-K1RVkWTtpxFeE8ejQBPBt6WCCfaAxJ7Oe3dF_U9JVZxGFSdnC9LYCJrlYS9sM5FE-6F6tFcg33MR_Pxrv4G-_eevolyHBAAgfVR5qoZhIw9t3K5heawdYcNF9-cxV4LKUTGrkwgI8OOWNBnWaBSheJ2O1UEIkQYyAEvHpATNC24wk5WzY=w478-h640" width="478" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My composition on the original template was basic. I placed my drawings within the confines of the rectangular surfaces of the house. It soon became obvious that things were rather static and had to be jazzed up!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbHDiGc9xO1P1lvqJqtInnXRmFmysX0zLsJ2oncw-EIxAuiVstt2EN4mIjX2G1NaOk23Cunq9QnEHv7PNu2nqqoRxSi9_iZvEVlxor433P1CqV4JmBMUL-h8AwaUfnt9n2QkIxwQ5mofj0ClA1Kpq3a9_RVjZxGzR1ncBsGEEZL-gDpPd9jNLLtAw=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="640" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbHDiGc9xO1P1lvqJqtInnXRmFmysX0zLsJ2oncw-EIxAuiVstt2EN4mIjX2G1NaOk23Cunq9QnEHv7PNu2nqqoRxSi9_iZvEVlxor433P1CqV4JmBMUL-h8AwaUfnt9n2QkIxwQ5mofj0ClA1Kpq3a9_RVjZxGzR1ncBsGEEZL-gDpPd9jNLLtAw=w640-h238" width="640" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I moved Arthur around on the original template and played with scale. I added semi-transparent fried eggs to the background which in turn became totally blue to achieve visual continuity.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9zcN6xfKK6Bs5DyqjJZ_PCYxlyiqZQIV_ds4Wb36vjx-L9hwB-HL0XK3yLt3NY8D_FGxfMcmh3_1ncAy51-XL2dfN7RixkVphP4xnLHUujVdGfsLY972ZLW5zte2-D5aP3lgCJvEJY48au7oGDB3lE2cBFcIVNPSVt-sUClGEH2kqxVDdhf5pO2s=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="640" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9zcN6xfKK6Bs5DyqjJZ_PCYxlyiqZQIV_ds4Wb36vjx-L9hwB-HL0XK3yLt3NY8D_FGxfMcmh3_1ncAy51-XL2dfN7RixkVphP4xnLHUujVdGfsLY972ZLW5zte2-D5aP3lgCJvEJY48au7oGDB3lE2cBFcIVNPSVt-sUClGEH2kqxVDdhf5pO2s=w640-h238" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After receiving the template change, I painstakingly readjusted and modified the elements.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd9m46HeWSCzCevSID8eradNhZIL1C-8YnBIe_9FPMPh_csGvTh3uFkeDHpd2ZdfnMemdVrZ3EizoiKdDVqpH_PRguI1TBVkmq6yDD7dBMX4JJ5LrCyZ9jFsgsbl_bf31GM_xEPPbrmiwcT7rhJUxUcvHJ_PjBr6Gm72Gv3uxVMu6gdWKYlTgRQfE=s1743"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1743" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd9m46HeWSCzCevSID8eradNhZIL1C-8YnBIe_9FPMPh_csGvTh3uFkeDHpd2ZdfnMemdVrZ3EizoiKdDVqpH_PRguI1TBVkmq6yDD7dBMX4JJ5LrCyZ9jFsgsbl_bf31GM_xEPPbrmiwcT7rhJUxUcvHJ_PjBr6Gm72Gv3uxVMu6gdWKYlTgRQfE=s16000" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I built little paper prototypes of the house which ultimately revealed why the initial house template wasn't working from the spectator's point of view. The mock-ups also gave me an idea of what the final result would look like.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MHN_CpECgvMU-JlzYNcWzgLztzqIubS56sZUs-HYLANNRfmMUVn0zF1lPwiSapeO3D54GfC2IjEDYA6LXnoBmzQDoLDLzfY1A1GbQOnOkiHvGrGA2KAxSRLeA-k19TqO4MbYI5IEfxI9Qbnu5BhtQ1NeqN8U26ZryuV1lsiLWeMLIoYqaOErFS0=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="792" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MHN_CpECgvMU-JlzYNcWzgLztzqIubS56sZUs-HYLANNRfmMUVn0zF1lPwiSapeO3D54GfC2IjEDYA6LXnoBmzQDoLDLzfY1A1GbQOnOkiHvGrGA2KAxSRLeA-k19TqO4MbYI5IEfxI9Qbnu5BhtQ1NeqN8U26ZryuV1lsiLWeMLIoYqaOErFS0=w640-h440" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was electrifying to see my design blown up to an eight foot scale and a revelation to see how light alters colours. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqWqisUMrNzjs_UasQtLktYY126f4kwrlC2-yYaUtc6bOwxDkP7epVV0AuGUhDDOORVANl9m39yV6lYiXUF4dyxhhyPz61ZHbsmzWL5ZjUwekUmvRgxiBuXsBJLqwRSmyyKIGHDLHGMfGky1HPWrdRfKO8it-cUFWExeySzouWDmoY4NpqKGSWxjg=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqWqisUMrNzjs_UasQtLktYY126f4kwrlC2-yYaUtc6bOwxDkP7epVV0AuGUhDDOORVANl9m39yV6lYiXUF4dyxhhyPz61ZHbsmzWL5ZjUwekUmvRgxiBuXsBJLqwRSmyyKIGHDLHGMfGky1HPWrdRfKO8it-cUFWExeySzouWDmoY4NpqKGSWxjg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Le rêve d'Arthur (Arthur's Dream) at night</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnHL7aDLhz6UnS_MGdDcT2mSx4bRIDZQUWy0_hxgVzYFZlExJ1qzbFt_pMrcgK8aLjTGYTyFn2wO_BIctkfzsrYQ4qLUdcvkYZJdukGOEm4kt2Yb3TaaQ8-tUxCqsJSfZuhutGtT6Fk_oKD69ZIxBgdgn1PyE9nAWXQhUJygLEq83rgypyqNhsuBQ=s661" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="661" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnHL7aDLhz6UnS_MGdDcT2mSx4bRIDZQUWy0_hxgVzYFZlExJ1qzbFt_pMrcgK8aLjTGYTyFn2wO_BIctkfzsrYQ4qLUdcvkYZJdukGOEm4kt2Yb3TaaQ8-tUxCqsJSfZuhutGtT6Fk_oKD69ZIxBgdgn1PyE9nAWXQhUJygLEq83rgypyqNhsuBQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Arthur's Dream during the day</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://tourismevaudreuil-soulanges.com/en/event/luminart-outdoor-exhibition/10-12-2021_10-02-2022" target="_blank">Each of the lanterns created by the ten invited artists looked liked enormous jewels</a>.</span> They were installed in a circular shape, and while gentle music serenaded visitors, a small central fireplace burned logs to keep everyone warm. The city and artists invented an enchanting environment that brought much-needed escapist joy to the pandemic-weary community.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXw0CKuViCtMaRuSnZUVbGiPhb7Wu_Fjf83GmCHO2GbTvQHFHKkhaDNa_b_iFilYVmuB3rdkAf5OMaKOfoFogcBgbKFGQaRU2PynBIygOpvaaGFqImCw1ODHFZPrKAg5t6GF-fQJVRvD0Wzwmc3k1YuzISpXtbPqe2d3vh_AXhCgtm_39ZoRHBqLw=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="792" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXw0CKuViCtMaRuSnZUVbGiPhb7Wu_Fjf83GmCHO2GbTvQHFHKkhaDNa_b_iFilYVmuB3rdkAf5OMaKOfoFogcBgbKFGQaRU2PynBIygOpvaaGFqImCw1ODHFZPrKAg5t6GF-fQJVRvD0Wzwmc3k1YuzISpXtbPqe2d3vh_AXhCgtm_39ZoRHBqLw=s16000" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGORajgMMkB7ODPpyGQKkiGtAzGGYf9Fa1dZ_XO52ZZNr9Jct3l9hVC-4EgJIuEE9R7jyGkGDY3eEMfXp6SV_uZcLTl6WnEfDjPvoCnvravVGFcBXihjHafgUZJSowtWwWE3NksOq-GYZJEcJ1F3Ml3PDmAuTYtU1tYgLu0qbeV0gYSnenUrN98tI=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="792" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGORajgMMkB7ODPpyGQKkiGtAzGGYf9Fa1dZ_XO52ZZNr9Jct3l9hVC-4EgJIuEE9R7jyGkGDY3eEMfXp6SV_uZcLTl6WnEfDjPvoCnvravVGFcBXihjHafgUZJSowtWwWE3NksOq-GYZJEcJ1F3Ml3PDmAuTYtU1tYgLu0qbeV0gYSnenUrN98tI=s16000" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p><br />ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-2885806085689865572022-01-11T22:06:00.004-05:002022-05-27T23:41:46.784-04:00FINDING A GIANT<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am a member of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gueulart" target="_blank">Gueulart</a>, a non-profit artist-run centre situated in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Isidore,_Mont%C3%A9r%C3%A9gie,_Quebec" target="_blank">St-Isidore</a>. I don't live anywhere near this municipality, in fact it's in a rural area 50 km away from my home according to the fastest route on Google maps. The place is lively! One half of the centre is for <a href="https://coeurdevillage.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Coeur de Village Bistro Culturel,</a> which is dedicated to selling local products. The other half is for music and artistic events (plus serves meals). Despite the pandemic, I managed to participate in two of Gueulart's recent theme-based shows. One was about giants.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Géant Sans Pareil</b> (A giant like no other): </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I first read the call for entry, I was transported back to my childhood. My favourite book was a collection of short stories about giants that I read over and again. My imagination created scenarios that I vaguely recall to this day. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Very excited at the idea of creating a giant, I hustled to my iPad and started drawing a "monumental" artist! A problem quickly became evident! The only distinguishable oversized traits in this character were his feet!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiByqNLOkQWUghEeh7a--ILv6SmwIvAfykw1ZiipReAMzCpIdCTdV_d_SslsQq3-y9zZkq4BD8dnwrj3VSBwADFEfFaxfzjh5i-PgUsMtypHf2Tky5t5yHQ2KYJk-CxLs7DotxoPNf6b6Nw_JA1vDR331a5iWKYXm-OCoZBXEKaOpeVzvO-ZEwyQD0=s816" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiByqNLOkQWUghEeh7a--ILv6SmwIvAfykw1ZiipReAMzCpIdCTdV_d_SslsQq3-y9zZkq4BD8dnwrj3VSBwADFEfFaxfzjh5i-PgUsMtypHf2Tky5t5yHQ2KYJk-CxLs7DotxoPNf6b6Nw_JA1vDR331a5iWKYXm-OCoZBXEKaOpeVzvO-ZEwyQD0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hairy Artist With Giant Feet</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My giant lacked context and naturally, without a sense of scale, he didn't appear big. I attempted a different strategy and he </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">suddenly shrank to a lilliputian scale in my enormous hand. I was definitely having a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gullivers-Travels" target="_blank">Gulliver's Travels</a> moment.</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSpg5nl_ycmnSuBMl-eEtDYtn3Aic7fphWRvTkxcLSUhMDTngedNlvuC0TqMe5DvwVQDxPvt85fJGoMqP4xooKJJxvEeaVS9QeQaQfTPtzhAdyLloeWwAERqTtGP3cCLzyvfSEmwB9Aha4vg_U-8gtDPNcV9LmC4c61QuNnvu6Y4vaWdkG_hQ7wPc=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="594" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSpg5nl_ycmnSuBMl-eEtDYtn3Aic7fphWRvTkxcLSUhMDTngedNlvuC0TqMe5DvwVQDxPvt85fJGoMqP4xooKJJxvEeaVS9QeQaQfTPtzhAdyLloeWwAERqTtGP3cCLzyvfSEmwB9Aha4vg_U-8gtDPNcV9LmC4c61QuNnvu6Y4vaWdkG_hQ7wPc=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The project was temporarily put on hold due to the pandemic. After the isolation lull, I had a discussion with <a href="https://www.journalsaint-francois.ca/Lartiste-Louise-Page-recipiendaire-du-prix-Reynald-Piche/" target="_blank">Louise Page</a>, President of </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gueulart and learned that I had misunderstood the gist of the project.</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Artworks were meant to be about individuals,
living or dead, who were considered giants in their field (either by way of their accomplishments and/or expertise) ...OR about well-known mythical gargantua such as Goliath. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Louise asked if I could create at least one work based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_St-Pierre" target="_blank">Georges St-Pierre</a>, an international martial arts champion who grew up in St-Isidore.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> My knowledge of Georges, also known as GSP or "Rush" was nil. I set Google search in motion and soon discovered a fascinating, classy and very successful athlete. </span></span></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My drawing below was inspired by a video of an exercise routine he posted on Twitter on </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-14j79pv r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" href="https://twitter.com/GeorgesStPierre/status/968185334298234881" role="link"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Feb 26, 2018</span></a>. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He is beyond impressive. Balancing on an uneven, moving, hemispherical apparatus (as you can see, I am quite unfamiliar with exercise equipment terminology), he crouches on one foot while holding weights. At one point he extends his other leg way back, bends over, and outstretches his arms horizontally while still holding the weights. He looks like he’s flying.</span></span></span></span></span> On his feed he writes, “I decided to fix my jet lag by training in my hotel’s gym. It’s all about balance!” </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In another video interview on Twitter, he states that he <a href="https://twitter.com/LewisHowes/status/1409557873861009408?s=20" target="_blank">loves to train but hates to fight</a>. As he prepares for a match, his confidence grows and he becomes <i>a different animal</i>. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">GSP is slowly morphing into a bird-like creature. He must choose to either become a dove, a bird of prey, or a combination of both. It's all about balance.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl815INeMI7_ZIQHXP29JALP1ZBRLOD_5w6MM6zXb4-YobJXMgyLOynvCUETdjecsqNWeIuDzRv_Knts3iZMa2dVpUFEOlFp8U28I7faUN4yKYLjmRDdXYrLkehfFXeLFy6TYKTmM58yAJHbtd1h2t6Yw9ouV4JU22IFsdmc__-tpPDyej-DK2ZyI=s1500" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1500" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl815INeMI7_ZIQHXP29JALP1ZBRLOD_5w6MM6zXb4-YobJXMgyLOynvCUETdjecsqNWeIuDzRv_Knts3iZMa2dVpUFEOlFp8U28I7faUN4yKYLjmRDdXYrLkehfFXeLFy6TYKTmM58yAJHbtd1h2t6Yw9ouV4JU22IFsdmc__-tpPDyej-DK2ZyI=w640-h464" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Georges St-Pierre - I become a different animal - Charcoal & pastel on paper</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is particularly exciting about artist-run centres is that they provide creators with a safe environment in which to explore, experiment and grow in new directions <i>(and maybe to become different animals)</i>. I was given a nudge to create this drawing and discovered a magnificent "giant like no other" in the process. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Art sure is interesting. <br /></span></span></span></p><p></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-19682090364757849962021-12-28T11:15:00.004-05:002021-12-28T18:52:22.040-05:00AN APPLESEED<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes things seem to happen out of nowhere but that's merely an illusion. Gifts from the deities only happen if you've been sowing like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Appleseed" target="_blank">Johnny Appleseed</a> for decades. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In mid-August I received an email inviting me to submit to a digital art competition/exhibition that was scheduled for early September </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in <a href="https://www.mont-tremblant.ca/en" target="_blank">Mont-Tremblant</a></span>. Seventeen artists were to be selected by a jury for an outdoor display in the beautiful village. The deadline was short but I decided to apply nonetheless because the invitation seemed legitimate (they didn't ask for any money) and arrived in my inbox without any effort on my part, (which doesn't happen very often). The work had to meet certain criteria for reproduction on a 48" x 48" format. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With only three weeks to create a decent piece, I buckled down. Mont-Tremblant residents love nature and I sensed I had to create something they could relate to. I'm not a landscape painter. If and when landscapes appear in my work, they serve a complementary purpose and generally play a supporting role to one of my human or animal characters. Animals had to be in the limelight.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A few weeks prior to receiving the invitation I experimented with a charcoal tool in the Procreate application. A black bear eventually materialized from the markings. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9hLeBykzai-Ga9WOlmp_0fP2J9vxwFndmCySqGpTt0YieJK6iQzZwNTn8BB1Gz3L8jwAyty2sI7W-PvcDTQIHeBFbfo6mH_dzWTdCXWrZqO-ps5KTvRs4KEQrHXDmoJ6SJqMM9fAKEPAr4nwHanLBUo9UmacMBrI0NUeqYpKuwhYQls22taumcRk=s1296" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9hLeBykzai-Ga9WOlmp_0fP2J9vxwFndmCySqGpTt0YieJK6iQzZwNTn8BB1Gz3L8jwAyty2sI7W-PvcDTQIHeBFbfo6mH_dzWTdCXWrZqO-ps5KTvRs4KEQrHXDmoJ6SJqMM9fAKEPAr4nwHanLBUo9UmacMBrI0NUeqYpKuwhYQls22taumcRk=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Original Bear</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I created other variations of the bear but eventually put the experiments aside because I had other projects to complete.</span><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuAFEUAoSwwdCMFKoDp_p2fngTLaUlMQizlHIQu7smZpEEPelJmBtong-4v-1RsbB0qTfdI_SfYL5nYrOFjlPVm4dkt9RZQNEr2bd665eu38A3LsoaQ-DdskJKIKAiQtnHCtSp694gef5rkTCNK7BBaUE1XyAVbPnKusr13NbSmBeUdsKBZstLjqg=s1117" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuAFEUAoSwwdCMFKoDp_p2fngTLaUlMQizlHIQu7smZpEEPelJmBtong-4v-1RsbB0qTfdI_SfYL5nYrOFjlPVm4dkt9RZQNEr2bd665eu38A3LsoaQ-DdskJKIKAiQtnHCtSp694gef5rkTCNK7BBaUE1XyAVbPnKusr13NbSmBeUdsKBZstLjqg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Variation - Dark Magic Bear</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After agreeing to submit to the competition, I let my mind incubate for a few days. I remembered the black bear and its variations. An obvious problem was that the dimensions of these images were long and rectangular while the submission had to be square. To fit the format, the bear would have to be overly stuffed with food and ready to hibernate or I would have to include more than one animal. I chose the latter option.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I worked with the two images above in Photoshop to solve the problem. I was a bit worried that the bears might not be colourful enough but tried various options anyway. I duplicated both versions of the bear, experimented with scale and light on each one and recombined them on a square format to create the mysterious "Nous Sommes Trois" <i>(We Are Three)</i> below. </span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPRQKp7ZKf3_eVR6PFjCX8bKa8CunVYmg872srh5gmlz1v7CQECqvbmvvnDX4SyHas92IS38FsNav_1wUL5MBdj9xA3nzwJy4SsBd81YhlIE2ZpbY5Eg42SxIui9Y1h6ZeAo9DX1MM4aA5dG_6ukSso-QIHlJfAQE0mSZex3jz6R7Bl_Z-jbkR8sg=s700" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPRQKp7ZKf3_eVR6PFjCX8bKa8CunVYmg872srh5gmlz1v7CQECqvbmvvnDX4SyHas92IS38FsNav_1wUL5MBdj9xA3nzwJy4SsBd81YhlIE2ZpbY5Eg42SxIui9Y1h6ZeAo9DX1MM4aA5dG_6ukSso-QIHlJfAQE0mSZex3jz6R7Bl_Z-jbkR8sg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nous Sommes Trois</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was one of the seventeen lucky artists whose works were chosen for display throughout the village. People had to vote for their favourite image either in person or online. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5_XrdGe0qniGLUSDVHtjLigqp2tXvREsj5dGDyj3B5UkClL0AQPKwnLMCM1n3teesWUedPTV9ESVPQsK8zevjB1wGHrab1SYSur2226mNzXQIoBiDOIhNPPEacTnTjxy76-ZJ26AycG_TyoLD3mllnTPv32-DHq86iLVCqvObDyRXKiWTKTY7mC0=s695" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="692" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5_XrdGe0qniGLUSDVHtjLigqp2tXvREsj5dGDyj3B5UkClL0AQPKwnLMCM1n3teesWUedPTV9ESVPQsK8zevjB1wGHrab1SYSur2226mNzXQIoBiDOIhNPPEacTnTjxy76-ZJ26AycG_TyoLD3mllnTPv32-DHq86iLVCqvObDyRXKiWTKTY7mC0=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of the works on display</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The primarily black and white bears contrasted nicely against the red brick wall. It was great seeing my work on a larger scale rather than on my iPad or computer screen. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I won the competition with a cash prize which is always good for the ego! </span>I went to pick up the piece in Mont-Tremblant, about a two hour drive from where I live. The reproduction was not as stunning as I had hoped because some of the rich blacks (and contrast) were lost in the process. We artists had been forewarned that this could and probably </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">would </span>happen, but in spite of that, I was overjoyed to see my work hanging in the village. I was also thrilled that residents and my friends loved it enough to vote for it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was curious to know how the community organizers had found me. Seems they obtained my coordinates from the <a href="https://raav.org/" target="_blank">RAAV (Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec)</a> which is the equivalent of <a href="https://www.carfac.ca/" target="_blank">CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation)</a> in the rest of Canada. I've been a member of RAAV since 1997. That "appleseed" took only twenty-four years to bear fruit. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's all about patience.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><br /></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-44650167332226165642021-12-17T14:47:00.009-05:002021-12-18T08:35:07.230-05:00TERRE-MAIRES 2 - WORKING WITH A MAYOR<div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What we call <a href="https://www.culturepourtous.ca/en/cultural-professionals/cultural-mediation/" target="_blank">"Cultural Mediation"</a> in Québec is perhaps akin to <a href="https://artsengagecanada.ca/the-artist" target="_blank">"Community Engagement"</a> in the rest of the English speaking world. It's the "in" thing right now and while I admire its aims in general, I do not create art with this purpose in mind. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the <a href="https://www.artculturevs.ca/" target="_blank">CACVS <i>(Conseil des arts et de la Culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges)</i></a> and the <a href="http://mrvs.qc.ca/" target="_blank">MRVS (Musée Régional de Vaudreuil-Soulanges)</a> organized their second Terre-Maires project, I thought I'd give it a go. The concept entailed creating artwork with a mayor of one of the many municipalities in this county. Politicians are not shrinking violets and have clearly defined ideas. This project required savvy listening skills and I planned on morphing into a sponge to fully understand my assigned mayor's vision to achieve a decent outcome that would please both of us. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The pandemic put a damper on the whole process which took much longer than it should have but I think it had a positive impact on our result over all. Had I created a work in combo with the mayor a year before, it would certainly have been completely different.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The project was multi-layered with many components. Politicians from multiple municipalities in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges county had to choose an object from the MRVS collection that had meaning for them. I was assigned Pierre Séguin, Mayor of Île-Perrot. He chose the following object:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6kejDDsRArul1zf7EW9uh6O_NxcBImXG2Ob7C_E5L3h9PfN2h8OV0va7_Lg_LWpmoCRI8YdIA1K5ZsKKk8-5_k_M9ebJOpkcm0hwK3pG5ks9NlbR37V8Wpt4LguxNOxcLkY9VFFQBgLOmO3m7zRlI1dZACnG9Kwg6DDKShLH37FBjVW2c3qMH7eA=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6kejDDsRArul1zf7EW9uh6O_NxcBImXG2Ob7C_E5L3h9PfN2h8OV0va7_Lg_LWpmoCRI8YdIA1K5ZsKKk8-5_k_M9ebJOpkcm0hwK3pG5ks9NlbR37V8Wpt4LguxNOxcLkY9VFFQBgLOmO3m7zRlI1dZACnG9Kwg6DDKShLH37FBjVW2c3qMH7eA=w328-h400" width="328" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ex%20libris" target="_blank">ex-libris</a> belonged to <a href="https://atelierlarchemontreal.ca/latelier-de-larche/occupants/la-tribu-des-casoars/roger-maillet/" target="_blank">Roger Maillet </a>(who has a very interesting history in our region) and was designed by the artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_Bruni" target="_blank">Umberto Bruni</a>. I undertook extensive research to find out all I could about these individuals and the ex-libris itself before I prepared for my first interview with the mayor. The ex-libris was to serve as a springboard for our collaboration.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The theme of the exhibition had to address climate change and sustainable development. I prepared a series of questions for my first meeting with the mayor in January 2020. </span></p><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="8"><span>Why did you choose this object?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="9"><span> </span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="10"><span> </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="10"><span>What do Roger Maillet</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="11"><span>
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="12"><span>and Umberto Bruni</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="13"><span> mean to you?
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="14"><span> </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="14"><span>What is your vision in regards to Île-Perrot?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="15"><span>
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="16"><span>...sustainable development?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="17"><span>
...</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="18"><span>climate change challenges?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="19"><span>
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="20"><span> </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="20"><span>How do you envision this artwork?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="21"><span> </span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="22"><span>What kind of contribution do you want to make to it?</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="23"><span>
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>Are you okay with a digital component?</span></span></span></span></li></ul><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>No one can accuse me of being unprepared! I went over to City Hall keen on brainstorming. I listened intently to what Mr. Séguin had to say and went away with a bunch of totally inappropriate ideas because of personal biases. So much for my active listening.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>Here's what I heard:</span></span></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>The ex-libris was chosen because of its historical significance in Île-Perrôt. Roger Maillet's home was known as the "ark" (l'arche). It became a cultural hub for artists where regular exchanges and creative activities took place.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>There are four municipalities on the island. The mayor would like to see them merge </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>into one.</span></span></span></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>A mayor's job is like that of a mother (wordplay...in French both mother (mère) and mayor (maire) sound the same)<i>.</i> A mayor must ensure the security of its citizens, welcome new immigrants with open arms, find ways to save energy such as installing intelligent LED lighting on the territory, and much much more.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>Mr. Séguin loves taking pictures and would like to include them in the final artwork.</span></span></span></span></li></ul></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>I was initially distracted by the chosen object, the ex-libris. I felt its elements had to be included in the final piece somehow. I fixated on the dove, the ark, water. I did quickie drawings of a dove, an earth mother, and a floating book with potentially the mayor's photos inside it. I reflected on peace, mother goddesses and arks. While I sensed I was not on the right track, I kept a record of everything nonetheless in case these ideas might be of use in future projects.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigHo0L9CT4bNydRQIUBcVzQRnpBWsZBkvpJFNdFeMkQO7tmzDtWCClIlw6Q9M-v5mlH0J8qdXqhvH-m4e21uR-YgqcUyn7dII-MdjbPm_Ghnl0BVBH-lUuNy1_hMu5R1hiGACkATFweh0yr2JyMb3FoPeq4_kNRN9-3z9ZXrwL2M0lPWnP1Zr9LGg=s396" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigHo0L9CT4bNydRQIUBcVzQRnpBWsZBkvpJFNdFeMkQO7tmzDtWCClIlw6Q9M-v5mlH0J8qdXqhvH-m4e21uR-YgqcUyn7dII-MdjbPm_Ghnl0BVBH-lUuNy1_hMu5R1hiGACkATFweh0yr2JyMb3FoPeq4_kNRN9-3z9ZXrwL2M0lPWnP1Zr9LGg=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dove</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjux4ye9XlqHNDHpIUrv8crR5h7MGGiMRiCwb65lNyTzC_7jJk8hngBYB0gZiIBMhxGKCgvtUypuH32vH4GVJ597yDN76eqXspYKtDrzJS_3gacoyh0KipwHY4djyvPOQujtu8l683AXF0o87c1kNDGNBW4zJyLPa4RPYPsuvnZ4bZHgjVK3UvP04Y=s582" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="582" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjux4ye9XlqHNDHpIUrv8crR5h7MGGiMRiCwb65lNyTzC_7jJk8hngBYB0gZiIBMhxGKCgvtUypuH32vH4GVJ597yDN76eqXspYKtDrzJS_3gacoyh0KipwHY4djyvPOQujtu8l683AXF0o87c1kNDGNBW4zJyLPa4RPYPsuvnZ4bZHgjVK3UvP04Y=w640-h392" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mother goddess holding an ark</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy3VPHO-JVKngN8aOfM9o7FHPKa51f5cPJaHPAsen8wpm_MM6URGDj_fIm-1Qst4ud8zP0U_kS83kgRq82DC4cWQGPvarltwIjfLqEOzplboXfZCVEXe1vdiP15wm68Vy56W5sELIQ3IUMd5-tBlLO8plc0uJ-ziSCBiLcz-djb9l8dJ4jVRJ3XXE=s438" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="438" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy3VPHO-JVKngN8aOfM9o7FHPKa51f5cPJaHPAsen8wpm_MM6URGDj_fIm-1Qst4ud8zP0U_kS83kgRq82DC4cWQGPvarltwIjfLqEOzplboXfZCVEXe1vdiP15wm68Vy56W5sELIQ3IUMd5-tBlLO8plc0uJ-ziSCBiLcz-djb9l8dJ4jVRJ3XXE=w640-h314" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A book could include the mayor's photos while </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">floating </span></span></span></span>in the waters surrounding Île-Perrot<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We met again in February 2020. Mr. Séguin said he would soon send photos he had taken of the four municipalities. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>In March 2020 he emailed more historical info on Roger Maillet. </span></span></span></span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pandemic lockdowns hit after our second meeting and all mayors in the county became overwhelmed with new priorities. The Terre-Maires 2 project was put on hold for an indefinite period. <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our venture was reactivated in 2021 and the mayor sent me these photos of the four municipalities in early February. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtJ1Oyty_dKyxXr4-JIdi9ikr8BvUd-cyViQhkSM6Wln_VSPjSKQM2EuhoiyNskmtwcsfy3wgcilCfOKSmzYiTSjdbSTBL2I_ou0oeuzGw0dvpzqqjdMzQqDVidj_DWdlzSsCI_XIPaDco9_HHb7SOyK2OYkJBfrYSCO_3zm9CY8XhC02nPMSMz0k=s874" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="874" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtJ1Oyty_dKyxXr4-JIdi9ikr8BvUd-cyViQhkSM6Wln_VSPjSKQM2EuhoiyNskmtwcsfy3wgcilCfOKSmzYiTSjdbSTBL2I_ou0oeuzGw0dvpzqqjdMzQqDVidj_DWdlzSsCI_XIPaDco9_HHb7SOyK2OYkJBfrYSCO_3zm9CY8XhC02nPMSMz0k=w640-h474" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span>Because
of pandemic restrictions, further meetings happened by phone. Mr.
Séguin was open to fantastical options which allowed for new
alternatives.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span>I
googled a map of l'Île-Perrot and created monoprints </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span>in</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> black acrylic paint </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span><span>based on its shape</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>. The prints looked like prehistoric cave paintings. I promptly
decided that even if these were quite cool in their preliminary stages, I had to experiment and
play with other alternatives.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-number-of-phrases="25" data-phrase-index="24"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP6OoxlcXj_h33UezYIp2EiYJZDOM7f23hxrgYzI5-l1XU0hUDIE00z-uGa6yIQjKYkc-JVUDvuuFz0vcJ9OFBBz0nTVv_fEvzJCaqi6SFDaW-2BDapD1ki1YhgJI5M7M-UFXJ7WYwEp4Qjrwehy0gyLn2eWcNMTJV7yIWmIS8OUFzZZQjm68CtY4=s805" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="805" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhP6OoxlcXj_h33UezYIp2EiYJZDOM7f23hxrgYzI5-l1XU0hUDIE00z-uGa6yIQjKYkc-JVUDvuuFz0vcJ9OFBBz0nTVv_fEvzJCaqi6SFDaW-2BDapD1ki1YhgJI5M7M-UFXJ7WYwEp4Qjrwehy0gyLn2eWcNMTJV7yIWmIS8OUFzZZQjm68CtY4=w640-h220" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>The shape of Île-Perrot - hear me roar!</span><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I switched over to Photoshop and started overlapping photos that Mr. Séguin had sent me onto a map of Île-Perrot. I did a number of them but was totally dissatisfied. </span></p><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDCpvCU4zCN1K06kkdxN9EWsR30sWLFhGWk1OdhmeiaVRA-uSKzw4jOe6bSRL8dq_KTiifcTPWbPdqgSFq61IiO7vZOt4tQsUpZII7--sh0pukqyNwVc1pwU1CsrCgGNBFtptdC_OU3aEHuGHiZ862ZzGdGXXfrYpzefIMKUDbddaqnu6pdITyLso=s904" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="904" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDCpvCU4zCN1K06kkdxN9EWsR30sWLFhGWk1OdhmeiaVRA-uSKzw4jOe6bSRL8dq_KTiifcTPWbPdqgSFq61IiO7vZOt4tQsUpZII7--sh0pukqyNwVc1pwU1CsrCgGNBFtptdC_OU3aEHuGHiZ862ZzGdGXXfrYpzefIMKUDbddaqnu6pdITyLso=w640-h370" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The map needed a third dimension. I tilted it and added depth in a dark rose hue.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYamddOCKzExtDX0tNjyFX-cu4IY7aOHBO3Y6LBww12poHrA2mNOGBIKdfOiABVvUy_cSe_mq68Daafkb-WfxOrx3xj4_FOLTppwZf-y9bSUM1fgG4spLIX4nr-Yc1RtgFozDYk2x5zOzpDZrZ4tAvb5ruTBu0J2CyV4nYXpjtK5DAAJaC7Vo0CbI=s904" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="904" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYamddOCKzExtDX0tNjyFX-cu4IY7aOHBO3Y6LBww12poHrA2mNOGBIKdfOiABVvUy_cSe_mq68Daafkb-WfxOrx3xj4_FOLTppwZf-y9bSUM1fgG4spLIX4nr-Yc1RtgFozDYk2x5zOzpDZrZ4tAvb5ruTBu0J2CyV4nYXpjtK5DAAJaC7Vo0CbI=w640-h228" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I experimented with the photographs, played with negative images, warped and elongated shapes including the historic windmill of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot. I overlapped photos onto the map and things started to come together. Mr. Séguin had said during our meetings that he loved abstract art, water reflections and transparency. I sensed that these elements were essential in achieving something we would both like.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Finally an aha! moment happened. I created a preliminary image that spoke to me but I knew I still wasn't quite there.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO9qOT58t_lFBaTk-7YAw5HCDg_lET3c7-A6f_ZQpm13MSkNmGs3UFMmu6EoRRCo3GXz9KSHVpzR8TyKCIPenj1CSGwa8Uyi4zgCaqK4gJl-0Bs3AEHRJsjYLovujQCP4ep3WCjnJQ_fH3eBHdtikPzI978SgQ4D1DHJf-9AEeW2n2zoRcAoEYjLc=s792" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiO9qOT58t_lFBaTk-7YAw5HCDg_lET3c7-A6f_ZQpm13MSkNmGs3UFMmu6EoRRCo3GXz9KSHVpzR8TyKCIPenj1CSGwa8Uyi4zgCaqK4gJl-0Bs3AEHRJsjYLovujQCP4ep3WCjnJQ_fH3eBHdtikPzI978SgQ4D1DHJf-9AEeW2n2zoRcAoEYjLc=s16000" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I flipped the image vertically and found it equally interesting. I decided to crop the original into an elongated format. I sent various options to the mayor along with matting possibilities and we agreed on a final solution. We presented both the initial and flipped elongated versions together. I love how the rose of the tilted map gently pierces through black, white and gray.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX3sOq5XPqIzRj7VBfNoMWDW3V_4IBXFAsWvQqNRsZABcNM4bJrabUV1uezhQ9pd6WAENNz00V0ECQbRqry-F7ZUbeG3RV4L9RtB13ui6Flp7bhM8gIeRYyX9P7VjI7VszAWK35czfQ3z-qJAbVLGh69L_aI22C2mSQIhH5GkpaMg9HuJX-Y76gq4=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="684" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX3sOq5XPqIzRj7VBfNoMWDW3V_4IBXFAsWvQqNRsZABcNM4bJrabUV1uezhQ9pd6WAENNz00V0ECQbRqry-F7ZUbeG3RV4L9RtB13ui6Flp7bhM8gIeRYyX9P7VjI7VszAWK35czfQ3z-qJAbVLGh69L_aI22C2mSQIhH5GkpaMg9HuJX-Y76gq4=s16000" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once printed and framed, we </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">were both satisfied with the end result from an </span></span>aesthetic standpoint. Most importantly, the mayor felt it expressed the beauty of the region as well as his love and vision for the municipality.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The CACVS has published an <a href="https://www.artculturevs.ca/nouvelles/terre-maires-2-catalogue-dexposition" target="_blank">online catalogue</a> of the exhibition which brings to light all facets of the project (including a writing component and contributions by preschool children) as well as photos of the final artworks created by participating artists and their respective mayors. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The process contributed to my personal growth at multiple levels. Thanks so much to the CACVS, the MRVS and to mayor Pierre Séguin for a fascinating journey.<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span><br /></div>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-14557812224737114232021-12-03T13:35:00.003-05:002021-12-03T18:13:57.745-05:00THE CASE OF THE TEENAGE FLY<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgulBtIISsCN1R-ohpzIlP9k3maR398dggGYK470iWtFFOIOjQgPTpsRLAL7qGeYltTpO1ikOm1kRqOlVlKITduOhwowYag43ooLCMGq_IxfDjoD_y_ewf20qhJRhyqvH68KS5wojGcVw/s1000/Teenage+Fly.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgulBtIISsCN1R-ohpzIlP9k3maR398dggGYK470iWtFFOIOjQgPTpsRLAL7qGeYltTpO1ikOm1kRqOlVlKITduOhwowYag43ooLCMGq_IxfDjoD_y_ewf20qhJRhyqvH68KS5wojGcVw/s16000/Teenage+Fly.sm.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'll never forget an event that happened when I was in Grade 9. What was I, fifteen? Coming down the stairs from the second floor of my high school, I crossed my English professor climbing up in the opposite direction. He said something along the lines of "Hi, how are you?" and I, out of nowhere, burst out sobbing. The poor man did nothing to deserve such a torrent. He looked stunned, wondering what the hell was going on. Damned if I knew! <i>(If one chooses to become a high school teacher, unexpected sobs </i></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>are familiar manifestations that </i></span>come with the territory</i> <i>but I must admit I felt sorry for him.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyway back to the fly. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One night we somehow let an adolescent fly into the house. It had to be a teenager. Why?<span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Because it behaved like a "stereotypical" hormonally charged incarnation
who sometimes (like often) has little or no control over his or her
emotions. <i>(My apologies to all calm, well-adjusted teens out there. I am basing this post on lived experience!) </i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a noisy, active sucker! If I was to have a quiet, peaceful night's sleep I had to find my swatter. Mine is a lovely swatter, yellow, in the shape of a bee. I hid it discreetly behind my back. Flies have <a href="https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/housefly1.htm" target="_blank">complex eyes</a> so I aimed for a <a href="https://ca.startrek.com/database_article/cloaking-device-klingon" target="_blank">Klingon cloaking device</a> approach but this bug was clever and high-strung. Being a young pubescent fly it couldn't keep still, refused to land, had a woofer attached to its vibrating wings, droned on incessantly, zeroed in on lights, and naturally, took over the bathroom.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I whisked the swatter wildly to and fro in the hope that I might by chance kill the noise but it was way too fast for me. Flies tend to fly high so I tried to appear nonchalant in the hope that it might relax. But no way! It continued to spiral aggressively around my body. I turned out the lights, whipped out of the room and closed the door. Surely a dumb bug could not escape the confines of the bathroom. In order to abscond it would have to <i>sneak</i> its way <i>under</i> the door.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, abscond it did! Just as I started to drift off to sleep, I heard him. This </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly" target="_blank">Musca domestica</a></i> was not so dumb after all. He made his way to my companion's office. Mart, sitting at his computer, marvelled at the fly's energy. A buzzer on amphetamines! Eventually he got up to</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> let the fly enjoy the blue screen light solo. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The next morning there was no fly to be seen <i>(or heard)</i>. It must have died somewhere from sheer exhaustion. I imagined it lying on its back with its long tongue hanging out. Life was quiet, no buzzing, no drone. It was over. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I started to make breakfast, a big, fat floater drifted into my line of vision. The pubescent dot was back, as hyper as ever! Was it my imagination or had it grown to gargantuan proportions over night? Once more it refused to land. Suddenly it vanished (no doubt with the intention of annoying me every time I cooked in the kitchen). Over the next few days it came and went eluding our constant efforts to seek and destroy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Finally it disappeared. I suspect it managed an outbreak when I opened the door to let in the yellow neighbourhood cat who visits regularly. The fly's body was never found. Maybe it served as a delicious meal for the multiple spiders who repeatedly find a way of decorating the corners of our house. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up6g0SDMJ7A" target="_blank">Help me! Help me!</a></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that's another story.</span></div><br />ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-71578998150519759142021-11-21T13:46:00.006-05:002021-11-22T09:39:45.457-05:00"TRANSE" - A WILD RIDE FROM START TO FINISH<div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I started writing a post in July about my experiences with the <a href="https://www.infosuroit.com/natura-oeuvre-numerique-a-vaudreuil-dorion/" target="_blank">City of Vaudreuil-Dorion's Natura project</a> which happened in June 2021 but strangely, it stayed in my drafts folder with only a lonely title and no body. I think I had to recuperate, integrate, digest the whole saga for a period of months before I could write about it. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well time to get cracking! Here is the gist of how I managed to give life to "Transe". It's obviously impossible to get into all the nitty gritty details of my creative process but this should reveal some interesting tidbits.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was chosen along with two other artists to conceive a 5 minute video artwork for an upcoming event. Our videos were to be projected on giant screens for about ten days in a nearby park. The other two chosen artists</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> had already done this the year before but the experience was an entirely new challenge for me. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The city's theme NATURA meant that the artworks had to relate to the natural world in some way. My initial inclination was to do something about flooding since I was very familiar with the phenomenon having gone through two disasters in three years. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4833183535779599489/1156558343007787640" target="_blank">My companion's slides were destroyed in the flood of 2017</a> but I scanned them nonetheless because the water left seductive patterns on many of the films. The following two digital works below evolved from this slide which is in itself, a beautiful work of art created by "la mère nature".<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EcNWLiu6QZauq3BhV4mTdAe5PQ8RnUt_a0jo8boCvTe7t2MaDnK-gLgVhvR2CIxrC3lzt7Xg8_APba1iPPZ4JwpTIh9lUPbIYgr4Vs0v5WJ1e6QKajZrkKXGHYurV3FSgONFT6an1O4/s433/Flood+art+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="433" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EcNWLiu6QZauq3BhV4mTdAe5PQ8RnUt_a0jo8boCvTe7t2MaDnK-gLgVhvR2CIxrC3lzt7Xg8_APba1iPPZ4JwpTIh9lUPbIYgr4Vs0v5WJ1e6QKajZrkKXGHYurV3FSgONFT6an1O4/w640-h446/Flood+art+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Flood slide</span></span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYda74SRzj_b03UksrKXapjMEFy1hTW0sUPG5G3vAYPWygYSn4wELSR7opwH7xzGC8C7Twqmpy51opwXLtZtV7jUsYR7RQTZ_d4SaBlFJK0a-5wDVU92yMJZ3LWHy80TGOi99BTDvoVMk/s2261/Planet+%2526+Beastie.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="2261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYda74SRzj_b03UksrKXapjMEFy1hTW0sUPG5G3vAYPWygYSn4wELSR7opwH7xzGC8C7Twqmpy51opwXLtZtV7jUsYR7RQTZ_d4SaBlFJK0a-5wDVU92yMJZ3LWHy80TGOi99BTDvoVMk/s16000/Planet+%2526+Beastie.jpg" /></a></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I eventually decided not to work with the flood theme because living through the experience was stressful and I didn't want to spiral into a deep funk of bad memories during the project. I aimed for a joyful mood but did include one video element in the final work that originated from a damaged slide.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The city showed us was where the screens were going to be installed. The idea was to stretch these between various trees at the 405 Park. There were three options to choose from; we could work with either one, two, or three screens. My cohorts chose the first and last options and I ended up with having to prepare a video for two giant screens </span><span style="font-family: arial;">15' x 15' and 8' x 15'. One screen was bad enough for a neophyte, but two? What was I thinking? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIs8es1PnAPxAhPrCgCoaC253pAabRFC2h91Bk7Vi2iFyvsdhod_Ufi4AsEQBIK-DFfbd_mrA5qMH127w9wSlfUE1PNb40aCjTLEkzOl_fphv6U-E75aTQ9WtVlTsjd5_pIUw1tjp488/s1056/NATURA+SCREENS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1056" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIs8es1PnAPxAhPrCgCoaC253pAabRFC2h91Bk7Vi2iFyvsdhod_Ufi4AsEQBIK-DFfbd_mrA5qMH127w9wSlfUE1PNb40aCjTLEkzOl_fphv6U-E75aTQ9WtVlTsjd5_pIUw1tjp488/w640-h480/NATURA+SCREENS.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The city informed us that we would have access to
technical support from the library's lab. Nicholas Gagnon, the chief wizard there, was a great
source of assistance and knowledge.</span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wasn't sure how I wanted to interpret the theme and felt that the best strategy for me was to start playing on my iPad. I created a few "beginnings" that I never used.</span> </span>I moved on to drawing natural elements, first</span> a mushroom, then another in the Procreate application</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Fungi with their odd shapes and colours are absolutely fascinating and soon my mind was racing with possibilities. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Procreate application records the drawing process in time lapse videos. </span>I
didn't have time to master new animation applications or software so I concentrated on improving my elementary knowledge of Keynote which is generally used to
create business slide presentations. With these two applications, I sensed I could generate enough material to come up with something interesting.<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also rummaged through piles of stored paper works to find prints that I had done of my feet. I wanted to hint at the act of walking through a dream sequence of natural elements.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZZKme65DyAuvkCbP3ag28Ou5rLV8Kd4x4lLp8K29N04TbsjZMIy5WSqGviUXOsi5CvExp1gScO6HUj92-KwDZfYDnWfsGlRh9tQgTw7-0cbBPrrWCLJT4XdN095SR1KDoZpVHFsGCQ/s630/Diane+Collet%252CFprint2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="515" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2ZZKme65DyAuvkCbP3ag28Ou5rLV8Kd4x4lLp8K29N04TbsjZMIy5WSqGviUXOsi5CvExp1gScO6HUj92-KwDZfYDnWfsGlRh9tQgTw7-0cbBPrrWCLJT4XdN095SR1KDoZpVHFsGCQ/w523-h640/Diane+Collet%252CFprint2.jpg" width="523" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Things didn't quite turn out that way. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As my mind raced with a deluge of ideas (pardon the flood reference), my</span> foot transformed into a very unusual character. <br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX266UlF7e0zFN1EWwkKqoBk6CTVof_kPDmfkGNRgEQUV3AVpOSzIYLpQKuW2wU9u3fw582P-EVQeVduMRZsZ63og2tSJbjPjwI4L6I_efR15FDiKc26I9jQTzt5xu2S_ZacbtEwiEHM/s1080/Floating+Foot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX266UlF7e0zFN1EWwkKqoBk6CTVof_kPDmfkGNRgEQUV3AVpOSzIYLpQKuW2wU9u3fw582P-EVQeVduMRZsZ63og2tSJbjPjwI4L6I_efR15FDiKc26I9jQTzt5xu2S_ZacbtEwiEHM/w341-h640/Floating+Foot.JPG" width="341" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Under the influence of mushrooms, (figuratively not literally), I chose a fungi-inspired shoe to link many of the elements. Funky red footwear appears throughout <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq7_TPO6iCM" target="_blank">the final video</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqmh0ui3E7qq6UVZWMbmGCbK-nw1K9KwFTIuqQpzOOXP4CtQSqkxBKu-7XizLTgxSxIO-CWA2b56cwagLuwWx5qxle7sl6gVYj_cqntthLVAEgVbGKrDq4nSzSLwQ2MrRsmJKfKWiY1w/s1080/Red_Shoes.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1080" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqmh0ui3E7qq6UVZWMbmGCbK-nw1K9KwFTIuqQpzOOXP4CtQSqkxBKu-7XizLTgxSxIO-CWA2b56cwagLuwWx5qxle7sl6gVYj_cqntthLVAEgVbGKrDq4nSzSLwQ2MrRsmJKfKWiY1w/w640-h402/Red_Shoes.sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWk0cQjIAJkj4M0531S58rlkFlJsZoz2ZVcd8-47sr7bvgvowyGk1zE3q_0X9JSaaMxy7e3YVoacvQfGd_5f9YHvAMKBrMg0dQy7d9Xz2LYQ4YdeXCPBw35pO_ly4lfJrJLpX1CMC89I/s1080/Footman+with+shoe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWk0cQjIAJkj4M0531S58rlkFlJsZoz2ZVcd8-47sr7bvgvowyGk1zE3q_0X9JSaaMxy7e3YVoacvQfGd_5f9YHvAMKBrMg0dQy7d9Xz2LYQ4YdeXCPBw35pO_ly4lfJrJLpX1CMC89I/w341-h640/Footman+with+shoe.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /> The rectangular shapes of these drawings were for the 8' x 15' screen. I had to imagine an interaction happening between both screens and eventually the footman merged with the mushrooms to fit the </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">15' x 15' square screen.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRr93Swkw07-KlnbBU8COzbw79iyLiiB2TVZZ_MQE7cRaAdu7k-kziJCFFAaUrbwi_pRX5M0YlIpEyCSKCvnu16Jo4NJZi2PNOhp-v2SmiZYiVZ3JaMKMhR9Wzt5c65_wWCK5IwDHV4s/s600/Shroom_Dream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRr93Swkw07-KlnbBU8COzbw79iyLiiB2TVZZ_MQE7cRaAdu7k-kziJCFFAaUrbwi_pRX5M0YlIpEyCSKCvnu16Jo4NJZi2PNOhp-v2SmiZYiVZ3JaMKMhR9Wzt5c65_wWCK5IwDHV4s/w640-h640/Shroom_Dream.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I drew like a madwoman </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">in Procreate </span></span>and improvised short complementary videos in Keynote. I had some folders for the rectangular sequences and others for the square ones and hoped to pull all the nuggets together during the editing phase. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My vision became clearer as I worked. Vaudreuil-Dorion has a circus tradition which was put on hold during the pandemic. What a better way to revive a much needed "big top" atmosphere than to recreate it on immense outdoor screens. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mushrooms turned into an entrance.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4UhupjW3D3AcLR1uW-8k2DFQ4ThFLVLOtAD6iAUAE1K77SranqAeua6oxlK6gzuTiMwTv95G3pU26f0dlqvRBS_il-bqYx9bd7DRIM0WlJMfqzVnGRcRdMaSqGmrywKOlZ6vnyJSmd4/s648/Transe+Entrance.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="647" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4UhupjW3D3AcLR1uW-8k2DFQ4ThFLVLOtAD6iAUAE1K77SranqAeua6oxlK6gzuTiMwTv95G3pU26f0dlqvRBS_il-bqYx9bd7DRIM0WlJMfqzVnGRcRdMaSqGmrywKOlZ6vnyJSmd4/w640-h640/Transe+Entrance.sm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fungi Entrance</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The title that I chose for the video gave my imagination free reign.</span></span> </span></span>Various colourful characters were hatched in the back burner of my psyche. I drew bats, seductive vampires, birds, flowers, and jugglers who whipped about apples (of Adam and Eve fame - a nod to genesis), the planet (our fragile world in this era of climate change) and a vampire head (because why not? Bats are an important barometer of our planet's health while humans are the vampires that are sucking it dry). </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFi5csRYolmgr5sbSjslTBh6N-gIwupfDkrsNbR70uPycTo5giq1y4C6-rnw7ZtWsKsfk9Cj6t__jlwnrhnpEc4u_aCvvXo1tyCPQzZ6aZi0b7Scphxs4JnsJ7dXgCAuARkub9cfwI3Y/s971/Flying_Sunflowers_In_White.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFi5csRYolmgr5sbSjslTBh6N-gIwupfDkrsNbR70uPycTo5giq1y4C6-rnw7ZtWsKsfk9Cj6t__jlwnrhnpEc4u_aCvvXo1tyCPQzZ6aZi0b7Scphxs4JnsJ7dXgCAuARkub9cfwI3Y/s16000/Flying_Sunflowers_In_White.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flying sunflowers</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF-uX44ZaBVBqx_vJqGUGiTAxjElfG_C5iRb6wuwPkdmxUJL5W8cq3yriFcd5odIk9Xm7DL-eNRUMtbWYgnNcAmsNeZC78s3RxNwB9Xp39SRVwl88dCVq5f5F4TIx3BbhNBSZBJuw5II/s600/Jongleuse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF-uX44ZaBVBqx_vJqGUGiTAxjElfG_C5iRb6wuwPkdmxUJL5W8cq3yriFcd5odIk9Xm7DL-eNRUMtbWYgnNcAmsNeZC78s3RxNwB9Xp39SRVwl88dCVq5f5F4TIx3BbhNBSZBJuw5II/w640-h640/Jongleuse.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Juggling life</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some images were never used in the final cut as we edited at breakneck speed to meet the deadline. <br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-pDULv1TERQ8WLL7azQQTwEYwfVnDPrKl3elD5jXY3MQPetiC-tcFAIaJGqFpz4dXqLVRs4OQ_XVym28PsWqB_m5m5TN4XFVlNASTrQy7eFVi9a4D9hv4JNiCibHp0dZWCGd37oMSc0/s1080/Bird_With_Enoki.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-pDULv1TERQ8WLL7azQQTwEYwfVnDPrKl3elD5jXY3MQPetiC-tcFAIaJGqFpz4dXqLVRs4OQ_XVym28PsWqB_m5m5TN4XFVlNASTrQy7eFVi9a4D9hv4JNiCibHp0dZWCGd37oMSc0/w342-h640/Bird_With_Enoki.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bird with Enoki mushrooms</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCX44splJpAdxQG9R2B8XD6YF678ID1panhQLhSvrQADAqOsyy4-0PNfeGQyreQEbG-7SObnbR5_uoCnfOqS-3nGHYd1B-xj3U3vOmD2f7LtEZjaiiPWAUPXBhkhV3heuOXXZao4ZN5w/s1080/Vampire_On_Enoki.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCX44splJpAdxQG9R2B8XD6YF678ID1panhQLhSvrQADAqOsyy4-0PNfeGQyreQEbG-7SObnbR5_uoCnfOqS-3nGHYd1B-xj3U3vOmD2f7LtEZjaiiPWAUPXBhkhV3heuOXXZao4ZN5w/w342-h640/Vampire_On_Enoki.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vampire with Enoki mushrooms</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Natura
project was the apex of my iPad experimentation over the past 10
years. I am well aware that I have only scratched the surface of
what digital art has to offer. Man was it fun (and exhausting). I have nothing but respect and feel enormous gratitude towards the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion for this amazing opportunity. It was the dream of a lifetime! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimOZsJLFYxWm835J68JfUc2rGq61jHMV0qRsVdn28MQY4s1CDDKITWDzoK-ub3ZagNkfURdtRkZjjp_gfbcyV6yl9LoVVEEjpFC4pvGAy9urzVkKX46X887WW0MEI83C6jUChEKOZ2LY/s648/Transe+9.sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimOZsJLFYxWm835J68JfUc2rGq61jHMV0qRsVdn28MQY4s1CDDKITWDzoK-ub3ZagNkfURdtRkZjjp_gfbcyV6yl9LoVVEEjpFC4pvGAy9urzVkKX46X887WW0MEI83C6jUChEKOZ2LY/s16000/Transe+9.sm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Josiane Farand - L'art de capter</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-58236901414193755332021-06-19T12:31:00.003-04:002021-06-19T15:55:59.416-04:00SPRING SPRANG - ODE AU PRINTEMPS<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">ODE AU PRINTEMPS <i><span style="font-size: large;">(Ode to spring)</span></i><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/en" target="_blank">The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion </a>invited nine visual artists to create exterior
installations inspired from texts by writers who live in the
Vaudreuil-Soulanges region. Artists were paired arbitrarily with an author. I worked with lovely prose by <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Andr%C3%A9e_Michaud" target="_blank">Marie-Andrée Michaud</a> which described her childhood memories of spring thaw and how melting reflective snow on the sidewalk reminded her of precious stones.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaXY4Z-fLtBRd98GACWv9AqEKiSdpjQUfCOAJRD7QXo4akk_J3OWYnO9losRMk4lOLwKQYyh2QIX6tYhMjA83JPQoOFZv7B4QZOwnJWS0pojSXVkjsdkPFjYAlK4K9tdxoS-XTggZzHc/s1080/Marie-Andre%25CC%2581e+Michaud.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaXY4Z-fLtBRd98GACWv9AqEKiSdpjQUfCOAJRD7QXo4akk_J3OWYnO9losRMk4lOLwKQYyh2QIX6tYhMjA83JPQoOFZv7B4QZOwnJWS0pojSXVkjsdkPFjYAlK4K9tdxoS-XTggZzHc/s16000/Marie-Andre%25CC%2581e+Michaud.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An art circuit dotted the municipality
during the entire month of May and citizens were invited to either walk
or bike to each installation to view and appreciate these artistic
pairings. The community loved the works, especially after multiple pandemic lockdowns.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpszSKdn-TcYzoFnp1L2uJD_h56e8ZJRvNAuRbSgDeoU1hmpGayQiniU-hdnJtMHV6-b88jxMkvxzrblMfjymqQNlgE_5suqdSWN4QJWWsTGoUbPABSYBE5KnhY6mpHXjwejGi5mEI_M/s1209/Ode.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="1146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpszSKdn-TcYzoFnp1L2uJD_h56e8ZJRvNAuRbSgDeoU1hmpGayQiniU-hdnJtMHV6-b88jxMkvxzrblMfjymqQNlgE_5suqdSWN4QJWWsTGoUbPABSYBE5KnhY6mpHXjwejGi5mEI_M/s16000/Ode.jpg" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Trials and Tribulations</u></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This project was a major challenge for me because it was
totally out of my comfort zone (public art). My initial concept differed from what became the final installation I was aiming for a transparent drop of water which, when installed
on the water line in the bay of a local park, would marry with the
surroundings and distant landscape. I learned that being flexible is key
to achieving some degree of success with these types of projects.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Text had to be included in the artwork. I initially tried to merge the entire story within the drop shape but the visual ended up looking like the back of a shampoo bottle. I quickly discarded that idea.</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The city asked the artists to submit a location within the municipality where they wanted their work installed. I had chosen a spot </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">next to the water in Parc Valois </span>but public works nixed my proposal due to potential spring flood risks. Digging was also not an option. I was offered a spot in Parc Félix Leclerc which I wasn't crazy about because a road and fence separated the land from the water. If my drop were remained transparent, one would see the road first, a fence, and then perhaps the distant landscape. Concept blown! Oh boy!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I
was aiming to have the drop printed on transparent plexiglas
but before I went gangbusters on that idea, I asked for advice from a friend, Roland Musatow of <a href="https://iphenix.com/" target="_blank">Phénix Communication Graphique</a>. He helped me prepare my design for printing (something I had
also never done before). He felt that the drop would have more impact if it were printed on an opaque white PVC panel. "Your white will become
transparent on a clear plexi!" he said. "WHITE IS NOT A COLOUR" when you
print on something transparent!" His mantra was a lifesaver in the long
run. <u>It's important to listen to a voice of experience.</u></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Initially
I hadn't planned on a fancy structure for the drop because I imagined
digging into the ground and anchoring it there. Since this option was not
possible, I had to find another way to install it. The city
suggested I contact Jacques Grenier who is used to working with artists and adept at
helping them find solutions for building or assembly.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jacques
suggested a triangular <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipi" target="_blank">teepee</a> approach so we went with that. Two by fours were
used for the base and the city provided metal tubing previously used in other events. The structure Jacques
built with the repurposed tubing was perfect. I had a six foot image printed on both sides of a
white PVC panel and it came out beautifully. Another friend of mine, <a href="https://www.monicabrinkman.com/" target="_blank">Monica Brinkman</a>, mosaic artist, provided heaps of precious stones </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(mostly marbles) </span>that I deposited under my drop. They twinkled in the sunlight.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>Final installation<br /></u></span></p><p><u></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1uzTj3UE8CU0KAtuZ7QkTLYy8y8mOKsXPXMcJ7TVo2YlSFfyicNVCNr3UsO_Pa-owQHZ0N9mkiJwtlHzjmnCKR0PfY8q0gcHYFLGTEsHyPJ2_bElke2Kftwh6X1sWlDPdXiOp3qonwg/s1672/Drop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="1168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1uzTj3UE8CU0KAtuZ7QkTLYy8y8mOKsXPXMcJ7TVo2YlSFfyicNVCNr3UsO_Pa-owQHZ0N9mkiJwtlHzjmnCKR0PfY8q0gcHYFLGTEsHyPJ2_bElke2Kftwh6X1sWlDPdXiOp3qonwg/s16000/Drop.jpg" /></a></u></div><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J3pDnhMP1n6gH3XW2lQbr1dAXuLM8gBf7Uu_pnd7-hwsOI4c_JWheAigQ58vBXeWf4VzqkE93GZ6pm43Lj55pLXdlj3OmMFnjyQ7lPMMK2E1UT9mvcfMCKYJSKg59-_yeeIGQ9cddfU/s1000/Pierres+Pre%25CC%2581cieuses+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J3pDnhMP1n6gH3XW2lQbr1dAXuLM8gBf7Uu_pnd7-hwsOI4c_JWheAigQ58vBXeWf4VzqkE93GZ6pm43Lj55pLXdlj3OmMFnjyQ7lPMMK2E1UT9mvcfMCKYJSKg59-_yeeIGQ9cddfU/s16000/Pierres+Pre%25CC%2581cieuses+2.jpg" /></a></div></u><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Working with others led to an outdoor art installation that grew into something unexpected. I was so lucky and grateful to have such talented, generous people in my entourage and support from the city. </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My final challenge was scooping up the reflective marbles once the exhibition was over. It became a wonderful, strange, time-travel type of experience. I was transported back to childhood, to an age where my mind teemed with stories of thieving pirates. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of the marbles had begun to embed themselves into the ground. I used my fingers as a rake to find and pry them out. Others that remained on the surface were gathered one by one. It took over an hour lying in the morning sun beside the wondrous Ottawa River to reclaim my treasure of precious stones.</span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-88906799437717458512021-05-11T18:02:00.001-04:002021-05-11T18:02:57.178-04:00INDUSTRIAL STOPS AT THE MUSO<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whenever I aim to get organized (like completing a thorough inventory of my art, creating more of this and that, sorting through 5 computer-sized boxes of old photos), <i>life</i> happens. Lately it has dropped some interesting and very challenging projects in my lap. <br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If <i>life</i> is generous enough to provide me with good health like it did <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bourgeois" target="_blank">Louise Bourgeois</a> late into her nineties, I may, at that time, take on those less interesting above-mentioned tasks, which often bring on extreme nostalgia (not always good for the morale). My motto is to make art 'til I drop. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The group show Escales Industrielles was scheduled for 2020 but like many exhibitions, it was
postponed. <b>BUT NOW IT'S ON!</b><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span><a href="https://lemuso.com/">Le MUSO Musée des Société Des Deux-Rives</a><a href="https://lemuso.com/" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></span>is in an incredibly beautiful old church that sports
a large floor and wall space as well as stunning stained glass windows. <span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span>The museum is dedicated to the history, art and industrial heritage (primarily textiles) of the </span></span></span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="3"><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="3"><span><a href="http://tourismesuroit.a104dev.com/en/about/suroit" target="_blank">Suroît</a> region.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The artistic "stops or interludes" happen in spaces where each artist
presents their interpretation of what industrial means to them. I have
three works in the show.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Z0OHbYBrjCFkA6-ETbc4UzfzRCsz-D-2RmyqjnYrQKS5mZOmus0GxpE3eWz67w7VOTz0-S_exMFakLX6H3UMf-eMj6ubUPp_IfyZl8akPA9BDXH5ZFd2o0cQSVPgNdy_9rfrX3zB5c/s2000/Escales-industrielles-affiches.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Z0OHbYBrjCFkA6-ETbc4UzfzRCsz-D-2RmyqjnYrQKS5mZOmus0GxpE3eWz67w7VOTz0-S_exMFakLX6H3UMf-eMj6ubUPp_IfyZl8akPA9BDXH5ZFd2o0cQSVPgNdy_9rfrX3zB5c/w494-h640/Escales-industrielles-affiches.jpg" width="494" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>BOTTLED ARTISTS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="1"><span>Thanks to the printing press, millions of images produced in strips in newspapers and magazines since 1900 have become the most important and influential "art form" in history.</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="2"><span>
</span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="3"><span>This type of art is accessible to everyone.<span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="5"><span> In the past, comics were drawn and/or printed by hand, but today digital technology makes it easier to compose, modify and reproduce images.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="3"><span><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>To create the work below, I kept the historical origins of the comic strip in mind by approaching my piece in a traditional way and drawing it by hand. <span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="8"><span>I didn't want the colours to be smooth, even, and shadow-free like most comics are.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="9"><span>Instead I let the materials take me on a journey of discovery. The hand-made rag paper was bumpy and the needle tip of a bottle filled with black acrylic ink took me where it wanted to.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="10"><span>(The line of an expressionist artist must never be totally obliterated).</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><b> </b> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The narrative sequence in "Bottled Artists" unfolds on a conveyor belt in a bottling plant. Artists are placed in jars for future consumption. Although bottling symbolizes standardization, oddly, each jar contains an individual which is hard to contain.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Certain questions come to mind</u>:<br />Can art or the artist conform or standardize to the point of becoming mundane? <br />Does technology fuel creativity or does it lead to sameness? <br />Should everything be subject to industrialization and at what cost?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OTZV6lJfAZ1JsNjqicLwvCsYMbk9xWhFkvO4GCdw5IVyOVPjkpFdaMs5cFXuXjrlCG374u_Ll64Wi31wGshOPOHwcj2VtO3CElee14RGt6cTijYaLLl5u3NVqhyphenhyphenw4ckj3q2LO4c72Z8/s1080/Diane+Collet.Artistes+embouteille%25CC%2581s.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1044" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OTZV6lJfAZ1JsNjqicLwvCsYMbk9xWhFkvO4GCdw5IVyOVPjkpFdaMs5cFXuXjrlCG374u_Ll64Wi31wGshOPOHwcj2VtO3CElee14RGt6cTijYaLLl5u3NVqhyphenhyphenw4ckj3q2LO4c72Z8/w618-h640/Diane+Collet.Artistes+embouteille%25CC%2581s.jpeg" width="618" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER ! (The death of the Tungsten bulb)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span></span></span><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="2"><span>The huge ice storm in <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ice-storm-1998-1.4469977" target="_blank">Québec (1998)</a> made me realize how vulnerable we are when it comes to the electrical grid.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="3"><span>Our survival would be severely tested if our present-day network were to fail.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="4"><span>Without hot food, heating, access to our money in banks, telecommunications and more, the world would become an alarming mess.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="5"><span>A global “technological” war could literally bring us back into the dark ages.</span></span> <span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Add climate crisis to the mix. How many of us would survive? </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="1"><span>This tongue and cheek </span></span></span>painting is an epitaph for simpler times and the modest bulb. I've always been fascinated by the tiny interior filaments, which inspire me to imagine characters that look like aliens ready to invade us. Advances in technology have led to the creation of LED bulbs that are better for the environment but which sadly, in my opinion, lack personality. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhYiNCUPt8nNXilmOzlgW6nm_cADn9W5OGqXdopyve2KgsDVTgENivIq-AswC-Ayjxmoy3wvaVRtV1t-8qr1_M2EKA8pbf8kpUub7uBAuLoBu1Q6UiKRmMhv_Mhh3U6VfAajXenbwOwg/s800/3.Diane+Collet.Tungste%25CC%2580ne.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhYiNCUPt8nNXilmOzlgW6nm_cADn9W5OGqXdopyve2KgsDVTgENivIq-AswC-Ayjxmoy3wvaVRtV1t-8qr1_M2EKA8pbf8kpUub7uBAuLoBu1Q6UiKRmMhv_Mhh3U6VfAajXenbwOwg/w434-h640/3.Diane+Collet.Tungste%25CC%2580ne.jpg" width="434" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>TOO MUCH COAL</b><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In this work I single out the steam engine trains that helped fuel the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution" target="_blank">industrial revolution</a>. Tons of freight cars full of coal were hauled and burned to keep motors running. The stoker’s job was to keep the locomotive firing and to maintain steam pressure. Charcoal and coal are similar. By applying charcoal dust to a lightly painted surface, I embodied the era with an allegorical portrait of the stoker. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="0"><span><br /></span></span></span></span> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusrKAafD00tggXO7McQtBYPj_eRh2CkAJ-BRuY2Km3J9hMSrPmXX5efGEdQ_sQOtW8AXIb7gA6_3ZYOL8L33vYV92lcgOIWpEgxXQS1rUV3N1TLy_hsOeendPJXdC_Y_p872hrhpBs4k/s792/Too+much+coal.sm.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusrKAafD00tggXO7McQtBYPj_eRh2CkAJ-BRuY2Km3J9hMSrPmXX5efGEdQ_sQOtW8AXIb7gA6_3ZYOL8L33vYV92lcgOIWpEgxXQS1rUV3N1TLy_hsOeendPJXdC_Y_p872hrhpBs4k/w478-h640/Too+much+coal.sm.jpeg" width="478" /></a><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Escales Industrielles</b> runs until June 6th and museum entrance is free on that particular Sunday. I invite you all to visit this terrific show and beautiful space.<br /></span></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-30224748626544723452021-03-21T11:32:00.001-04:002021-03-21T11:44:56.107-04:00FINDING MEANING<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite all the time available to me during the pandemic, strangely, I have not felt like writing. Instead, I've been making art and experimenting with new applications on my iPad. Art projects and shows that were postponed in 2020 are scheduled once again and new ones are also coming to light. I will be getting a Covid 19 vaccine soon and hope that life will become a bit easier if not completely normal. That may take a few years. I just want to be around, adding to my already huge art inventory.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My work over the last few months has mirrored my state of mind. Moods and coping mechanisms vary from day-to-day and themes recur unconsciously. Similarities become obvious only in retrospect. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here is Gaol, pronounced "jail". For some curious reason, Grover from Sesame Street popped into my head as I included the word gaol on this digital print. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYp-6AzDpXA" target="_blank">G Grover - G George</a> </span>has become an ever-present ear worm. Oh how I amuse myself!</span><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnx7wir-UOv7EI9fchnF7z60HRnIPTUziOonumfe06nDWLDHI5OGEoX02X4YQeKQv6gEwnfKLhL856jF6z0LbufsjIgUpiYPdDUUS-UFgVycdGYKPk5tEuPMDW33UAy_4zWuxGTffo1o/s2048/GAOL+smaller.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnx7wir-UOv7EI9fchnF7z60HRnIPTUziOonumfe06nDWLDHI5OGEoX02X4YQeKQv6gEwnfKLhL856jF6z0LbufsjIgUpiYPdDUUS-UFgVycdGYKPk5tEuPMDW33UAy_4zWuxGTffo1o/w640-h640/GAOL+smaller.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I went through a bird period for a while, which <a href="https://dianecollet.blogspot.com/2020/07/ode-to-fowls.html" target="_blank">I touched upon in a previous post</a>. I must have been looking at our flying friends with envy. How wonderful to zoom above the pandemic, to remain untouched and free.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I spent nineteen days on this charcoal drawing "Nineteen Selves in Lockdown". I am the only model at my disposal right now so I forgive my fall into self-absorption.</span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlHQClgPmo7U1qH7TMjXo07dgwRybL9Tzcr2xqr_ct-D5U7YmuiUdCSGdlmB9ya3Ms8GSoCY_FHZjY-rmIyRmX42Svl1XZE2K81JUnq81iSMt7y_DWdkYJdUWwNuA_OFW4LBU_AZSTC8/s1500/19+selves+in+lockdown.reduced.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1500" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlHQClgPmo7U1qH7TMjXo07dgwRybL9Tzcr2xqr_ct-D5U7YmuiUdCSGdlmB9ya3Ms8GSoCY_FHZjY-rmIyRmX42Svl1XZE2K81JUnq81iSMt7y_DWdkYJdUWwNuA_OFW4LBU_AZSTC8/w640-h456/19+selves+in+lockdown.reduced.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The following work "Confinement Piercings" surfaced after rubbing some charcoal and pastel dust on paper. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This piece was so much fun to do. Surrealism often rears its offbeat head during difficult times. <br /></span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIBkUz3hq51gNDbN_FfnMymtXJFCvmYCznpQRiRzUOwMn4AE9dwCKmxQJk95O4Chp7Vfvh7VH1eG019TFmZDXpmt1lxTqLFjJSMNUaRftwm43Dn21UKMgDtUCfgeuG80qkM0_la3ozEg/s1500/Confinement+Piercings.SM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1500" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIBkUz3hq51gNDbN_FfnMymtXJFCvmYCznpQRiRzUOwMn4AE9dwCKmxQJk95O4Chp7Vfvh7VH1eG019TFmZDXpmt1lxTqLFjJSMNUaRftwm43Dn21UKMgDtUCfgeuG80qkM0_la3ozEg/w640-h478/Confinement+Piercings.SM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My next project involves a daily visual journal in Keynote where, using selfies, I will document living in partial isolation in 2021. January started out conservatively as I was learning to use the application on my iPad. February is a tad more funky and I hope to be even better in March. I will join all the videos at the end of the year assuming, because that's all one can do nowadays, I'm still around by then. I've become even more </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">aware of how fragile life is </span>over the past year and appreciate each day that I'm able to create and more importantly, share with you. </span><br /></p>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833183535779599489.post-73705349220057332852020-12-11T12:17:00.001-05:002020-12-11T12:17:33.734-05:00ART DURING A PANDEMIC?<div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone's life has been upended during this seemingly interminable pandemic. Awareness of how continuous stress is affecting us all is not blatantly obvious or necessarily top of mind but flashes of insight are surfacing. I hear whispers from the deepest recesses of my mind and actually listen to my angst rather than pretend that "everything's gonna be alright". Stress is insidiously infiltrating my subconscious. How do I know? Little things.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While I don't feel particularly sad, tears well up at the slightest, remotely wistful, schmaltzy thing I see on television. This is unusual for me. I haven't felt this hypersensitive since menopause. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Good things are mixed in with the bad, which feeds confusion. The pandemic has given me no choice but to become aware of time. I love having fewer commitments and this is a revelation. Maybe I must take stock and determine what I want my life to be like after things return to some semblance of normality (assuming of course that they eventually do). I find myself thinking, reading and creating way more slowly and carefully. The pandemic has affected my <i>motivation, </i>my creative juices have somehow capsized. Maybe the fumes that emanate from the bleach I use to disinfect my food purchases are frying my brain. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have neglected this blog. I regularly turn on my iPad and tell myself "nope, I can't possibly create a digital work right now". This is strange because drawing on my iPad is normally a meditative experience.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I seem to be increasingly sleepy. This usually happens to me in November when Québec switches to standard time and days become shorter. During these long periods of darkness I tend to curl up under a warm throw and snooze. Covid merely provides a double whammy excuse to do so.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Talking on the phone is no replacement for face-to-face encounters and neither is a Zoom meeting but I do both anyway. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Notwithstanding these realities, I still manage to create art.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many exhibitions and projects were put on hold this year but </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">unexpectedly, good things also happened. </span>I was one fortunate artist! </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. <b>"<u>L'ENVOLÉE"</u></b> (The Flight) - MAY 2020<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Culture flourishes in <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/fr" target="_blank">Vaudreuil-Dorion</a></span>. The city invited 10 artists to create birds that
were reproduced in multiples and installed in front of various senior's
residences and other public locations. The birds were meant to be
messengers of joy during lockdown. </span><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Plumette was my contribution.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIv_iy1RcDrxXSB_-vUWwdBBlxDknZiZicZeTlupFknxMgvUk8bhtOCabFOI6V2XvcPGn3Uu5ZB_T4ABvBuE4qPcPQRjFoT5AY3LUAD7_zhJSKUQcFqfdRu-kWxrRIQGqTsAypL-p2Aw/s1080/PLUMETTE.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="940" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIv_iy1RcDrxXSB_-vUWwdBBlxDknZiZicZeTlupFknxMgvUk8bhtOCabFOI6V2XvcPGn3Uu5ZB_T4ABvBuE4qPcPQRjFoT5AY3LUAD7_zhJSKUQcFqfdRu-kWxrRIQGqTsAypL-p2Aw/w557-h640/PLUMETTE.png" width="557" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2.<b><u> </u></b><a href="https://www.artculturevs.ca/contamination-culturelle.html?fbclid=IwAR0jmEmxv28cEUgS0hZ92Mm-VYTOxZiQtaemfwmECBocmOt9GihAhNinYGk" target="_blank"><b>"CONTAMINATION CULTURELLE"</b> </a>- JULY 2020 </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In an effort to maintain important links within the artistic community during Covid, the CACVS (Le Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges) invited artists via Zoom meetings to discuss how we were all coping. The exchanges eventually led to the creation of a spontaneous travelling outdoor exhibition which was installed consecutively in different municipalities in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges county over a four month period. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The idea behind the project was to </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>"contaminate" public sites in the region with works of art. </span></span></span></span>Since I had just finished a short stint on a committee that encouraged recycling and re-purposing of art materials, <span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>I decided to paint on both sides of a previously painted, unstretched canvas and have it blow in the wind like a banner. Needless to say the poor thing was mercilessly battered by the elements and looked like something I dragged out of Pompeii after four months of exposure but its abuse was a fitting analogy for what we have all been going through during the pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is the front of Renaître (Rebirth) as it was...</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOHIup4LHVl1x06u-K7H4MSKYyBeoy-aaAgWDuAY_Y1keIspMmgpQ5TxEkD6QoszQMp7RcsPFP0nDJDfnGU-FcB5i_GfmU1goMnx5n4PcM_Tw8OU6Cn1H32OZZH1DPMcHMr7F8I-CMBQ/s800/Renai%25CC%2582tre+Contamination.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="719" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOHIup4LHVl1x06u-K7H4MSKYyBeoy-aaAgWDuAY_Y1keIspMmgpQ5TxEkD6QoszQMp7RcsPFP0nDJDfnGU-FcB5i_GfmU1goMnx5n4PcM_Tw8OU6Cn1H32OZZH1DPMcHMr7F8I-CMBQ/w575-h640/Renai%25CC%2582tre+Contamination.jpg" width="575" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>...and this is the back:</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SyvJh8QCgkutdLoKTU9RW2r1DGOgFcsVR7zK_0tAqcRttUZ1TIwx8pxfyv1ux7KBf3xZ2U-c5XWfjbcmpbcnI8ArNNhwCMo4n6CmG-uicbGuRcTmiHTq5i2tVHHeGgd8KYizAQNmHFI/s2048/Bird+from+the+back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SyvJh8QCgkutdLoKTU9RW2r1DGOgFcsVR7zK_0tAqcRttUZ1TIwx8pxfyv1ux7KBf3xZ2U-c5XWfjbcmpbcnI8ArNNhwCMo4n6CmG-uicbGuRcTmiHTq5i2tVHHeGgd8KYizAQNmHFI/w549-h640/Bird+from+the+back.jpg" width="549" /></a></span></span></span></div><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Guess you could call this my "BIRD PERIOD". I created quite a few avian-inspired works in 2020 which makes perfect sense considering that my "fight-or-flight response" has been turned on during these Covid times.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>3. <b>"<u>IMPLAUSIBLE REALITIES</u>"</b> - OCTOBER 2020<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Restrictions became less stringent over the summer. I contacted <a href="http://lechenail1975.ca/index.php/accueil/propos-de-nous/nous-joindre" target="_blank">Le Chenail Cultural Centre</a> to confirm whether or not I was to have a solo show, which was scheduled for October 2020. The centre, like many organizations and businesses, was in lockdown during the spring. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>I had no idea whether things would work out...</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>...BUT THEY DID!!! HOW LUCKY WAS I?<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6TeFIkZQa-3Ir5R9kqCu_LYtKx0D4zmjVMht7Pb7EYYRyDhl8jHFfIr8dD75JT-D2cRsjaI1VY1zwFwBPLg3PEN7ev1zAg48iFnFuwbPAkkcUX5FZozUPsaiuNF-fwisO3mqYYoiV6E/s1650/Invitation+Le+Chenail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6TeFIkZQa-3Ir5R9kqCu_LYtKx0D4zmjVMht7Pb7EYYRyDhl8jHFfIr8dD75JT-D2cRsjaI1VY1zwFwBPLg3PEN7ev1zAg48iFnFuwbPAkkcUX5FZozUPsaiuNF-fwisO3mqYYoiV6E/w640-h494/Invitation+Le+Chenail.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Many people were afraid to come to the opening (frankly I was too), but all who came donned a mask. I wore both a face shield and mask during the event. Because the weather was fantastic, doors were left open, which made for excellent air circulation. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>The cultural centre is a beautiful, welcoming place and I was overjoyed that my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsvPenL4sVY" target="_blank">art was displayed </a>there for two months.<br /></span></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShzGbx103u2OkzUxkdQuFGPdfYwM7By7OhxnwNSpT_XlYOkkpRuc0pjrDHsxJM2daTZL-KdJ3lpq-FDhm_Z-FbamxlZqxKU5n2n9MX7vBDDmkmwV_I1CL7yX_MsafI0rmSCTddLQZ1Cc/s999/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.15.26+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="792" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShzGbx103u2OkzUxkdQuFGPdfYwM7By7OhxnwNSpT_XlYOkkpRuc0pjrDHsxJM2daTZL-KdJ3lpq-FDhm_Z-FbamxlZqxKU5n2n9MX7vBDDmkmwV_I1CL7yX_MsafI0rmSCTddLQZ1Cc/w508-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.15.26+AM.png" width="508" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Lynda Clouette-Mackay</span></span></span></span><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>4.<u> <b>LUMIN'ART</b></u> - DECEMBER 2020<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>The city of Vaudreuil-Dorion came through with another interesting challenge. Ten artists were invited to transform two giant balls each for an outdoor holiday project. Working on a sphere was new for me. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>I opted to use semi-transparent rice paper. I drew my designs multiple times to create collage material, painted each bear, fish and reindeer in acrylic inks before cutting them out. After playing around with shapes and masking tape to determine placement, I glued the elements and their parts on the sphere. The paper was thin, fragile but flexible as I folded and stretched it over the surface. I applied stained glass paint where I wanted accents of colour and once the elements were dry, I applied paper over the rest of the surface to create a frosted effect. <br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>After a couple of coats of varnish, I put the balls aside for a few days to cure. They were finally ready to be installed. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>While
I expected the project to be interesting, lighting effects at
night made the viewing experience magical. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>These are my spheres as they appear during the day. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0wI-6KJKrLfA3MTxXHIlufSh6onNzq1mozgpjIsTdFddzEUtzulEvyO4EJv8B2DDq04EpQJNSRDhifoS-tm0F23YLTj6lTYRD0um1AbAyJYExzUx3YwDHpxtgcoEB8myWxwHYG7-Xsk/s2048/Bear+Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="2048" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0wI-6KJKrLfA3MTxXHIlufSh6onNzq1mozgpjIsTdFddzEUtzulEvyO4EJv8B2DDq04EpQJNSRDhifoS-tm0F23YLTj6lTYRD0um1AbAyJYExzUx3YwDHpxtgcoEB8myWxwHYG7-Xsk/w640-h590/Bear+Ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_GoHJfn70cgfhKeQZR4cOzcXP6RMB5FloGNs7daaCmhEyJleRaW3ZyiuxZIjg_HXQ7GOU_3xOzciC5ktyG6cbIOoq08bKpIPY_wO_H-e-3CYPPH7RRrtGa94JlazIPy-wROBO8vOk9c/s1949/Reindeer+Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1949" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_GoHJfn70cgfhKeQZR4cOzcXP6RMB5FloGNs7daaCmhEyJleRaW3ZyiuxZIjg_HXQ7GOU_3xOzciC5ktyG6cbIOoq08bKpIPY_wO_H-e-3CYPPH7RRrtGa94JlazIPy-wROBO8vOk9c/w640-h624/Reindeer+Ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> And here they are at night! I must admit I look forward to seeing them after a major snowstorm.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfd2_gQLfGyOI4kWadNqeR0SbP5icbaXO7Mw-HHRTEcOIDjqeBvDDoPlIrGcB84tO9TORyg6YsAIrbYoWvDn8l3ZZIkSfH4cISGxcYGaINJVR1Qce4H4MSRMyKVl3wuj7OdcFMRH4BSc/s2048/Bears+at+night.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfd2_gQLfGyOI4kWadNqeR0SbP5icbaXO7Mw-HHRTEcOIDjqeBvDDoPlIrGcB84tO9TORyg6YsAIrbYoWvDn8l3ZZIkSfH4cISGxcYGaINJVR1Qce4H4MSRMyKVl3wuj7OdcFMRH4BSc/w480-h640/Bears+at+night.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQANRX431Ij38V01RrnUWer_2bX3cxtM-9666Dqv8-EmWPxq-lUKROenQ5ZnBV4Vm2eE7c8hNX1_A1G5ct3r_aA-awpi5ZEyqzrYSO4LFwEwMnxGgivwzwFnbzmlieugdEiAIsfIq0OVU/s2048/Reindeer+at+night.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQANRX431Ij38V01RrnUWer_2bX3cxtM-9666Dqv8-EmWPxq-lUKROenQ5ZnBV4Vm2eE7c8hNX1_A1G5ct3r_aA-awpi5ZEyqzrYSO4LFwEwMnxGgivwzwFnbzmlieugdEiAIsfIq0OVU/w480-h640/Reindeer+at+night.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The city posted photos of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/villevaudreuildorion/photos/pcb.1709222692577557/1714076688758824" target="_blank">entire installation</a> on Facebook. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Other little projects are in the works. I'm a member of l'Association des artistes de LaSalle and they had to postpone two shows this year. The group decided to prepare a mail art exhibit in the interim to celebrate their 40-year anniversary. The tiny works will eventually be shown "somewhere, somehow, in some way". A very cool initiative!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>I'm also working on a small collective project with four other artists and another group that I belong to is starting an artist-run and web gallery. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>Organizations that are committed to keeping the arts alive are few and far between but some </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>realize how important it is for communities to have culture in their lives. Thanks to the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion, the CACVS and Le Chenail Cultural Centre for making 2020 a year where art managed to thrive in spite of the pandemic. It has made a big difference to many artists and citizens.<br /></span></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="VIiyi" lang="en"><span class="JLqJ4b ChMk0b" data-language-for-alternatives="en" data-language-to-translate-into="fr" data-phrase-index="6"><span>I sincerely hope that my works have provided a counterpoint to the daily deluge of depressing news we have all been exposed to during this very bizarre year. Until this hell freezes over, please stay safe everyone! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></p></div>ART: ideas and processhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165357403008654651noreply@blogger.com0