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What is it to wait?
Waiting is not an idea living in the head
waiting occupies the whole of us,
all of our body and senses, our inside and outside must agree
to become receptive, to be ready to receive
what we are waiting for
whenever it finally comes to us.
Today's Meeting
This is what we do when we come together,
how we challenge each other and communicate who we are.
Speed and attention is necessary.
No time for fussing over details.
We all appreciate this way of working together.
A Red Flag Day
deborah harris
Sae Kimura
Floyd Kuptana
These chalk drawings, done today, are copied from the same section of Salvador Dali's painting 'Burning Giraffe'.
Which Way is Up?
Same perspective... different orientation
Does that mean that we only have to
stand on our heads to view things differently?
Mirror, mirror on the ground... (better late then never)
what reflections to be found.
This blog was meant to go up on Friday... we forgot to push the button so it is up now as well as whatever we blog for today.
Sorry we missed sharing with you on the weekend.
Constructing A 'Plane' Language
Two different artists,
two different days,
sharing an understanding.
An artist creates a visual language.
In the beginning it is unknown even by the artist but over time with repetition there is recognition and vocabulary expands.
But the language is not only visual it is also spatial, consisting of shapes and dimensions.
It communicates direction and movement, inward and outward.
Postures and gestures convey mood and complex subtle qualities.
When we give our attention to a piece of art we are learning a language,
one that touches the memory of our senses.
We may be surprised that we understand.
What is Art?
Pruning the big plant in the window, five leaves that were on their way to be discarded...
hung on the door handle they appear exquisite. The gift of discovery can happen anytime.
It is always a surprise.
Trying to Remember Who Am I
Painting by Floyd Kuptana
Looking Out from Inside
Can you spot the two sisters, each perched on a window ledge?
A Journey
We finally completed the current exhibition. The words above are those which helped to inspire and shape this work.
They are from three different sources which seem to weave together very poignantly. Below is a photograph of the boat in the space.
Singing the End of Summer Blues
Warm socks but summer dress!
GONE FISHING
Today we completed what is now the current exhibition in the main gallery, hanging fish which multiply with shadows
and move in such a joyful way that one could stand for hours and be mesmerized by them.
Such a simple beauty.
Stepping Out
Today was a visit to the top of the CN Tower just for that unobstructed, distant view. A need for another perspective.
Wondering what next to do with cardboard
Little cows are easier to get into boxes.
Not stepping off the triangle, not taking any risks...
Recovering from a 'small' mistake can be very intimidating.
But mistakes are our best teachers and if we are willing to learn
something great can come from them.
Today we discovered the magic of creative solution.
Summer Returns
Just as we were unpacking our sweaters...!
Trying to Make it Float
Today our friends, Joan and Dominique, visited the gallery on their way back to France. Dominique was inspired to help us make a simple, light and beautiful frame to support our boat. It was very exciting to see it come off the table. We are almost finished.
Putting Out the Fire
These collages will be donated to the 100th anniversary celebration of the Alumnae Theatre in their fire hall home.
The artists from left to right are Sae Kimura, Eron Boyd (2nd and 3rd) Vivian Felsen and deborah harris.
Today Sae'n'I are Ship Building
(Sae is taking the photos
so she's not in them and Captain Floyd is overseeing)
The world is even more mysterious than anything we can imagine
but what a beautiful imagining
Celestial globe
by Jodocus Hondius Junior and Adriaen Veen, 1613.
National Maritime Museum, London.
Make sure to play your cards right.
Card collages by Eron Boyd
Open to Interpretation
This is Sae's version...
(Sae's angel caught a fish and swam to shore)
The assignment was given by Floyd
to draw a swimming angel...
(Floyd's angel is a shape shifter)
and this is deborah's
(deborah's angel is just swimming)
(she's a little bit boring)
Savouring the Last Bite
water melon season is almost over
L o y a l t y
All of these dogs are waiting for their persons to get coffee at Sumac Espresso Cafe.
I was at a table drinking mine and drawing them.
Different dogs, different days, different postures,
same expressions. (with one or two exceptions)
Dogs have more variations than any other species
but it is always their nature to be loyal.
Drawings by debroah harris
Meditating on the Wheels of Life
...using the materials on hand to create a shrine,
a protected place to be quiet and contemplate
with a sense or reminder of another being
or another existence than the one we usually engage with
'in the world but not of it'
Stepping Carefully Through the Day
...while trying to juggle the red ring.
Hawk Landing
What a gift to have a hawk land in our backyard. He stayed here on the fence for at least 30 minutes. Hawks have great overview, flying high and seeing far and wide. In many native traditions they ask us to rise above the details and expand our perspective heavenward to embrace the spiritual element. Today we have received that message.
A Circle of Inspiration
This circle began with Floyd Kuptana's charcoal drawing in response to a Picasso painting of figures on a beach.
The sculpture on the right is by Sae Kimura.
The sculpture on the left is by deborah harris.
Today We Meet Cezanne
Vivian Felsen interprets Cezanne collaging her own watercolour painting of his sitting figure.
Paper sculpture is by Sae and deborah.
Small piece upper left by d using Vivian's leftover fragments.
All were done and put up in the gallery today!
Breathing Under Stress
An attempt to find balance
Receiving what Comes
...with gratitude
Seeing something in the distance
Seeing close up
weather
Artists Together
We at the gallery, Sae, Floyd, Vivian
and deborah have been drawing
together using copies of paintings by
the masters as our shared subject.
Picasso, Modigliani and Francis Bacon
are the originators of these works. We
challenge ourselves to complete a
drawing in approximately 5 minutes. It
is an extraordinary way to enter into
their work and to see how each of us
interprets the work in such different
ways, ways that make every drawing
unique.
Waiting for the week to end
It has been a very good week
but too far from familiar.
Today The Three Girls Go To The Water Park
The Three Girls ready for take-off.
Drains in the sky.
Shadows in the sand.
Children in paradise.
Wonder Woman.
Building a Place To Be
The beauty of simple shapes and balance
To and From / Arrivals and Departures
Going towards Ward's Island from the city harbour Returning to the city from Ward's Island
Sun and Moon are passing figures of countless generations
and days coming and going wanderers too.
Each day is a journey and the journey itself home.
Basho
Flying through Water, Swimming through Air
Floyd Kuptana's most recent sculpture.
The Book of Shows Past
Every year at this time I am asked to write a summary of all the exhibits that have happened in that year.
I try to remember just how each show has evolved from the previous one. I am reminded of the continuity leading to
this moment now. It is a challenge to return to the past but a good way to enter into the present.
It's a long ride from Japan to Toronto..
Inside the plane, trying to be comfortable,
Sae's mom has a cup of tea.
All Things Growing
A visit today to Allen's Gardens
Artists Reunion
Working together again after time away
it's a good way to find out who we are
surprising!
Keeping an Eye on the Girls
Eron is often the only guy at the collage table
an interesting challenge
that I think he enjoys
If it Keeps Raining...
...Plans for the Ark
The Trojan Horse
How did this mysterious horse enter into the city
resembling the legendary Trojan horse
with the scaffolding of its making still in place
a painting of the Greeks before they hid inside merges with Sae's photo
a magical meeting of gestures
Trojan Horse
by French artist Jean Guillaume Moitte 1790
drawing with ink and guache
Timelines
Fragments of images
from other times, other places
gestures recognizable, interchangeable
placed to alter each other's stories,
complete an incompleteness.
Unexpected meetings
surprise us to look.
Windswept...
...but feeling lucky
Three Sisters
Will the real Modigliani please stand up.
You are most cordially invited to attend...
We are also showing photographic work in the Up North and Ascending Galleries from previous exhibitions.
sHAPed bY tHe sPacE
After a week of working in the stairwell
up and down a hundred times
we are looking something like this!
Climbing to the Top
Today we finished putting up the photographic work in the Ascending Gallery all the way to the fourth floor.
We purchased a new extension ladder which allowed us to reach the ceiling (with some difficulty).
Ed helped with his long reach and between the three of us we got it done.
Sae's mobile is a permanent fixture in the stairwell. It seems to float and dance between the pieces.
All and all it is a magical space.
The photographs shown are by Simeon Posen
with the two middle framed pieces in the roof space by Elaine Ling and Pamela Williams
The Past and Present Meet
The reflective quality of glass is that it brings another layer to the underlying image,
in this case it allows the viewer, Sae, to enter into the past.
A Tall Small Room
Looking Down / Looking Up
Today's Second Installation for the next exhibit 'Photographic Memory'
Chas and Dog Pat
This is the first piece to be installed in our next exhibit 'PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY'.
The next week will be a bit of a marathon to get ready for the May 11 reception.
You are invited to attend or to visit our website where the exhibition will be documented.
Steps Away From Crossing Over
Alex in Hamilton Della Hayward 's painting now hanging in the library at Arcturus
Follow the Angle
Today Sae'n'I' were re-hanging the collage gallery with new work.
Hammer, pins, transparencies are the tools we use.
These photos were taken during the process.
What is interesting is the way in which these images are composed.
The angles as they repeat and move seamlessly from one frame to the next.
Seen together they reveal something of the mysterious patterns of perception.
