G A L L E R Y
A R C T U R U S
The Daily News
The Story Must Continue
One cannot stay forever underwater with the whale. One must come up for air.
What was once a vehicle becomes a shelter, perhaps a home, albeit somewhat quirky.
Still Life with Black Jug
For this exercise we decided to interpret the George Braque painting 'La Table de Toilette', using collage, working from a black and white reproduction and each choosing our own pallet. We did not look at the original colour painting til we were finished.
A Meeting Place
Today we all met back at the gallery again, Sae, deborah and Floyd, after a few days apart.
The gallery is a rare and special place, a place where creativity is allowed to live.
This was our second drawing based on 'The Ice House' by Lawren Harris 1923.
The house seems to represent a unique and solitary place, surrounded by the elements.
A mystery which invites one to enter.
We hope the gallery does the same.
...continuing LESSONS WITH THE MASTERS
Becoming Like Children
Today Sae n I spent the whole day with our very favorite 3 year old friend.
This is what we looked like when she left to go home.
Body So Full Head So Empty
collage ensemble by Vivian Felsen
Year Ending and Beginning
We seem to organize our lives into years.
Time lines, running parallel until they don't
a sudden turn in direction sometimes takes us
where we can't imagine going
and every new year we commit to being better
a noble resolution we hope to live up to
falling down,
standing up again
some semblance of structure that we can measure ourselves against,
a path to follow.
Evocative
This is our Christmas card to all of you who visit us on the blog.
We are wishing peace and joy to you and all your family and friends.
Thank you for being with us each day.
Winter
blessed as we are by seasons
humbled as we are by weather
The light is diminishing
and still there is an opening.
Christmas is Coming...
...the goose is getting fat
please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny,
a ha' penny will do,
if you haven't got a ha' penny
then God bless you.
Surprised by Light
These are all spaces that can be visited, here at the gallery.
Coming Out of Hiding
Responding to Gauguin
'Breton Eve'
Sorry for Our Absence
One of us was broken but she is mending. We will be back with you on Tuesday.
Four Faces Sleeping with Eyes Open
Variations on a Dali theme.
Friends
Each of us, Floyd, Sae and myself deborah, began with a copy of a Salvador Dali portrait
from his painting 'Paranoiac Face'. We worked simultaneously and these three pieces are the result.
Visions Fugitives
This collage was done after listening to the twenty-one musical portraits composed by Prokofiev while he was attending university.
Some of them are less than a minute in length and each is exquisitely complex and surprising. Please click on the link and enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk0jJyUh0T4
This Is The Book That We Built
Above is the full length of the book unfolded. Below is the folded version seen from the front and each side. Please click on each image to enlarge for reading.
Gone Fishing
Today Sae'n'I spent the whole day looking at a computer screen working on making a book.
It felt a little like ice fishing in the Arctic (maybe a slight exaggeration)
We did have success, just some minutes ago but we went a bit stir crazy.
Onlookers
An important part of the process is being seen by those who share and care for the space with us.
Meeting Whale
The exhibition 'Primary Journey' has evolved to 'Meeting Whale'. Whale is a painting done by me (deborah harris) some fifteen years ago. In this reiteration it is in relationship to the boat figure and represents a deepening of the journey already begun.
All Soul's Day
The day we remember those we love who have passed.
Between the Worlds
Halloween began as the ancient festival of Samhain.
It was believed that at the end of summer and the beginning of winter (november 1)
the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead became very thin.
Disguises were worn to make oneself unrecognizable to the spirits,
negativity was released to make way for new energy to enter.
Red Music
Today Vivian suggested that we respond to a painting of Gauguin using collage.
It was a very challenging task moving from complete chaos to what you see above.
Erasing the Surround
When we erase what is on the periphery of our attention we lift what is our focal point out of its context,
in so doing what is perceived may become an entrance to what seems to be another world.
Mags in the Bags
...just have to get our hats!
MEMBERS ONLY
Today Sae and I walked with our friend Floyd
to the Old Man's Club, where the cigarettes are cheap.
When we get old we are going to open an old women's club
and serve good coffee and Earl Grey Tea in pots and all
the women have to wear hats!
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!
