Ordinary to Impossible

What's happening in my studio this week??  It is difficult, mentally challenging, intricate and time consuming, all the things I seems to like about making art.  I am creating a wall size print by creating 8 different blocks that tesselate. The bees on one block connect to the next block and the block can be moved and changed to new positions and still create an entire piece. It is one of the hardest pieces I have ever done. I haven't proofed them all yet but will know very soon if my big idea worked. It is called "Ordinary to the Impossible" because what an indivdual bee does might be ordinary but together they do the impossible, just as many humans do the impossible when working together as a team.

The Arts Happen Here

The school renovations may not be done yet but.... the banners are up!!!! Our "The Arts Happen Here" banners were installed today.  Thanks to the City of Saskatoon Light and Power team and to Arts Smarts 21st Century Youth Creativity Challenge for awarding us the prize money to make this project possible. First an image of all the banners in proof format and then installation images. Congratulations to all of the students that had their graphic designs and photography selectedf or the project. There were many very very good graphics and photos and the selection process was a difficult one.

 

Hexagon Building with Former Student

I had the pleasure of linking some clusters together with Gabriella Fortugno, a former student. She is working on an Advanced Placement Sculpture portfolio and wants to include some clusters. She will have her very own tree on the river to put her clusters in. It is so fun to continue to be part of my students' lives after they leave my school.

 

And the secret of connecting them together is revealed!!!!

Hexagons go International

A week or so ago I had the pleasure of creating links with my cousin's children and his wife while they were in Canada from San Jose - California. The hexagons have now gone international!!!!!

We are All Linked - Hexagon Party

2 boxes of clay+ 3 hours + 20 creators = 280 Hexagons

Last night was great fun in my studio at the hexagon creating party!!! The experience was priceless. These hexagons are special as they have sayings on them about how we are all linked in the world, and were created by a diverse group of woman. The hexagons will become clusters for my art installation next January. These hexagons will go in the trees in Friendship Park as part of a City of Saskatoon Placemaker Project I am working on.

Thanks to Janice for all of the organizing and to my husband who helped to roll the clay slabs. Thanks to Ava for sharing her musical talents with us at the beginning of the evening.

Bees - Equal in the Hive

One interesting thing I find about worker bees is the equality in value in the hive. This series of three prints on mulberry paper was created thinking about this.

Equal I

Ink on Mulberry Paper 

Linocut Techinque 

33 x 24", 83 x 61 cm

Equal II

Ink on Mulberry Paper 

Linocut Techinque 

33 x 24", 83 x 61 cm

Equal III

Ink on Mulberry Paper 

Linocut Techinque 

33 x 24", 83 x 61 cm

Tiles at Georges Vanier

The students of Georges Vanier School created decorative tiles for the outside of our new building. The images below are of one fo the last tiles being installed.