Wolfville, Nova Scotia

One of our stops, while travelling through Nova Scotia, was Wolfville, which has just applied to Italy to become the second 'slow' city in North America (the first was Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island). And what an impressive place it is with its mix of a long history of European settlement, unique marine geography, a magnet for world music, significant centre for biological research...and the list goes on. One of Canada's oldest universities, Acadia University, is located in the small city. Students double the size of the city during the academic year.

Harriet Irving donated lots of money to build a spectacular research greenhouse and gardens. The milder climate (by Canadian standards) has meant they could put in plantings to represent many different bio ecosystems, which can all be accessed by paths and trails.

'Face In Nature`by Judith Leidell

Throughout the walks art has been placed as part of the Uncommon Common Art community project put together by the Alliance of Kings Artists http://www.uncommoncommonart.com/

`The face, decomposing in nature, can be given renewed life if visitors place found natural objects at the base of the tree.``

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

We spent the morning exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lunenburg, a town that is the best example in the world of an 18th century town planned in England then built in the New World. The straight streets arranged in a grid pattern ignore the hilly terrain so some streets are very steep.

I opted for a self guided walking tour to view the range of architecture that has been preserved in the town.

In the historic area most of the buildings have been lovingly restored.

And there were lots of pleasant details waiting to be found.

Bluenose II in Lunenburg

After exploring wooden boats moored on the west coast of Canada a couple of weekends ago, I spent today on a famous wooden boat off the east coast. The Bluenose II is a replica of her sister, a fast fishing schooner built in 1921. The replica is in Lunenburg's harbour in Nova Scotia.

I captured another series of images that focus on line and circles on boats.

But I also found some interesting lines of stitching.

Celebration Time

Today I posted to the UK the module I have been working on all summer, a semester of work towards a BA(Hons) Embroidered Textiles with the JC School of Textile Arts, which is why I am celebrating by cleaning up my studio. (I know how to have a good time).

From a study of images of The Suit...


I examined the inside of a suit jacket. I took out the lining....

and flayed it on a tree....

...and I worked with all of the interesting interfacing pieces.

Assessment day is next month in the UK where my work will be marked then returned to me.
In the meantime, I am working on the next module. This semester it is a research one and I have decided to study the Art Deco Movement.

More Sailing Pics

One of my favourite spots to stop for the night in the Gulf Islands is Clam Bay. The shoreline catches the early morning light so beautifully it is compulsory to eat breakfast sitting outside (I usually get breakfast in bed and have a good read before pulling up the anchor).

As beautiful as this reflection of the clouds looks, it was an early warning of a rain-filled, cold day.

On Saturna Island I found a decaying tree in the forest. At this scale it looks architectural.

Underwater Inspiration

While out sailing this summer I captured some under water inspiration.

I have a small point n shoot camera but sometimes the light is right to get those thru the water shots.

They are just asking to be interpreted in textiles.

Technical Difficulties

Thank you to all of the people who let me know my blog was posts were not coming up with the images. It's nice to know you are all interested in what I am doing.

Here is the 2nd attempt with these images - reflections & circles from the Victoria Classic Boat show.

Boats & Korea

Speaking of boats, my work 'Walls Talk', is, at this moment, in the hold of a boat bound for Korea...

...along with all of the other works that will fill the 10,000 sq ft pavilion built for the guest country at the Cheongju Craft Biennale.

On September 23rd the exhibition, 'Unity & Diversity', will open. There will be a catalogue in 3 languages, artist talks, artist demos, receptions, & thousands of people curious to find out what goes on in the fine craft world in Canada. www.cheongjubiennale.or.kr/eng/
What an exciting place to be.

Victoria Classic Boat Show Inspiration

Here are more reflections & circles I found at the Victoria Classic Boat Show.

Classic Boat Show

Over the weekend, I had a most enjoyable time at the Classic Boat Show in Victoria. It was a bit hazardous because I was wearing shoes with a kitten heel that kept getting caught in the gaps between the boards on the docks (dumb choice of footwear) plus I had my camera in front of my face most of the time. However, I fell only once, avoided falling in the water and was rewarded with an inspiring collection of nautical images.
I looked for interesting reflections because the cloudy day produced the right conditions to photograph water.

I also looked for interesting lines....

and shapes. I wouldn't have thought I would find so many interesting circular shapes.

I am starting to think about a nautical/sea series of work because Articulation's next study retreat is to the Canadian Maritimes on the east coast where we will focus on the shoreline. I was born on a Pacific island and I am familiar with that ocean so I am looking forward to getting to know the Atlantic Ocean.

More 'Urban Textures' Work

I am working with these images to make another piece in my 'Urban Textures' series that will be exhibited with Articulation in the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in September.

Along with other works in this series it is a tribute to those early domestic and professional textile workers in Winnipeg who played a major and usually unacknowledged role in the growth and financial success of the city in its early days.

If you know where to look when in Winnipeg there remains so much evidence of the once flourishing textile industry. Articulation did a study week in Winnipeg, lead by 2 of its members who live in the city - Ingrid Lincoln & Miriam Levi Birkenthal. As long-time residences they knew where to take us so we could discover Winnipeg's past for ourselves.

Articulation's Blog

Articulation has set up a blog to let people know what members are working on, where they are exhibiting and generally what they are up to. We have a new website also but as everyone who has had anything to do with setting up a new website knows, it takes ages to do so. The blog will be easier for members to communicate through regularly while the website will be more of a visual web gallery of individual members' works to date.

So go check out the blog to read about the current body of work members are working on with an exhibition deadline fast approaching.

http://www.articulationtextilegroup.blogspot.com/

Nana's Garden Series

Today I worked on the 6th in my 'Nana's Garden' series where I am making hydrangeas in memory of the females in the maternal side of my family. My mother and sisters have their hydrangeas already. I will be exhibiting 3 from the series in Articulation's 'Urban Textures' exhibition in the Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery in Winnipeg.
This particular hydrangea is made using fabric dyed by my good friend Anne Woods who is a stitcher and a dyer.
The magenta coloured piece of background fabric has the dappled look of summer and gives the petals a sun bleached look.