3 Art Festivals

Lions Art Show and Sale
Bobcaygeon Art Festival
Muskoka Arts and Crafts 48th Annual Summer Show

This month is a busy time for me with three art shows around the area.  The Beaches Art Show last month was disappointing because of poor attendance due to rain.   Because we have just recently returned to Toronto I have had to go on show recommendations from other artists. I had been told that this was a good show however I found that it catered more to inexpensive craft than art so it's not a one I would do again. It's all a learning experience. This weekend I am at the "Lions Art Show" in Cobourg, Ontario.  Cobourg is on the lakefront between Toronto and Ottawa.  I have never been into the town although I have passed the turnoff to it dozens of times when we have been going between the two cities. This art show is in a huge tent so at least we won't get rained upon.

The following weekend I am doing "Bobcaygeon Art Festival "show in the Settlers Village in Bobcaygeon.  This town north of Toronto has many beautiful cottages and homes as does Muskoka in the same area. This is where I have the third show for the month, the 'Muskoka Arts and Crafts 2010 48th Annual Summer Show'.  It will be interesting to experience all three.  It is hard work but both my husband and I enjoy the shows and the people we meet.  We are looking forward to visiting these areas again after having been away from Canada for quite a few years.  Northern Ontario is beautiful place.

Just a note on the G20.  We were amazed to see all the violence on TV in the area near where the G20 was being held.  We live in downtown Toronto and find it a very safe and tolerant city.  The breaking of windows and setting of cars on fire done by gangs of young thugs has no place in genuine protest marches and is not justifiable under any circumstances.  I think most Torontonians felt sad and angry about it all.

The Ultimate Act of Creation

The night before last was one of those very special times in a life.  I was witness to my second grandchilds birth.  Even when I had my own three children I was astounded by the magic and mystery of birth but to have the privilige of seeing both my grandchildren enter into this world has been both emotionally moving and mindblowing. 

The labour was very fast.  One moment it seemed my daughter in law had this very large round tummy and then the baby started to move down and out. Before very long the head was partly there, poised for a moment in time....she called out and breathed and the head completely emerged.  We waited again.....a bit of help and whoosh....... the air was suddenly, and almost shockingly, filled with loud wails.  We didn't even have time to think "Will it breathe and cry".

I think with our modern technology and capable medical care that we are divorced from the realities of life.  We no longer see birth and death.  It's hidden away in hospitals.  What I was lucky enough to see that night was the emergence of a new life in all it's fullness and beauty and I was stunned by the amazing creativity and intelligence of the universe. Surely this is the ultimate act of creation.  My artistic attempts seem pale in comparison.

Watercolour Painting 
with a Resin Finish

Recently when researching local art shows I came across a blog by a local artist called Moshe Mikanovsky. He is very web oriented and has an interesting blog.  He recently posted a very good article on coating watercolour paintings with resin so that they can be shown without a protective glass covering. He learned this process from a fellow Toronto artist David Zak who also has a video about the process.

Paintings covered with resin have been very popular in Toronto for quite a few years and I often find it too overpowering however using it instead of glass on watercolour, or other works on paper, would make the finished work much more sturdy.

Let me know what you think.

Beaches Arts and Crafts Show

This weekend I'm participating in the Beaches Arts and Crafts Show held in the very trendy "Beaches" area of Toronto.  It's the first festival of the season, the first time I have done this show and it will also be the first time that I have shown only printmaking so it will be an interesting few days.  It's great to be getting back into "Art Mode" as the past few months have been full of renovations and all the messy work that entails....the wrong kind of painting for instance!  We are really pleased with the results of our labour but glad to be finished. 

This week I have been busy matting up prints, and getting work into frames.  I have gone with the standard plain black frame on most work except for the "Kimono prints" which are in white.  The "Kimono" prints are more feminine so the lighter frame colour works better. It's been fun getting all my printmaking work out and I'm really looking forward to seeing it hanging together in the tent so that I can get a clearer view of the work overall.  Most of the pieces are collagraphs but I'm also showing some block prints on paper and an experimental one on wood panel.  I'm a bit concerned that there is too much variety in the imagery I've chosen to show but I can select and edit as I hang the work.  It's much more problematic showing works under glass at an outdoor show so I hope we get nice sunny warm weather. 

As an update on people using images from artists websites without permission, I came across one of my paintings being used on the Patio Bar blog, in Faro, Portugal, as publicity for a jazz concert.  http://opatiobarfaro.blogspot.com/2009/11/j-z-z-z_19.html   I have decided to take it as a compliment.

My son and daughter in law recently moved to live in our house in the apartment unit below us.  It's working out wonderfully and I will write about it in another post.  It will only be for a year or a bit more so we are making the most of this very special time.  They have their second baby due to arrive at any time and are hoping for another home birth so the next few days will be very exciting.