Fabulous spring-time at Butchart, Gardens near Victoria, BC Canada.
Butchart Gardens April 15, 2019
Rose Carousel at Butchart Gardens
I am having fun playing around with the 360 Panorama app on my iPhone. Paul and I were at the Butchart Gardens (Victoria, BC Canada). We were watching the Rose Carousel go around.
A MENAGERIE CAROUSEL
A menagerie of 30 hand-carved wooden animals and chariots, the carousel was brought to life by Jennie Butchart’s great-granddaughter and current owner of The Gardens, Robin-Lee Clarke, in 2009. Loved by children and adults alike, the domed Children’s Pavilion and Rose Carousel house events year-round—and welcome kids of all ages for a ride!
INDIGENOUS NORTHWEST COAST COLLECTION
After viewing “Marking the Infinite at the Museum of Anthropology we enjoyed looking at the Indigenous Northwest Coast collection in the Great Hall.
"MARKING THE INFINITE"
On a recent day trip to Vancouver, we saw the exhibit “Marking the Infinite” -a show by contemporary women artists from Aboriginal Australia at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.
I was really moved by the work in this exhibition. The work had an energy and movement, that felt like a heartbeat. The colour and pattern seemed to radiate and vibrate an inner life source. Without doubt this is the best work I have seen in a long long time.
“Aboriginal women have been redrawing the boundaries of the contemporary Aboriginal art scene in Australia since the late 1980s, redefining a movement that continues today.
Marking the Infinite features the work of nine Aboriginal women—Nonggirrnga Marawili, Wintjiya Napaltjarri, Yukultji Napangati, Angelina Pwerle, Carlene West, Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Lena Yarinkura, Gulumbu Yunupingu and Nyapanyapa Yunupingu—each from different remote regions of Australia. They are revered matriarchs and celebrated artists who are represented in the collections of the Australian National Gallery. Most of them make their Canadian debut at MOA with this breathtaking exhibition.
The artists bring their ancient cultural knowledge into their contemporary artistic practice, and continue to create art to ensure their languages, land and knowledge survive in an increasingly digital world. Their works are steeped in the traditions of their communities and yet speak to the universal themes of our shared existence, revealing the continued relevance of Indigenous knowledge in understanding our time and place in this world.” (quote from MOA)
RECENT TRIP TO VANCOUVER
After what seemed like a long winter and a snowfall on February 10th that was still hanging around on March 10 —- and it seemed to last forever before it melted all away from the yard mid-March — it was great to have a day trip to Vancouver in sunny warm weather. The morning ferry ride was beautiful.
Snow storm hit Cowichan Bay on Feb 10, 2018
Snow still hanging around on March 10, 2018 and didn’t melt entirely until March 15.
GENOA BAY, BC
We had a wonderful lunch at the Genoa Bay Cafe and Marina.
View of the marina from the Genoa Bay Cafe deck.
To view a live satellite view map of Genoa Bay here
One of the best things to do after lunch is to walk along the docks and the boat houses.
UCLUELET - BLACK ROCK RESORT - MARCH 6-9, 2019
We had a wonderful 4-day trip to Ucluelet, BC - it was mostly sunny and very warm, but we did get snow on the first morning. The top row shows the scene from our room on March 6th. at 4:47 pm. The second row shows the same scene on March 7th. at 9:15 am.with a light dusting of snow.
March 8th @ 8:26 am
March 8th @ 6:04 pm
March 9th @ 10:30am
UCLUELET AQUARIUM
Canada’s first catch-and-release aquarium. Raising awareness about local biodiversity and promoting respect for the ocean environment.
I had a great time at the Ucluelet Aquarium and had the opportunity to visit there on two different days. On day 1 I took a lot of videos and the second day I spent a lot of time sketching and taking photos. I love it there. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The first four images are of Hilde - a Giant Pacific Octopus. The Aquarium writes: “The Giant Pacific Octopus is an incredibly dedicated ocean mother. After laying 18,000 to 75,000 eggs a female GPO will spend roughly 7 months continually caring for them in her den. The protection and care is so intensive that GPO mothers’ often forgo food for the entire period. By the end of the 7 months, when the eggs begin to hatch, the female will usually die. The average GPO lifespan is 3 years for females, 5 years for males. Hilde will be returned to the wild in June so that she can hopefully have tiny octopus babies of her own some day.”
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
in Seaweed, Inspiration, Ucluelet
Tangled seaweed clusters, decaying and breaking down in the December time period.
Intertidal area of Big Beach, Ucluelet, BC in the May time period.
STUDIO
in Studio
Take a tour around my studio and see the tools I use to make my mixed media collage work.
26 feet long by 16 feet wide
Nature, organic forms, geology and cellular structures inspire my work.
Studio Practices
Mark Making
Drawing is the touchstone of my art practice and involves extensive explorations of mark making in a wide variety of mediums and techniques.
In my current work, I manipulate paper through the unconventional methods of puncturing, smoking, burning, rubbing, cutting and folding. My work is built up in collaged layers creating a sense of textured density.
UCLUELET - BLACK ROCK RESORT - DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2018
We spent a week at the Black Rock at Christmas time. We were booked to stay for two weeks, but due to a huge storm that hit not only the west coast but all parts of Vancouver Island, we had to cut our stay short. to take care of things at home as our power was off.
In our week at Big Beach we had terrific wind storms and big big waves. I had lots of beach finds on this Abalone shells, Red turban snails, mussels, small pieces of scallops that have been worn down with holes from boring sponges, barnacles…After I photograph and draw from the shells, I put them back where I found them.
I set-up my winter studio and got right to work on observing and drawing the shells I had found.
December 18 @ 4:40 pm
December 20th Standing on the black rock cliff about 30 feet above normal wave action. You can see how close it is here.
December 20th. This wave did hit me. Normally the water is about 30 feet lower, that is how big this storm was.
December 22 @ 12:16 pm - The day after the huge storm
Back home and working in the studio
Continued to draw from my seashell collection once we got back home.
Frosty Country Lane Walk in the Cowichan Valley
Concertina Book Making
I had made a lot of my own collage materials for my SeaForms series. Staining rice paper with fluid acrylics and inks, walnut ink and India ink. I also burned holes in the paper, distresed paper, etc. I made this concetina book, also know as an accordion fold with these various papers.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembering those who sacrificed their lives.
MAKE-SHIFT TEXTILES SYMPOSIUM
I participated in a bead workshop by Bev Koski during the Make-Shift Textiles Symposium .
As well I attended a talk and slide show presentation by keynote speaker Barb Hunt titled: “Textiles & War”
This artist talk traced some of the relationships between art, camouflage patterns, nature, and the war society, illustrated with images of Barb Hunt’s work as well as examples of historical and popular culture related to camouflage. As well I participated in a grant-writing workshop with Barb Hunt.
Bev Koski
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
One of my favourite natural specimens are dried up Kelp root-balls. I love to draw these.
