Emma gerard
Even though today was my first jewellery class, I finally have some weaving photos to post! First we have the loom (which I setup all by myself this time, with only a little bit of cursing....)
Though not the straightest.... I am having lots of fun just playing around with colours and patterns and just getting used to what the loom can do!
I have been in Halifax for over a week now, it's all been kind of a whirlwind. Dad and I started driving on August 30th. "Travaux" was the word of the day driving through Quebec.
Arriving in Nova Scotia on the 31st after a night of rest in Edmundson, NB.
This is the view from the ceramics studio at NSCAD's Port campus. During most of the class there was a cruise ship parked in front of the window, but once it moved along the amazing view with the cute little lighthouse was finally revealed.
Tonight's sunset from my apartment!
I am still settling in and getting used to the city and getting used to being back in the routine of school. But I absolutely love it so far, and I am quite sure that going back to school will be the best decision I have ever made.
I am going to try and keep this up to date as best I can throughout the school year, hopefully with lots of pictures of what I am working on... some will follow shortly I am sure.
So what an adventure in British Columbia. I arrived an hour before the big game started... Traffic was a mess, but thankfully I was safe and sound in New Westminster and not downtown in the riots. Everything there was beautiful, and despite people telling me I would never want to leave and would forget all about going to the East Coast. Quite the contrary though, if anything it made me even more eager to head out East. Anyway lots of amazing hero quests were had by all. Can't wait for my friends from the West Coast to come visit me on the other side!
Totally loved all of these sculptures.
English Bay at sunset!
Cool sculpture at English bay
I love this sculpture so much, it's a good thing I saw it when I did because apparently they have moved it to a different location....
A view from inside!
Fun on a tractor at Birchwood Dairy (where they had some of the best ice cream I have ever had)
Sonya couldn't reach the water at Cultus Lake.
Cultus Lake was really pretty, it was great too because Sonya and I were pretty much the only people around so it was really peaceful and great.
Harrison Hot Springs. The water was apparently 140 degrees.
New-Small & Sterling!
Found this on a bench on Granville Island. True story.
White Rock, BC! It was really pretty there, could have done with a little bit more sun though.
Some sand castle madness in White Rock.
Fun in Stanley Park!
My lovely glassy friend Amanda Parker and I on our adventure in Stanley Park. With our incredible senses of direction combined we inadvertently walked around the whole thing. Took us about two hours. Thankfully we were both wearing sensible shoes!
Sunrise (yes, I was up that early) in New Westminster!
On the ferry to Bowen Island!
Snug Cove! Bowen Island is one of my new favourite places ever. So beautiful, and the locals were so friendly!
If there is a candy store... I will find it.....
Amazing look out point we found on Bowen Island. So beautiful and peaceful (once the guy with the pressure washer stopped) a great spot for inspiration and chatting!
Lake Killarney on Bowen Island.
Cute little squirrel in Kelowna.
Mountains begin the journey/road trip home. My friend Karen and I did the 4200 km drive in three days. Three long days.
Alberta!
Officially in the prairies!
Beautiful sky in the prairies. I actually really loved how beautiful it was there.
Rainbow halo - quite possibly one of the coolest things I have ever seen.
Finally getting closer to our destination! If only we were able to fast forward through the last stretch of the QEW and avoided all the traffic!
Every year the Living Arts Centre has an exhibition to showcase the talent of the artists in the Resident Artist program. Our theme this year was collaboration, which at first seemed daunting, but for me turned into one of my favourite things I have ever done. My dear friend (and mixed media aficionado) Christina Tatarnic and I came together and created: The Kit™. Quite simply The Kit™ is a comment on the struggle and pitfalls of dating, as well as a collaborative effort to become more self aware.
Here is The Kit™ completely installed. Perfectly compartmentalized for our convenience.
A peak inside at one of my favourite parts: the LoveMonkey-Cam.
Another important element of The Kit™: the nurturing test.
Christina and I were thrilled at the positive reception we have received so far about The Kit™. It's been such a great experience working with her on this. Best collaboration partner EVER!
Now for the rest of the show. Here are my favourite pieces. Enjoy!
Memory, by textile artist Pat Hertzberg and Fausta Facciponte
Fantastic concrete bench by furniture resident Jean Willoughby, and textile artist Liz Aston
Beautiful necklace collaboration by glass artist Kyle Harrison, and jewellery artist Gillian Batcher. The crocheted silver leaves are so delicate and fantastic.
Simple, yet very elegant lights by Dylan McKinnon and Jordan Murphy.
Alex Anagnostou took a different approach than most. Rather than collaborate with another artist, she teamed up with a microbiologist.
Prairie View bench, by Lucy Roussel and Diane Froh
And finally the big team collaboration by glass artists Jeff MacIntosh, Paula Vandermey, Joseph di Lorenzo, and ceramicist Jolanta Jung. Just because Paula was so amused by the fact that I called her work in the RA show last year "epic" I will do it again. This piece is epic. It was so great to see four people with very different aesthetics come together to create such a beautiful and interesting piece.
Well after a lot of waiting I finally got the news I wanted to hear. I have a plan for September! Back to school it is! I was accepted into the jewellery program at NSCAD (the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design). To say I am thrilled is an understatement. The possibilities are so exciting and I am so happy to be taking this next step in my career. Plus, as you can see from my last post, Halifax is fantastic.
More things that make it fantastic:
This amazing used bookstore on Barrington Street.
The Public Gardens
Theodore Tugboat! Oh... and the ocean!
Now, to find a pub that has chicken fingers....
I got one of these for Christmas (an orange + blue raspberry one). It's fantastic.
All the different flavours:
pineapple + cherry
green apple + cherry
orange + blue raspberry
lemon + orange
blue raspberry + cherry
This worm is 128 times bigger than a regular gummy worm and weighs 3 pounds.
Amazing.
I know this has nothing to do with glass, but I am very proud of it and it took me forever to finish, so I had to post it.
11 months
320 crocheted flowers
1 flower = 20 minutes
285 crocheted connections to attach them all together
lord knows how many visits to Michael's & Romni Wools......
DONE!
When I was going through the photos I took of the studio tour, I came across photos of my solo show at the Launch Projects gallery last summer. Figured I'd post them here, why not, right?
spare tire award
beer belly championship belt
(to the amusement of my friends I wore this at one point at my opening)
miss butterface crown
breadsticks & sausage fingers
turkey neck award
buddha belly & junk in the trunk
camel toe, cue ball, flapjacks, muffin top and cottage cheese!
tribute to the horse faced woman
chicken legs
So this year I got a project grant from the Ontario Arts Council. Here are some photos of a few of the things I have been working on.........
I didn't take as many pictures as I should have of the show and my neighbours... but here are the few I did take.
rising stars!
back of my booth
display in the front
One of my wonderful neighbour's Cristina and the Textile Platypus booth - so many bunnies!
I squealed with delight when I got there on Wednesday morning and saw that she had tiny bunnies. So cute, and wonderfully handmade.
Cristina with her new monkey from Amanda at Denture Thief Productions.
My other lovely neighbour Avril Loretti. She has some really great stuff, including tote bags with a sprinkle donuts on it. I love mine :)
My neighbour to the back Alexandra Veilleux and her beautiful hand woven scarves.
One of my neighbours across the aisle Dan of Guy Incognito makes amazing and fun spun metal cases. I have a blue nubby one and my apples will never be bruised again!
Dan and his wife Melissa (who makes beautiful porcelain tableware) were great company during the show. I was so lucky to be surrounded by such great people at the show, they all made it fun to come in day after day.
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