Lucie Bause- Art/Stuff

The Northern Ice Project: Exhibition Invitation

2012-02-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

Cultural Camo Series

2012-02-19T11:26:00.001-08:00

Untitled Works

2012-02-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Tundra Trilogy

2012-02-19T11:23:00.001-08:00

Twenty-Five Snows (based on Jerry Kobalenkos Thirty-Three Snows-Arctic Eden)

2012-02-19T11:22:00.000-08:00

Iceberg Triptych

2012-02-19T11:20:00.001-08:00

north/south I 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south II 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south III 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

Champagne Powder

2011-11-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

Champagne I 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

Champagne 2 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

Champagne 3 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

Champagne 4 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

Champagne 5 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

Champagne 6 8x8 Acrylic on Canvas $200.00

north/south series

2011-11-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

north/south I 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south II 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south III 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

Backcountry Blogging

2011-10-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

October 19-Nov 2/2011
Purcell Mountain Lodge
The unique opportunity to care take this amazing back country lodge came up suddenly, and fortunately, my friend Mark and I were able to clear our schedules to take it! In the week that we have been here so far, the high alpine has transformed from rocky and snow-patchy, to completely covered by fresh champagne snow...in other words, a winter wonderland!

Accessible only by helicopter, Purcell Mountain Lodge is perched at 2200 meters (7200’) atop the high alpine slopes of Bald Mountain, in the Canadian Rockies. On the remote border of Canada’s Glacier National Park, there are over 3000 acres of gently rolling alpine meadows to enjoy and explore. The Lodge offers a ski touring program in the winter, and a hiking program in summer. We have been exploring the area by snowshoes, after taking care of our daily care taking duties, of course!

The Lodge is fascinating as well as beautiful, as it is operated by hydro-electric power generated by a nearby mountain stream. This small stream provides ample electricity and crystal-clear drinking water, as well as central heating and hot showers. Remote and comfortable! This is my second visit to Purcell Mountain Lodge. The first time was March 2010, when I was able to bring my painting supplies and make a number of paintings inspired by the area, including this one...

Altitude Elation II 24x32 Acrylic on Canvas $1500.00

Icebergs.....

2011-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Afloat and a Glide: the Rhythms of Ice, Fogo Island 2009

With thanks to Alberta Foundation for the Arts, summer 2009 found me on Fogo Island, directly in line with Iceberg Alley on Newfoundland’s NE coast. Calving from Greenland into Baffin Bay, these fantastic Icebergs glide, dance and drift along the Labrador Current en route to the Grand Banks, and finally the Atlantic proper.
Leaning on the decks of local fishing boats, I circled and photographed these powerful giants as they bobbed and spun on their journeys to inevitable melt.
It was upon review of my pictures in sequence that the Icebergs adopted a new animation – the rhythm and style and meter and step of an organic waltz; interacting with one another in perfect mathematical grace.
A last dance. This finality touched on both my sentiment and my concern for our environment – particularly the future of our northern ice. Working in the Canadian Landscape tradition, I intend to capture beauty and grace while informing a sense of care and knowledge.

Moonlight Sonata 20x90 Acrylic on Canvas $3900.00

Atlantic Rhythms 30x60 Acrylic on Canvas $3400.00

Indigo Flow 36x72 Acrylic on Canvas $4900.00

Iceberg Dance 30x30 Acrylic on Canvas $1700.00

More Icebergs...

2011-10-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

Daytime Iceberg I 12x16 Acrylic on Canvas $450.00

Daytime Iceberg II 12x16 Acrylic on canvas $450.00

Evening Iceberg I 12x16 Acrylic on Canvas $450.00

Evening Iceberg II 12x16 Acrylic on Canvas $450.00

Arctic Adventure

2011-10-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

September 12-24
I was on an amazing Arctic expedition called Heart of the Arctic offered by Adventure Canada. Our group met in Toronto and flew to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to meet our vessel, the Ocean Nova. For the next 12 days we sailed along the west coast of Greenland and across the Davis Strait to Baffin Island (Nunavut), and northern Quebec (Nunavit). During this time we explored fjords, saw glaciers and icebergs, and picked blueberries while hiking on golden tundra. We visited remote coastal villages and watched local artists engaged in stone carving, tapestry and printmaking. We learned about traditional Inuit life "on the land" and about hunting and fishing camps. We sampled traditional "country foods" such as seal, whale, caribou and muskox, and lots of arctic fish and seafood. We viewed wildlife including seabirds, humpback whales, ringed seals and polar bears. We visited Mallikjuak Inuit archeological site in Cape Dorset and saw Greenland mummies in Nuuk. We had excellent on board lectures and presentations by experts on Inuit art, archeology and culture, Arctic biology and zoology. We had discussion and much insight from local people into contemporary northern issues due to changing climate and environment. We also had inspiring artists, musicians and filmmakers on board including Andrew and Annie Qappik, Mattiusi Iyaituk, JP Hoe and John Houston doing workshops, concerts, screenings and demonstrations. We also enjoyed the company of adventure guide and photographer extraordinaire Mike Beedell.
This was an amazing adventure and incredible learning experience!
I thank the Canada Council for the Arts for supporting my "Northern Ice" project which will use this experience and information as a base to create a series of Arctic-inspired artworks. I also thank Adventure Canada for offering such a safe, enjoyable and well staffed expedition.
I look forward to sharing my photographs and updates of this creative process through my blog, while also preparing for an upcoming public exhibition of this work.

Boreal Forest Bathing

2011-08-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

Boreal Forest Bathing 40x60 Acrylic on Canvas $3500.00

Forest bathing involves visiting a forest for relaxation and recreation while breathing in substances, called phytoncides (wood essential oils), which are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds derived from trees, such as a-pinene and limonene. Incorporating forest bathing into a good lifestyle was first proposed in 1982 by the Forest Agency of Japan. It has now become a recognized relaxation and/or stress management activity in Japan. (Wikipedia)
The Boreal forest in Wood Buffalo Region is vast. Extensive trail systems in Ft. Mc Murray offer quick access, and immediate refuge, from the noisy world of traffic and construction.
Some native species of the Boreal forest include Spruce, Fir, Pine, Aspen, Birch
and Poplar trees. The Canadian boreal region represents a tract of land over 1,000 kilometres wide separating the tundra in the north and temperate rainforest and deciduous woodlands that predominate in the most southerly and westerly parts of Canada. (Wikipedia)

The Athabasca 24x40 Acrylic on Canvas $1600.00

Wood Buffalo Herd

2011-08-07T14:48:00.001-07:00

In this project, I chose to use the wood buffalo image to explore the diversity of the Wood Buffalo Region. The vast Boreal forest, frontier northern culture and active oil industry creates an interesting range of topics to investigate and represent during my stay here. I used a combination of printmaking and mixed media processes to create a series of multiples to allow me to represent these various perspectives within one project.
Borrowing the format of the buffalo “herd” allowed me to create many postcard sized pieces that can both stand-alone to express their individuality, and can also group together to form and create the power and impact of the overall herd.
In my research, I was impressed to learn that the actual herd that live in Wood Buffalo National Park today are the largest free-roaming and self-regulated bison herd in the world. I was also amazed to discover that a re-introduction project started with 30 animals in 1993 on reclaimed land by Syncrude, has now grown to over 300 animals.

I had the opportunity to have a solo exhibition of my artwork at Keyano College Art Gallery during the Events Wood Buffalo InterPLAY Visual and Performing Arts Festival Aug 5-7. These photos show the installation of my buffalo herd (about 80 individuals) and some other paintings in the gallery.

Wood Buffalo

2011-07-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

One with Two Buffalo
12x24 Mixed-Media on Panel
$800.00

Room to Roam
24x48 Mixed-Media on Panel
$2100.00

Skatepark Makeover

2011-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo organized a community weekend event in the Casselman/Lush Skatepark to re-paint the park to create a clean and safe environment for kids to skate and bike in the city centre. The weekend event was organized after the tragic stabbing of twin teenage brothers in Borealis Park in Ft. McMurray last month.

I participated in the event and spray painted a10ft x 6Ft stylized smiling sunshine symbol. This was my first time doing a mural and using spray paint, so there was a lot to learn. It was physically challenging also as the wall is quite curved and steep. I had to to run up it to paint the top parts and still hold the spray cans at the right angle for spraying, while trying not to inhale fumes at the same time, so I have developed a new appreciation for street artists.

I chose the symbol of the sun to represent light and warmth to emphasize the message of safety and visibility in the newly painted park. The northern environment of long summer days is also referenced with the symbol. I hope the freshly painted park warrants respect and a sense of care and safety from residents and visitors alike.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/twin-brothers-killed-in-fort-mcmurray-park/article2078831/

Crane Lake

2011-07-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Crane Lake is located approximately 30km north of Ft. Mc Murray on Highway 63.
It is unusual, as it is a lake and wetland ecosystem which has been created from a retired tar sand mine. It is one of Suncor's (1970's) land reclamation projects in the area, and an interesting example of a human altered landscape.

Crane Lake area currently occupies more than 24 hectares. It is named after the Sandhill Crane, which has been observed in the area, along with many duck species and a toad population. (Crane Lake Facts)
I cannot find confirmation of an official reclamation certificate being issued by the Alberta Government, but it certainly appears to be a natural looking wetland area.

Suncor, Syncrude and Shell are a few of the major oil companies mining in the Athabasca oil sands. "The oil sands companies are required by law to take measures to minimize contamination of, and damage to, the environment. This is done through land reclamation, air and water monitoring. The aim of land reclamation is to restore disturbed land so that it is as productive or more productive than it was before it was mined". (Oil Sands Discovery Centre Fact Sheet- Government of Alberta)

"Since Suncor opened Canada's first oil sands mine in 1967, our operations have disturbed approximately 17,161 hectares of land. As of the end of 2009, the company had reclaimed approximately 1,182 hectares, or about 6.9% of the total land disturbance to date." (Suncor Website)

Reclamation Process:
1- Use tailings sand ("leftover" sand after the oil has been removed) to fill in the mined out areas and then cover it with overburden (the layers of sand, gravel and shale which covered the oil sands before mining began).
2- Replant muskeg and topsoil, so that the area can be reforested.
3- Plant species of trees, grasses and shrubs that are indigenous to the area.
(Oil Sands Discovery Fact Sheet- Environmental Protection- Government of Alberta)

I am fascinated by Crane Lake, the land reclamation process, and by the thousands of blue dragonflies that I encountered during my two visits, and so it became the subject of my first Ft. Mc Murray area painting.

Crane Lake 36x60
Acrylic on Canvas
$3500.00

Petropolis Trailer HD

2011-07-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Canadian Photographer Edward Burtynsky

2011-07-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Exploring the Residual Landscape

Nature transformed through industry is a predominant theme in my work. I set course to intersect with a contemporary view of the great ages of man; from stone, to minerals, oil, transportation, silicon, and so on. To make these ideas visible I search for subjects that are rich in detail and scale yet open in their meaning. Recycling yards, mine tailings, quarries and refineries are all places that are outside of our normal experience, yet we partake of their output on a daily basis.

These images are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. We are drawn by desire - a chance at good living, yet we are consciously or unconsciously aware that the world is suffering for our success. Our dependence on nature to provide the materials for our consumption and our concern for the health of our planet sets us into an uneasy contradiction. For me, these images function as reflecting pools of our times.

www.edwardburtynsky.com

French Elementary students prepared this art video as an assignment after my visit to their English class last year.

2011-07-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Fort Mc Murray

2011-07-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

I have had an exciting first week in Ft. Mc Murray, and have managed to get oriented and settled in my new summer home and studio. My fist impression is that Ft. Mc Murray is a place of great contrast and diversity. It is situated at the confluence of 4 rivers (Athabasca, Clearwater, Horse and Hanging Stone) and surrounded in all directions by trails, muskeg and Boreal forest.

It is also home to the Athabasca oil sands, the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world. This makes Canada's total oil reserves the second largest in the world, after Saudi Arabia.
I have hiked some local trails, and have started to collect some interesting photo references to consider in the studio for upcoming paintings. I visited the Oil Sands Discovery Center and have taken the oil sands tour to Suncor and Syncrude oil plants and reclamation areas. I also got to see a KISS concert on Canada Day.
I feel I have made a good start exploring themes of nature and industry in Ft. Mc Murray area, and am starting to work in the studio now...

PORTALXII-Spiral

2011-07-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Photo taken by Craig Douce from Rocky Mountain Outlook (June 23/2011)
at the unveiling of PORTALXII shows the spiral shaped walkway from above.

Spiral/Helix

While "spiral" and a "helix" are distinct as technical terms, a helix is sometimes described as a spiral in non technical usage. The two primary definitions of a spiral are provided by the American Heritage Dictionary:^[1]

a. A curve on a plane that winds around a fixed center point at a continuously increasing or decreasing distance from the point.
b. A three-dimensional curve that turns around an axis at a varying distance while moving parallel to the axis.

The first definition is for a planar curve that extends primarily in length and width, but not in height. A groove on a record^[2] or the arms of a spiral galaxy (a Logarithmic spiral) are examples of a spiral.

The second definition is for the 3-Dimensional variant of a spiral, for example a conical spring (device) can be described as a spiral whereas a cylindrical spring or strand of a DNA are examples of a helix.^[1]

The length and width of a helix typically remain static and do not grow like on a planar spiral. If they do, then the helix becomes a conic helix. You can make a conic helix with an Archimedean or equiangular spiral by giving height to the center point, thereby creating a cone-shape from the spiral.^[3]

Ammonite/Nautilis

The study of spirals in nature have a long history, Christopher Wren observed that many shells form a logarithmic spiral. Jan Swammerdam observed the common mathematical characteristics of a wide range of shells from Helix to Spirula and Henry Nottidge Moseley described the mathematics of univalve shells. D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson's On Growth and Form gives extensive treatment to these spirals. He describes how shells are formed by rotating a closed curve around a fixed axis, the shape of the curve remains fixed but its size grows in a geometric progression. In some shell such as Nautilus and ammonites the generating curve revolves in a plane perpendicular to the axis and the shell will form a planar discoid shape. In others it follows a skew path forming a helico-spiral pattern.

Artist in Residency

2011-06-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

I will be participating in an Artist in Residency Program organized by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Ft. Mc Murray from June 27 through August 29/2011.

I love the adventure and challenge of entering a different environment and responding to the experience artistically. My plan of activity is to familiarize myself with the environs and community of Ft. McMurray. I will use the residency to observe and identify, and then paint the defining features that make this Albertan landscape unique. I will use photography as part of my process to document the features of the landscape and then take the photos to the studio to work from. I will be working on a series of paintings inspired by the summer landscape of the Fort McMurray area.

This is an exciting opportunity to see, experience and paint Northern Alberta, as well as work in a collaborative studio with four other artists. We will be hosting art workshops, talks and open houses for the community throughout the residency.

http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/living_2227/Culture/Artist-in-Residency-Program.htm

PORTALXII- Public Unveiling

2011-06-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

It is finished...!

What a great opportunity and experience to plan and execute the installation of my first public art project! The unveiling of PORTALXII sculpture is today Friday, June 17 at 5:30-7:30PM.
Please come by if you can...

The tradition of "place marking" is simple, universal and timeless. This meaningful global human legacy includes inscribing the landscape to signify the relationship and use of the environment. Standing Stones, employed as significant place-marking vehicles, are seen in both pre-historical and modern time frames, and their purposes range from spiritual to navigational. PORTALXII design integrates three established place-marking traditions: Stone Rings of the British Isles, Inukshuk of the Arctic region, and Standing Stones of the Japanese Zen Garden. The arrangement of the standing stones of PORTALXII is designed in a spiral shape (helix) which references patterns in nature and also invites physical interaction.

PORTALXII features unique, hand-picked, locally quarried Rundle Rock from Kamenka Quarry to specifically reference Canmore's unique community and history, while also honoring the universal human need for place-marking to communicate a sense of place and relationship to the environment. This design is an engaging testament to the relationship between Canmore residents, community and environment, and offers an experience to contemplate our place within the context of human history.

CAUTION: WET PAINT!

2011-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Article by Hamish McLean in Canmore Leader (Wed, May 11)

http://www.canmoreleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3119562