and now for something completely different

The End is Neigh or What's Up

2011-07-05T17:13:00.002-03:00

And now that I have your attention, the end happened for the previous blog look and it has been updated. Much better IMHO.

The important things are what's happening now and soon:

The Barracks Shops are open again this year and I am back in the Garrison Studio shop. Stop in. The shops are all local artisan work and it is Fredericton's best kept secret.

The New Brunswick Crafts Council is having its annual fine craft show and sale in the Rothesay Commons this weekend, July 9 (10-6) & 10 (11-5). It took me awhile to make up my mind about going but some friends talked me into it. Assuming that they will still be friends on Sunday night since we are all bunking in and travelling together for the show.

Fredericton Pride is presenting the Alt + ♥ Art Market at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on July 30th. Should be a fun event with art, music and craft from 1-4 and portions of the sale proceeds going to Pride.

The NBCC is also going to host a Biennale show at Government House this year from 14 July to 25 August. I'm submitting, so with any luck, I'll also be exhibiting.

And on the visual art front, I've been hitting the ink pretty hard lately and have some cool stuff happening. Prints are for sale at the Garrison shop and will be at the Alt+♥ market too. At the moment I am contemplating what to do for the "Lost and Found" exhibition at the Arts Centre.

Lastly, there is a new craft show in town with the Fredericton Fall Craft Show, October 1&2. Mailed my application yesterday.

One of these days I'll bring you up to date on the past year. It's been a wild ride.

News - Old and New

2010-07-22T10:30:00.002-03:00

Downtown Fredericton has restarted their Thursday afternoon artisans market in the Wilmot Alley that runs between King and Queen Streets. It's a pleasant little market with all hand made craft, visual artworks and music. Worth dropping in to see between 4 and 8, if not to see me, than to see the other artisans or listen to some cool beats. Rain location for days like today is King's Place Mall center court.

The Fredericton Arts Alliance, that has been providing a summer residency program for a number of years, is holding their residencies at the York Sunbury Museum this summer. Located in gorgeous downtown Fredericton's Historic District, and it's not hard to find which of the 2 city blocks it's on.

My residency starts on Saturday July 24th. My residency partner for the week is Leigh Merritt, a talented potter that I had the pleasure of working with last summer at the casemates. I am looking forward to seeing what Leigh has planned for the week, while I am wracking my brain for inspiration regarding the word "Metamorphosis" for the upcoming Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia's annual competition and exhibition.

River Valley Craft Show

2010-07-05T11:21:00.004-03:00

All good things must come to an end and something else will refresh it and take its place.

Those of us that are fortunate enough to participate in the first River Valley Craft Show are hoping for a glorious weather day on Saturday July 10th in Quispamsis, New Brunswick as we take over the Art and Culture Park at 12 Landing Court.

This show will be fine craft as it is only juried members of the New Brunswick Crafts Council. This show is effectively replacing the Rothesay Fine Crafts Festival which didn't happen to get off the ground this year.

See you there.

Cynthia's in Jewelry - Cynthia Himmelsbach

2010-03-30T10:23:00.003-03:00

In returning to our regularly scheduled programming, this morning's find is Cynthia Himmelsbach of California.

As a side, one of the interesting things that I have noted in this journey to find Cynthias is that it is often very hard to figure out where the artist is from. This particular one doesn't have an address listed, let along town. The only clue is the statement on sales tax being charged in the state of California.

This particular Cynthia has used her childhood interest in beads as a stepping stone to her work in jewellery. She also took advantage of her 30 year career as a flight attendant to "bring home interesting findings, beads and rare objects from all over the world". She cited her job flexibility as a contributor to her ability to pursue her jewellery studies in "beading, wire-wrapping and metalsmithing".

I do like her work, it is organic in nature and ethnically inspired.

"Sea Wheel Ring"

Enjoy and until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

News Round-up

2010-03-23T10:19:00.002-03:00

We will returned to our regularly scheduled programming next week, but there were just too many fun titbits in the news this morning for me to ignore this opportunity to share...

Everyone is going green, including the Indian military which is set to weaponize the world's hottest chili as a form of non-toxic tear gas... I'd say that's rather cool, except the pepper measures in at more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, so that's hot, hot, hot and then some.

Now this headline got my attention: You have to go through Murder to get to Purgatory, and it lead to this web which has the entire quiz on oddly named places. I've always liked oddly named places.

Spice adds life too apparently, not that some things aren't the spice of life, but cinnamon is really good for you, which means that I now have a perfectly good scientific excuse to have my cinnamon-sugared toast in the morning.

Lastly on the fun side was a little article on an Argentinian vegetarian spider, who knew?

Cynthia's in Jewelry - Cynthia Nash

2010-03-16T10:44:00.004-03:00

Cynthia Nash is a jewellery designer from Nashville, Tennessee who uses Swarovski crystals in her designs.

The collection that caught my eye was "My Aunt Grace" where she states "She loved amethyst, and I loved her. It is simply wonderful, just like "my Aunt Grace."" My great Aunt Grace loved her amethyst as well. I remember as a child staring into her jewel box and admiring the amethyst rings and earrings. She had collected a couple of stunner's, which now would be antique, as they certainly would have been vintage already.

My Aunt recently passed away one day shy of her 92nd birthday on the 10th of March. She was the dynamic spinster aunt, who travelled around the world and worked across Canada. She was a women's liberationist before anyone really knew what the word meant. Married at 16, soon with 2 children, and separated from an incredibly abusive husband in her very early 20's; she made a decision to live and left her small rural Nova Scotia home for Halifax where she started in domestic services and then moved on to nurse's training and worked in the mental hospital. From there she worked in the 'old ladies' home', went to Windsor, NS for another job, so that she could be closer to her own family. When her mother died there was no great need to stay in the area, so she left for the west. Working with the First Nations youth in the Yukon, then Manitoba, then a girl's school in Ontario, and finally ending up at a very exclusive girl's school in Vancouver. After retirement, she returned to Windsor, Nova Scotia.

I adored her. The only glitch in our relationship occurred in the late 80's, when it was disclosed that her son was one of Canada's more notable poets and a long-time writer in residence at UNB. Those were difficult years and I mourned her passing long before it happened. We made up in recent years and had some nice visits. I will always be grateful for her influence and her assertion that not every woman is maternal material. I will always be grateful for the advice to follow your heart and your dreams. Life is richer because she lived.

Stumbling upon Cynthia Nash's collection for "My Aunt Grace" is rather serendipitous.

Until next Tuesday...

Cynthia's in Jewelry - Cynthia Bloom

2010-03-09T05:33:00.001-04:00

Today's hunt turned up Cynthia Bloom Collectible Jewelry.

Cynthia Bloom of Austin, Texas, started her work in jewellery in 2001 when she reconstructed a vintage glass bead necklace and started to sell her pieces at the restaurant where she worked. She now has a good distribution of retail stores across the US through her wholesale efforts.

She focuses on using vintage, antique and rare Austrian, Czechoslovakian and Italian glass and crystals. There is a nice section on bead history on her web.

It is the vintage/antique glass that makes these pieces interesting and give, what could look like the more ordinary contemporary beading, a splashy and unique flare.

So until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

Cynthia's in Jewelry - Cynthia Gale

2010-03-02T08:38:00.004-04:00

A brilliant thought hit me on the weekend: blog about other Cynthia's that make and/or design jewelry. Not a hard thing to find really, looks like there are a lot of us. It will be a rather fun adventure meandering around the web seeing what other Cynthia's do.

The first hit this morning yielded "Cynthia Gale", a Manhattan-based jewelry designer, who has designed a line of sterling silver work for the New-York Historical Society.

To quote the press release: "
Manhattan-based sterling silver jewelry designer, Cynthia Gale, is creating a buzz with her new Signature Collection, The City That Never Sleeps. The result of a collaboration with the New-York Historical Society, the jewelry is an aesthetic tribute to the New-York Historical Society’s Irving Browning collection, which consists of 1,885 gelatin silver photographic prints and ephemera relating to his career as a photographer and cinematographer."

Here is Cynthia Gale's site: Geo Art

So until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

Free Speech in Canada?

2010-03-01T09:48:00.003-04:00

A couple of things crossed my computer screen this morning as I was scanning the news...

I'll start with a disclaimer, I am not of Israeli descent, nor of Palestinian... I am Canadian, and perhaps the reason why reading these news blurbs is so troubling today is that Canadian Pride and Patriotism is at a pretty substantial high right now with a record number of Gold medals at the just closed Vancouver Olympics. On a personal level I have stayed away from the politics of the Israeli/Palestinian debate. I always figured their political issues were theirs and didn't involve me regardless of how fair or unfair I feel certain political actions are or how many friends or colleagues I may have of either descent.

I'm a bit of an history buff too, and I see a similar strain of events having occurred in a particular European country in the 1930's... only this time it's different, it's current history and it's in the democracy of Canada.

First I would like to draw your attention to the arts news: Artists Unite to Protest Israeli Apartheid. I have no issue with artists standing up for what they believe in or feel. In fact art is one of the first areas that often shows, through literature, film, visual art forms, and music, sea-changes that are occurring in our national and international social milieu.

...but that isn't really the headline or story that got me, this is... Parliament to Vote on Tory Motion Against Free Speech By Corvin Russell, March 1, 2010. At first glance I was thinking that this was occurring in some back-water, non-progressive, democratic-in-name only nation that wasn't in this hemisphere. Opps, wrong! It's Canada, my home nation, my pride and joy, a bastion of free speech and democracy even if we have been legislating gun ownership since the 30's and been actively trying to disarm sane Canadian citizens for the past 25 years.

So here's my problem... being a self-absorbed Canadian and not really having given Israel or Palestine a passing glance for their conflicts... We have provincial and federal Parliamentarians bringing bills forward that will restrict the hard fought and hard won rights (through the battles of World War 2) to maintain democratic free speech in Canada, where we can as Canadians support any religion, ideology, political theory without fear of repercussion provided that we aren't being nasty and violent while we are protesting or supporting the ideology.

Seems to me that the some twisted up German psychopath went to work at first disarming the country's law-abiding citizens, picking out the troublemakers and having them quietly disposed of, stifling free speech by passing legislation in whatever their Parliamentary system was, segregating the population, and hosting some Olympic games in the late 30's. We called them Nazi's when we fought them in WW2 and lost 46,998 of the 2.5million Canadians that were enlisted in the effort.

I fear that we have started down a slippery slope that has nothing to do with skiing, sledding or skating.

When it happens in Canada, what are we going to call them?

I also wonder if I am still allowed to ask that question?
--

Spring & Fall Fashion Round-up

2010-02-23T06:52:00.000-04:00

Pantone has worked their usual magic and recently released their 2010 Fall Fashion Colour Report. The hot colours are:

PANTONE 13-0632 Endive

PANTONE 15-1050 Golden Glow

PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral

PANTONE 19-1764 Lipstick Red

PANTONE 18-3027 Purple Orchid

PANTONE 19-1526 Chocolate Truffle

PANTONE 16-5418 Lagoon

PANTONE 18-0538 Woodbine

PANTONE 14-1107 Oyster Gray

PANTONE 14-1307 Rose Dust

You can grab a copy of the free report here. It's a fun document because not only to you get an explanation of the colours but there are pages of fashion design where designers like Simmons of Baby Phat show a design concept in a particular colour. This may prove to be a useful tool for anyone planning a colour series for jewelry projects.

In reading the Spring 2010 Fashion Report from Bloomingdale's article on the Fashion Newspaper there is a predicted focus on wrist-wear and Lucite for the Spring 2010 season to go with the new leather shorts that you picked up to go with that great suit jacket.

Until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

Fringed Earrings

2010-02-16T06:13:00.004-04:00

I remember making earrings out of fish lures years ago, more as a joke than anything. I also used feather fishing flies. Always removed the hook mind you and they always sold.

Fashion will always produce the last laugh by ensuring that the currently fashionable fringed earrings that are sported on celebs actually look a lot like fishing lures and sell for way more money.

Here's some fine examples of the fringe look that don't actually look as much like lures as some of the others on the market.

These are the Rachel Leigh Earring Pyramid Fringe Earrings. Cool, simple and elegant.

Have a fun week, and until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

Unusual Fashion Trends

2010-02-09T10:04:00.006-04:00

Trends are an interesting thing to watch. They are sometimes fleeting and low cost, and other times, trendy items actually 'take' with the fashion audience and stick around for ages. Things that never seem to go out of style are classic trench coats or pearls, they just ebb and flow in the quantity and quirkiness.

Now the unusual fashion trends are fun to watch because one never really knows where it is going to go. Spotted the following article this morning:

Unusual Fashion Trends

Some may see the latest fashion trends as unusual or maybe just different from the norm. Either way, popular styles can stay or fade away faster than a pair of worn-out stonewash jeans. Some recent “unusual” fashion trends include:

* Makeup for Men: Makeup is no longer a tool for women to enhance their beauty. Men are now using makeup, too. Many men use everything from foundation to eye liner. While it seemed the norm for rock stars and news anchors to wear makeup, now more and more men are using cosmetics.

Yes, I am seeing this a bit more and more in the local club scene where it doesn't seem to be just the domain of the Goth or Emo youth anymore.

* 'Hello Kitty' Jewelry for Adults: Hello Kitty has advanced from school supplies, stuffed animals and stickers to products for adults as well. There is a Hello Kitty-themed MasterCard, kitchen toasters, Bluetooth® head sets and diamond jewelry.

Scary but true, this has been an ongoing trend in the fashion forward jewelry magazines for at least 2 years. I also know that at least 5 years ago, someone re-skinned one of the guns for Unreal Tournament '04, and made an "Hello Kitty" version.

* Multi-colored Manicures: Celebrities such as Rihanna and Lindsay Lohan are oftentimes seen wearing a different color of polish on each fingernail polish.

Seeing this more and more too but it still seems to be in the domain of youth.

* Skinny Jeans for Men: Similar to makeup, skinny jeans started as a fashion trend for women. Now, men are shopping brands like Gap and Levi Strauss for jeans with tapered legs and narrow ankles.

Not for general use in this neck of the woods yet, but is visible in the club scene on a lot of ages.

* Liquid Leggings: This look is part of the rock star style. Liquid leggings are a leather version of the common Lycra or nylon stretch pants.

Leather leggings, bring 'em on. Far more durable then the other materials that have been popular in the last couple of years.

This article is presented by IADT – Nashville. Contact us today if you’re interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program from IADT – Nashville.

Have a fun week, and until next Tuesday, go browse the web.

Charlottetown, The Guardian: Business | Handmade necklaces recognized as best new product at P.E.I. Craft & Giftware Buyers' Market Awards

2010-01-30T08:20:00.000-04:00

Rather nice kudo's for some collaborative work with Royal Glass Designs in PEI. I am happy for the recognition that Marcela is receiving and I am thrilled to work with her and her glass pieces.

Charlottetown, The Guardian: Business | Handmade necklaces recognized as best new product at P.E.I. Craft & Giftware Buyers' Market Awards

Planning

2010-01-04T11:08:00.004-04:00

Warning: I am navel-gazing today.

It's time for the word "planning" again. In the latter part of the year, it gets too busy to plan and I find myself on autopilot based on the plans from the first half.

I have almost printed my 2010 calendar where I have started to plot in the events for the 1st quarter. These include meetings and parties and appointments that I know about already. Show dates are getting penciled in for the year too. Classes will be added to the calendar as we go along.

The hardest is scheduling the not fun part of the work, that's the stuff that has nothing to do with being social or creative, like paperwork and planning, but still has to be done. One thing though that I have learned over the years is to schedule about 2.5 times more time for the job than what I initially estimate it taking. That allows time for errors, corrections, distractions, disturbances and just generally underestimating the work to begin with. It's pretty bang on for me at 2.5 times.

One of my main objectives for this month is cleaning out the magazines that have accumulated in the studio. This is something that I have been putting off - do I toss them completely into the recycle bin, or take the time to go back through them and clip the articles that may contain useful information? How much time do I want to spend on this becomes the real crux of the matter for me. I want the shelves for books, but I also want the information, but that means finding a way to file it so that it is still not consuming double digit feet of shelf space. Arghh... it's just a matter of time until what to do with this gets figured out, in the meantime, I am doing a Frenchy's run on Thursday.

Oh yes, Happy New Year, by the way.

--

ROFL

2009-12-27T22:43:00.002-04:00

I'll admit to a slightly... OK... I'll admit to a really twisted sense of humour sometimes... OK... most of the time. I admit to surfing the web for chuckles now and again... OK... a lot. Just stumbled across the Friends of Irony site.

There are only 3 pages of images so far, but I hurt from laughing. It'll be on my daily laugh rounds now. I need the giggles in order to recover from reading the news. The irony is that I could avoid wasting time on sites like that if only I didn't spend my time reading the news...hmmmmm.

White Christmas

2009-12-25T16:23:00.005-04:00

Hope that it has been a very Merry one for you.

The weather has blessed us with a completely white Christmas as can be evidenced by the following pictures.

This is a view from the front of the house where the gardens are now well insulated awaiting spring.

One of my favorite subjects: Sumak blossoms.

Looking into the woods from the drive.

And another favorite subject: the Witch Hazel, the blooms still look good despite being coated in ice and snow.
--

Ottawa Bound

2009-12-04T07:39:00.002-04:00

That's right. Leaving today to head for calm town, Ontario. Spend a couple of days with a friend and then hie of to Ottawa on the 8th for set-up in the 9th and be ready for the start of the Originals show on the 10th at Lansdowne Park.

Show runs from December 10 - 20 with Monday the 14th as a day off.

Looking forward to the adventure again.

Going Political 3

2009-11-25T08:59:00.004-04:00

Adam Lambert at the American Music Awards

I am all for equality, you may have already figured that out if you've been reading regularly.

For years, women have been breaking barriers in the music industry through their choices of costuming and dance and through their overt portrayal of female sexuality. Way to go ladies, we have succeed in becoming hot objects of lust. Now we have a man attempting to do exactly what the women have been doing ever since Madonna donned her Gaultier corset and it is completely unacceptable, bad TV, too sexy, too raunchy, and just too much for North American media to wrap its brains around.

If we can, as a culture, accept and objectify women as sexual creatures via music, movies, TV, readily accessible soft-porn as movies, books, magazines, why is it so terrible that a man would want to be objectified in the same manner as his female musical predecessors?

You tell me... because I don't understand.
--

Something For Me

2009-11-12T08:49:00.003-04:00

In an unusual turn of events, I made a piece of jewellery just for me. The only pendants of my own that I wear are because the stone is chipped and happened in the setting process and I am uncomfortable selling it that way.

A friend blessed me with this lovely piece of Baltic Amber that was acquired in Istanbul and given to the friend and mentor of my friend. From the moment he passed it to me, I knew that I wanted to set it and wear it for me. I also wanted to include the chakra colours in the setting.

It is comfortable and joyful to wear this piece.
--

Going Political 2

2009-11-10T10:46:00.004-04:00

From CBC News

Vandals damage Fredericton cenotaph

Members of Fredericton's Royal Canadian Legion are asking vandals who destroyed part of the city's cenotaph to turn themselves in as the organization prepares for Remembrance Day.

Jean-Guy Perrault, the president of Branch 4 of the Royal Canadian Legion, arrived at the cenotaph on Monday morning to decide where to place the crosses for Wednesday's Remembrance Day ceremony. That's when he noticed that the cenotaph had been heavily damaged in places.

"I almost fell on my knees. It hurt. Like I said … how can people sleep at night who did that — for the poor soldiers who fought for our country, for what we have that is so beautiful," Perrault said.

The cenotaph is the site of the main Remembrance Day event in the provincial capital. A three-metre-high granite cross atop the monument was toppled to the ground and smashed into pieces.

David Smith, who worked with the Royal Canadian Legion on the cenotaph project, said it will be difficult to explain to veterans when they arrive on Nov. 11 why this vandalism took place.

"I think its devastating to take into consideration the number of fallen people that we've had and this is a heck of a way to remember them and at this time of the year," Smith said.

"And to devastate this particular monument is terrible."

Perrault said while he thinks the cenotaph can be fixed, he wants the vandals to step forward.

"Please come forward, excuse yourself, the damage is done … come forward, why did you do that," Perrault said.

"Please I'm begging, come to the legion, come talk to me, please. My heart is broken, really broken."

Fredericton police are investigating.

---

I am disgusted with this act of vandalism. If it was true vandalism, why not do it Halloween weekend? Why wait until the week of Remembrance Day? My personal opinion is that was done as an anti-war statement against Canada's contribution to the NATO war effort in Afghanistan.

My personal feelings on the war have varied over the years and I am finding that I disagree more and more with the Canada's policies on the war effort as there are things that could have been done differently far sooner to have made more significant and stronger impacts on the war and in Afghanistan. My issue is with the politicians who make the decisions, not with the troops who serve.

The troops who serve, are men and women who enlisted in the CF for a job. They didn't know what the job could be.

20 years ago it was all peace-keeping, either UN or NATO led. Peace-keeping presented its own issues to our troops who were situated in the Balkans and Kosovo in the early 90's. It was a violent situation, rife with human abuses and because it was peace-keeping, there was no way to engage the 'enemy' to make them stop raping and torturing. Perhaps being able to stop the abuse with the shoot-first policy of war is better?

Since 2002 it has been a NATO led war. Some of our CF members that are serving and have served in Afghanistan signed up well before 9/11 was ever thought possible, some signed on after because 9/11 was reality.

I will continue to support our troops because they are doing a job, just like you & me. I am sure that they are not always thrilled with their job everyday, like us, but everyday they go and they do what they are asked by the "Boss". In their situation, the Boss happens to be the Canadian Government, the Canadian Government was elected by the people of Canada, ergo, they work for us so we damn well better realize that until we choose a government that will treat our employees better, that we should stand behind them and show them our support.

Bluntly, we put the politicians in the Parliament that put the troops in Afghanistan so regardless of how we voted last time and feel about the war effort, as citizens of a free and democratic nation; thank you to all World War Vets for that, and to all since who have fought, died, been wounded, kept the peace, seen the worst and best of humanity for making Canada the nation that she is; we have a right to bitch about it but we don't have a right to destroy and degrade.

I miss my friend that is currently serving oversees. Stay safe, stay well and regardless, you are remembered.

What a difference....

2009-11-07T10:57:00.006-04:00

... a year can make.

I shot some nature photos this time last year and posted them here. I went back to a couple of the same places and re-shot the same formations. The most intriguing is the fungus formation on the stump, the amount of decay over a year is significant but more interesting still is the new life that is growing with it.

This is the entire top part of the stump. The hole in it is greatly enlarged.

This is the new fungal growth. It wasn't there in the photo from this spring.

This is the old growth which itself has started to decay. Instead of the rich browns and greys that it held last year, a portion of it is blackening and there are distinct bands of green forming in the growth. It is also sprouting its own fungal growth that is new on feeding on its decay.

On the 5th I took shots of the witch hazel, which is exactly one year ago from the previous images of it in bloom. The blossoms were well formed and fresh.

Today I snapped the blooms again and the frost from last night is starting to shrivel them a bit more. The flowers are such fringed little things, not much more than 2-3cm in size when fully extended.

It was cold enough last night to produce one more thing that fascinates in the late fall: hoar frost.

Small fragile crystal flowers of ice and soil.

Cascading upwards over small pebbles, bearing the weight of the disturbed earth on the tips.

Moss growths on maple bark.

Bright holly berries and the ruddy leaves of impending winter.

A completely accidental shot. The bright sunlight behind the aging sumac blossom imparts an ethereal quality to an otherwise ordinary entity.

--

Suffice it to say that the natural world is not the only place where a year or even a few days has made evident changes. One of these days when I am not so fascinated with the visual I may write about it.

--

Show Season

2009-11-02T22:12:00.002-04:00

It's that crazy part of the year with only 52 days left till Christmas.

There are three big shows coming up in the next short while. Prince Edward Island Crafts Council show in Charlottetown 13-15 November, and the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Show 20-22 November. Back to back weekends away.

There is the potential of a fashion show on the 28th and there are classes to teach in the midst of all this.

December brings the Ottawa Originals Show for 10 glorious days of Christmas shopping from the 10th -20th. Just remember that show is closed on the 14th.

I am looking forward to seeing friends and regular clients at the shows and hopefully having a bit of time to catch up with a few of the denizens we count as dear friends in each of the cities.

--

"Digital Strangelove"

2009-10-29T10:26:00.001-03:00

When I came across this, I thought it was an interesting perspective on the message and medium concept of Marshall McLuhan.

There is no question that in the past 15 years that the net has affected our social norms and our business structures. It has affected how we gather media and in turn treat it as a social object to be shared with our ever expanding circle of friends on networking sites.

Change is afoot. We are living in interesting times.

Digital Strangelove (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Internet)

View more documents from David Gillespie.

--

Note From a Friend

2009-10-26T10:26:00.002-03:00

"Hey, by the way, I am a fan of you! I was looking at your website and I like what I see. The way you describe your work and what it means to you is really well put together. Most of all, what gets to me at my core is the way you talk about beauty, hidden beauty. There is something I get on a deep level. It is there in your jewelry pieces and it is there in your aura, as well."

I just got this note from friend who is a very spiritual person, and I like him a lot. He's a powerful person, but quiet and I appreciate the level of introspection that he has given to his life. His note has let me know that the artist's statement of why I do what I do has some meaning. It may not make sense to everyone, but at least makes sense to someone.

The statement came out of a lot of self-examination. I could have gone on about pretty rock and loving colour, which I did for awhile, but for myself to truly know why I do this, I had to look at myself.

The past ten years have contained some of the best and worst of what has happened in my life, severe depression cycles, wonderful up times, end of a marriage and meeting and marrying one person who loves to loves me as I am. Getting instant family, giving up a business, and starting another. Mourning losses and finding myself. Gaining weight, then loosing it, keeping it off. Getting older, getting wiser. Being shy and learning to act so that no one needs to know. Closing up, closing myself off, isolating, and deciding that that is not the right path. Opening up, making the decision to connect. Reconnecting with old friends and making new friends, meeting people, jumping out of my comfort zone. Trying new foods, going places, getting dressed up, getting out. Finding out that I am beautiful, not in the fashion magazine sense of the word, but in my own very unique, individual way. Beautiful, when I let myself love and share and talk and show my inner nature.

So in response to my friend: ... thank you. I am truly honoured that you are a fan.

The whole thing of beauty, and inner beauty especially, stems from 'ugly duckling' issues. I suspect that even the most physically beautiful people have them too. On the technical side, gems are graded for their beauty and the realization is that none are perfect. There are invisible to the naked eye flaws, discolourations, problems with size or cut. A physically beautiful gem stone may have been chemically treated in some way to give it the appearance of perfection, but inside, under a microscope, it is a mass of fractures. An ordinary rock that on the outside looks worn, cracked, uneven, ugly, can have the most beautiful natural crystals or colours or patterns. This is humanity and unfortunately we rarely allow ourselves to get close enough to others to find their inner beauty and more importantly, we rarely spend the time on ourselves to realize that we are beautiful. Discovering that we are is a remarkable thing.

I am very happy you that you are reaching new levels in your meditations. You are a beautiful person and it only adds to your quiet power.

Talk soon, stay well.
Cheers,
Cynthia

--
It is through art, and through art only, that we can realize our perfection.. - Oscar Wilde

Art Trek Gala Opening

2009-10-13T08:30:00.004-03:00

“HIGH ON THE ARTS”

7-11pm Friday, October 16

Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Fredericton

An evening of music & dance, food & drink, including an auction of fine art.

The evening celebrates Fredericton and its artists and is the launch of ART TREK, a weekend when local artists open their studios to visitors from far and wide, showing us just how art is made!

Organized by the Fredericton Arts Alliance, ART TREK provides a map and addresses of all the studios. The launch includes singers, dancers and instrumentalists. Proceeds of the auction will help sponsor the Art Trek and its promotion.

Take part in a lively auction of works by Fredericton artists including: Judy Blake, Karen Burk, Marjory Donaldson, Lorna Drew, Katie FitzRandolph, Kim Vose Jones, Paula Keppie, Stephen May, Deanna Musgrave, Cynthia Ryder, George Strunz, and others, including a piece by our fabulous guest auctioneer Brigitte Clavette.

Enjoy live music and dance with pianist\Geraldine Mitchell, soprano Cathy LeBlanc, Artemis Dance, tenor Derrick Miller and pianist Diane Roxborough-Brown, poet Andrew Titus, Highland dancers, and more. Conclude your evening by dancing to some wonderful tunes!

Treat yourselves to gourmet nibbles, fine wines, and Picaroons excellent beer. (Your ticket will provide you with a free drink, after which there will be a cash bar.)

Tickets, $35 per person:

Available at Westministers books, from FAA Board members, or at the door. Call 454-1139, 455-8045

Organized by the Fredericton Arts Alliance

Fredericton Arts Alliance 5th Annual Art Trek Oct 17-18
Art Trek is a studio tour open to the public which takes place October 17-18 in Fredericton. Art Trek provides the public with the opportunity to meet artists in their place of work, and to do a little Christmas shopping while enjoying the fall colours. Admission to the Art Trek tour is free.
You can access more information, including a listing of all participating studios and a map, by downloading the Art Trek brochure at: www.frederictonartsalliance.ca Brochures will also be available around the city.
Art Trek hours are Saturday, Oct 17, 10-6 PM and Sunday, Oct 17 from 12-5 PM.

snagged directly from all the FAA promo material. Nothing original today.