2018 Year in Review: The Out Front Year

On this last day of 2018, I am compiling a list of accomplishments to help me reflect. The numbers of some achievements are smaller in several cases. My artwork production level stayed the same but the nature of the pieces was very different. What is crystal clear to me after this year of being Out Front is that I am in need of a more internal based year in 2019. For me, that means continuing to maintain my volunteer commitments for Studio Art Quilts Associates and my job at the Museum 20 hours a week. In the other hours of my days, when glimmers of free time appear, I just want to make art.

2019 is going to be a year of production. A year to establish a new body of work. In January I will finally finish the last two pieces of my Transmutation series that is now going into it's third year. Quilts are not fast to produce, they take time. There are times when the pace is frustrating, but I want to honour the pieces and rushing them does not do that.

Here is the 2018 list. Links to further information about some items are listed when relevant.

Number of Completed Pieces: 5
Number of Pieces sold: 1
Number of Exhibitions applied for: 5
Number of Exhibition rejections: 4
Number of Exhibitions: 4
Number of Exhibitions visited: 11 (an increase of 4 more than last year)
Number of Artist Talks: 1
Number of Talks as a SAQA Rep: 1
Artist Residency Completed in May 2018
Press Coverage: 2 Articles in the Burnaby Now, 1 feature on Vancouver is Awesome.com
Hosted a Public Artist Lecture by Lorraine Roy
Established a YouTube Channel featuring videos about my work

In front of "Crow Corridor" one of my Pieces in the Textile Narratives Exhibit

I would like to thank everyone who reads my posts, likes and shares content and watches my videos. Being out front is not easy for most of us but being supported by all of you makes it worth it. This space will be changing in the new year as I establish a fresh website, and there will be lots more news as the days progress. For now, Happy New Year and all the best to you all in 2019.

UDHR Quilt Project Debut

After many months and many hands sewing the Universal Declaration for Human Rights Quilts have debuted in Canberra Australia. There are 4 quilts named for their border colour.  My work is in the Blue Quilt. For more information about the project visit here & here.

Great and North - Imago Mundi in Canada

You may recall that last fall Great and North was debuting at the Venice Biennale. The Imago Mundi Project has brought the Canadian and First Nation's of North America art collections to the OCAD's Onsite Gallery in Toronto Ontario Canada this fall.
It is always a pleasure to see your artwork take on its own life. If you are in the Toronto area, I hope you can make it out to see it. Details in the links above.

Textile Narratives Opens this Week

It is a beautiful and sunny week here in Vancouver. I would love to see anyone who can make it to the exhibit opening of Textile Narratives at CityScape Community Art Space in North Vancouver. Opening is Thursday October 18, 2018 from 7-9pm.

Commonalities Exhibit Details

October is here. Autumn is firmly in place here in the Pacific Northwest, and I am adjusting to less daylight and the colours of the leaves are changing nature's palette once again.
My show Commonalities: Our Relationship with Crows is on now at Janet Routledge's Community Office Gallery at 1833 Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby BC.
If you can't make it in person below are photos and a short video to give you a sense of the show.
The show runs until October 26, 2018. Please call 640-775-0778 to confirm open hours Monday - Friday.

Commonalities: Our Relationship with Crows

On view at Janet Routledge's Community Office, 1833 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby BC.

Monday to Friday, please call for office hours: 604-775-0778

To read more about the inspiration behind the work visit this Burnaby Now article.

More photos and video to come. 

JJ

Summer Wrap Up

Here it is, the end of official summer days. This weekend marks the return to school and the stretch of hot weather is most likely over. September often brings some warm days in this part of the world, but the intensity of the sun is winding down.

There is lots of news to share in the coming weeks, and lots of busy days ahead for me. For today though here are some of my favourite moments of Summer 2018.

Sea to Sky Gondola, Squamish BC

The views were just incredible.

My brother's wedding in Quebec

Greenwich Beach, Prince Edward Island

Anne of Green Gables House, Prince Edward Island

North Rustico, Prince Edward Island

Peggy's Cove in the mist, Nova Scotia

Back with more arty news in the coming weeks.

JJ

A Summer Day

Today I was able to let summer in. One of the things that I love about this season is its slow pace. Slow is not what life has been like this year. Top that off with taking a new position at my out-of-the-house job and the days have flown by.

We leave for our summer vacation next week. One thing that a faster pace life has taught me is to appreciate each quiet moment. Here are some moments from today.

This pot is my little piece of Paris on my balcony. Last year my attempt at creating a pot like this did not work. This year the geraniums and verbena are happy, which in turn makes me smile. My balcony flowers always bring small joy.

Tea and reading on the patio. I watched wild bees gathering pollen from my flowers and dragonflies in the sky.

We walked down to one of our neighbourhood parks today. Played basketball and sat in the shade.

This piece is going to be full of memories from this year. I doubt I'll be able to look at it and not think of the challenge that 2018 has been. It will need to be finished by the end of November. I plan to bring it with me on vacation and stitch a piece about the Pacific ocean while gazing at the Atlantic.

Some quiet stitching time in the shade.  Photography by my sons. They are getting quite good with cameras.

And for the first time this summer I was able to hang laundry out on the line. This is a ritualistic summer activity for me. The balcony is too hot in the summer from 11 am to 5 or 6 pm for much else but drying laundry. A small thing that makes me smile.

Wishing you quiet summer moments too. 

JJ

Art + Craft Project Wrap-up

As this project winds down and I struggle to catch my breath while moving on to the next big change, I am compelled to stop and appreciate the fruits of the community's labour. I spearheaded this project but so many others helped in numerous ways. The students were open to take this journey with me, and I am grateful for the support and time of so many in making this project a success. So here are the details of the last 8 months in various forms, for all to enjoy and remember.

 

In the Home Stretch

It is amazing that 6 months have gone by in a blink. Art + Craft is in its last two months. Last week was a blur of cutting raffle tickets, sewing on a queen size quilt binding, and assembling raffle ticket packages to go home with 328 students. I also taught a class, cooked meals and managed to come up with an idea for a future project.
The mind's capacity is at times unyielding. Why do these ideas pop into our heads when we are already filled to the brim with work?

Overwhelm has happened during the last six months more often than I would have liked. Building a new skill set is overwhelming for most people and I am certainly not an exception to that. I wouldn't change that right now though. While the pace might make me feel breathless, it feels like it is necessary to who I am as a creative being. Which I also worry makes me rather a challenge to be around right now. Often I have a sensation of pulling myself apart to reassemble myself again in my next version. I have done this before. I most likely will do it again in the future. 

So stamina, holding and breathing. Not letting my mind jump too far ahead on the to-do list. And trusting the bigger picture to work towards its logical conclusion are key right now, as I stand for a moment and pause looking down the home stretch.

Raffle quilt tickets are now on sale. Visit: https://quiltingcommunity.blogspot.ca/2018/04/raffle-sales-have-begun.html to learn more about how to purchase a ticket and support Forest Grove Elementary.

To sign-up for my newsletter or read past posts go here.

JJ

Full Circle Artist Lecture

I am pleased to announce that I will be sharing an overview of my work this Thursday March 8, 2018 for the North Shore Needle Arts Guild. The lecture is called Full Circle: An Artist's Journey and I am looking forward to meeting and sharing with Guild members.
I will also be bringing a trunk show of some of the work in the presentation.

A piece I made in art school: Life After Death, 1999

Detail from Crow's Nest, 2017

To book a lecture or sign up for my newsletter please contact me via my website at: http://www.jenniejohnston.com/

JJ

Behind the Art: Life Lines

Life Lines was created as a site specific piece for Window which is an art display vitrine at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in downtown Vancouver, BC.

Life Lines, mixed media quilt, 2014

The broad sense of the message behind this work was to talk about the isolation that city life encourages when everyone is closed into their individual condos and apartments. The clothesline represented both an ecological symbol of using the sun to dry our clothing as was common in previous generations (and is still used in many homes across the earth to this day) and a social connection that could unite city dwellers.

The contrast between the muted colours of the buildings and the vibrant faces looking out and holding the clothesline was my favourite part of this piece.

For more please visit www.jenniejohnston.com

JJ

Looking for Center: 2017 in Review

It is that reflection and goal setting time of year again. I shared 16 posts in this space in 2017. I think I'm ok with that. Considering that it was one of the busiest years of my adult life. I've gathered some numbers for taking stock of the year.  I do not usually do this but I felt like it would help me put things in perspective.

Taken on Salt Spring Island, BC July 2017

I often felt a sensation of being in limbo despite pushing myself further than I ever had before. Looking back on the year this way has given me piece of mind that I have indeed achieved more than I thought. That is a reassuring feeling and it is helping to keep the limbo feeling in the background. Here are some numbers about my year.

Number of Completed Pieces: 5
Grants Written & Applied for: 2
Grants Received: 1
Art Sales: 2
Exhibitions Applied For: 10
Exhibitions: 4
Exhibition Rejections: 7
Art Related Articles Published: 2 (SAQA Journal Summer & Fall issues)
Press Coverage: 2 (Friendship Show UDHR Embroidery)
Art Exhibitions visited: 7 (a number I'd like to increase for 2018)
Attended SAQA Western Canada Regional Retreat in Kelowna, BC
Became SAQA Western Canada Regional Representative
Began my first Artist Residency at Forest Grove Elementary School
Began a part-time job at Mackin House Museum
Craftivist project artist for UDHR Quilt Project
Set up a Monthly newsletter
Set up a Facebook artist's page

These are career related accomplishments of course. There were many more parts to this life. Turning 40, sharing time with family, reading 36 books, travelling to some lovely locations, raising two boys and maintaining our crazy family of 4 life.

Installation view of Look In, Reach Out at the Zack Gallery, Vancouver BC, May 2017

A few thoughts to ponder as we move forward in 2018.

Why think about the rejections?  They are just as important as the acceptances.
Do you reflect on the passing years in your art practice? I do.  My project is called Memory Keeper and is now going into its 10th year.  Here are some past examples of the small pieces I make to mark each year.
2008 2010 2011 2012

Here's to an art filled 2018.

JJ