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