Hot Talks @ Hot Art Wet City: Eastside Culture Crawl Artists

October 29, 2014

For our November edition of Hot Talks we’ve partnered with the Eastside Culture Crawl to present an evening of short talks by eight artists participating in this year’s Crawl. It was a difficult selection process choosing from among the hundreds of talented artists who take part in the studio tour every year, but I made sure to choose a wide variety of disciplines.

Our speakers for the evening are Michelle Sirois Silver, Jon Shaw, Holly Cruise, Claire Madill, Patsy Kay Kolesar, Reilly Lievers, David Robinson, and Robin Ripley.

Each artist will share a bit about their process and work in a short “Show & Tell” style talk on November 13th at 7pm. Tickets are by donation and are available for purchase through Eventbrite.

Hot Talks: Eastside Culture Crawl
Hot Art Wet City
Date: November 13th, 2014
Time: Doors 6:30, talk 7pm
Address: 2206 Main Street (at 6th Ave), Vancouver

Hot Talks @ Hot Art Wet City: Leanne Prain

October 8, 2014

Leanne Prain is the upcoming speaker for Hot Talks at Hot Art Wet City gallery. She is a designer, maker, and the author of three craft and textile-related books. Leanne’s latest book is Strange Material: Storytelling Through Textiles, and the content of her talk will tie into epiphanies she had while researching and writing this new book.

Sewing Our Stories: Stitch Narratives

…Leanne Prain will take you through a personal journey of how multiple conversations with textile artists resulted in her obsession with linking the stuff we make to the act of storytelling. Amid the weft and weave of textiles, she has found societal commentary, personal confessions, humor, fictional dalliances, the secret lives of oppressed people, and simple snapshots of individual experiences.

Read the full description on the Hot Art Wet City website.

This latest Hot Talk happens on October 23rd at 7pm. Tickets are by donation and are available for purchase through Eventbrite.

Hot Talks: Leanne Prain
Hot Art Wet City
Date: October 23rd, 2014
Time: Doors 6:30, talk 7pm
Address: 2206 Main Street (at 6th Ave), Vancouver

Thread Installation by Hot Tea

October 7, 2014

I dropped by Burrard Arts gallery space yesterday afternoon to see Drawing On The Past, a small show curated by Booooooom, and was pleased to see this thread installation by Hot Tea. I’ve seen photos of this on Instagram shared by other people, but it’s even better in person.

Hot Tea was the artist in residence over the summer at Burrard Arts. He creates public and installation art almost exclusively with yarn. You may have noticed a few isometric forms on chain link fences around the city, and this is also the work of Hot Tea.

I am inspired by this installation because it takes the simple material of yarn and transforms it into a three dimensional piece. It has me itching to create a new yarn tree somewhere, but maybe I should just find a chain link fence…

Professional Development for Artists

October 2, 2014

On Tuesday and Wednesday I listened in on Lisa Congdon’s class, Become a Working Artist, on Creative Live. Even though I’m well on my path as a working artist, I was curious to hear what she had to share. I readily admit I don’t have my career all figured out, and I was hoping for a few tidbits.

Lisa Congdon’s class is just the thing for someone starting out, with things like building a portfolio, marketing, social media, putting together a CV, etc. But there was plenty of information for more experienced artists as well. I really enjoyed the segments on goal setting, actionable tasks, creating a schedule, understanding the art world, and licensing work. These are all items I’m interested in (and kind of suck at), but it’s helpful to hear how someone else does things.

The way you learn how to be an artist is through trial and error, and through knowledge shared with you by another more experienced artist. I think art school helps to a certain degree, but I’m a self-taught artist finding my own way in the art world. There are oodles of resources out there in terms of artist materials, techniques, process, and mediums, but very little for professional development for artists.

I’ve focused more on consciously learning new skills (outside of art-making) these last two weeks, and it’s made me realize how little time I devote to professional development as an on-going goal. Watching the class, Become a Working Artist, was just the thing I needed to reinvigorate my desire to succeed as an artist, and to aim even higher in the goals I want to achieve.

If you’re interested in learning new things, visit the Creative Live website to check out the huge variety of classes they have available.

Human Structures

September 15, 2014

It feels like an exciting time in Vancouver arts at the moment because of the work being done by Vancouver Biennale. There were installs of new public art pieces around the city over the summer, including the huge new mural by Os Gemeos on Granville Island and the sculpture pictured here by Jonathan Borofsky.

It was a beautiful day to be outside on Saturday so I decided to walk over to Olympic Village, where this is installed, and take a look. It’s in a great location along the seawall with plenty of space around it. The work is made of painted and molded galvanized steel, featuring pixelated colourful figures stacked to the sky. It’s a striking sculpture and will be a welcome splash of colour in the area when the rainy days finally come around.

Visit the Vancouver Biennale website to learn more, and for a short audio tour of the work.

New Work By M.A. Tateishi and a Show in Harrison

September 8, 2014

My friend M.A. Tateishi has an exhibition of new paintings at the Ranger Station Art Gallery in Harrison, BC. The show opened this past weekend so Boris and I decided to use it as an opportunity to go on a road trip adventure.

On Saturday morning we hopped in a Car2Go (because we don’t have a car of our own) and headed into the Fraser Valley. We made a few stops along the way to buy fresh local fruits and veggies, do a little thrifting at Value Village in Chilliwack, and grab to-go lemon sour cream pie from the Chilliwack Airport Coffee Shop (aka I Fly For Pie).

Bumbleberry Pie

Pictured here are four new mixed media paintings by M.A. Tateishi. These are large 48″ x 48″ bold works with multiple layers of paper, paint, and resin on wood panel. It’s a tough call but I think Bumbleberry Pie is my favourite of the new work.

strawberrypie

Born Again

Raspberry Pie

The show continues in Harrison for the month of September. View more photos of the work on M.A. Tateishi’s blog.

Long Weekend on Bowen in Blue

September 2, 2014

A few scenes on and around Bowen Island from the previous few days. Rain had been forecast for the long weekend, but we mostly had poofy clouds and blue skies.

The rain was saving itself for today, and I’ve been enjoying the return to sweaters, long pants, and boots. I love the fall season.

Retreat to Bowen Island

August 8, 2014

Boris and I decided to spend an extra long weekend on Bowen Island earlier this week. It was lovely to spend a longer stretch of time there, and just relax. I walked in the forest every day, mostly in the morning and evening when the weather was cooler and the trails were empty of people.

The extra days away were just the thing to recharge Boris and I. We were badly in need of a vacation.

Hot Talks @ Hot Art Wet City: Miranda Lievers

July 28, 2014

It’s always a thrill for me to introduce another talented, well-spoken, and knowledgeable friend to the audience of the Hot Talks speaker series. This month features a talk by Miranda Lievers, a photographer, entrepreneur, crafter, mom, and a zillion other things.

The Art of Pinterest-Perfect:
A talk on learning by doing, and never assuming that you can’t

In a world where we’re inundated with Pinterest-perfect snapshots of seemingly impeccably executed culinary adventures, craft projects, and even home renovations, it’s enough to assume that everyone else has got this already and that you should probably just stay in bed. Not often perfect (but usually close enough), the “sure why not?” approach can lead to a funny story, a new skill, and the courage to say yes again.

Read the full description here.

The latest Hot Talk happens on August 21st at 7pm. Tickets are by donation and are available for purchase through Eventbrite.

Hot Talks: Miranda Lievers
Hot Art Wet City
Date: August 21st, 2014
Time: Doors 6:30, talk 7pm
Address: 2206 Main Street (at 6th Ave), Vancouver

Summer and an Art Roadtrip to Seattle

July 15, 2014

My friend Christina and I decided to go on a day trip to Seattle last Thursday, using the Sketchbook Project Tour as our excuse. It turned out to be a day filled with art and inspiration, and the Sketchbook Project was the least exciting thing we experienced.

There were three shows I really wanted to see while we were in town, all at the usual galleries I like to visit in Seattle. Our first stop was to see the latest work by Morgan Brig at Patricia Rovzar Gallery. I really admire her new figurative pieces, but there was a series of her ships there as well.

Visit the Patricia Rovzar Gallery website to view more work in the show.

We visited Greg Kucera Gallery on 2nd Avenue and saw mind blowing kinetic sculpture by John Buck, and textile work by Marie Watt.

Watch this video of John Buck’s kinetic sculpture, Cat’s Cradle, in motion.

A beautiful textile piece by Marie Watt made from old blankets.

Our last gallery stop for the day was Roq la Rue to see more amazing kinetic sculpture, this time by Casey Curran. Visit his website to see these pieces in motion. Each has a crank for the viewer to gently move the handmade mechanics of the sculpture, and make wings flap and flowers bloom. They are difficult to photograph and way more compelling in person.

It was a terrific crazy-busy day of art, and I’m so glad we decided to do this. I love road trips, but there’s something pretty special about going on a trip to see art with a fellow artist. The best part is that we both came back inspired to get back into our own studios.

Canvas to the Imagination

Rachael Ashe – Art | Craft | Life

Category: Inspiration