Category: News

September 7th Studio Sale!

I’m excited to announce I’ll be teaming up with fellow artists, Michelle Sirois Silver and Stephanie Symns, to host a collective sale of our work at their studio. Join us on Saturday September 7th, between 10am to 5:30pm, at 1610 Clark Drive in Unit 201.

Michelle and Stephanie are are both textile artists working in a range of mediums. Together we will have an interesting selection of work, including drawings, paper-cut pieces, hooked rugs, quilts, stitched work, and so much more. I hope you’ll join us!

Studio Sale!
Date: Saturday September 7th, 2019
Time: 10am to 5:30pm
Location: 1610 Clark Drive, Unit 201

Scenes From the New Art & Craft Social

We held our first meeting of the newly returned Art & Craft Social on Wednesday evening at the nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona Branch library. It was a fantastic event with a great turn out. I think everyone enjoyed working together, sharing projects, and taking in the creative energy of the room.

The final photo is of the new sashiko stitching project I started at the Social. I’m making a hand-stitched runner for the upcycled side-table I redid last year.

If you’re interested in attending a future Art & Craft Social event, please sign up for our newsletter. We’ll have another event scheduled in September.

Exhibition Photos of On The Same Page: Transforming Paper

It’s the final week of On The Same Page: Transforming Paper at Cityscape Community Art Space in North Vancouver. The exhibition wraps up this Saturday June 15th, so it’s your last chance to the see this wonderful show with work by twelves artists working with paper.

For those too far away to pay a visit to the show, here are photos for your enjoyment.

The twelve artists in On The Same Page: Transforming Paper are Connie Sabo, Rachael Ashe, Monique Martin, Grant Withers, Concealed Studio (Mario Sabljak & Cheryl Cheng), Bragwynn Purcell, Gail Grinnell, Annyen Lam, Charles Clary, Leslie Pearson, and Martha Ritchie.

The Return of Art & Craft Social

I’m excited to announce the return of Art & Craft Social after a two year hiatus. The Social was an event I used to host at Hot Art Wet City until the gallery closed its doors in 2017. Now with the co-organizing assistance of my friend Barb Wong, we’re bringing it back again!

Join us on Wednesday June 19th, 5:30pm to 8pm, at the VPL Strathcona Branch located at 730 East Hastings Street. This is a FREE community event to bring together a diverse group of adult artists, makers, designers, and craftspeople of all levels of experience to share and create their work in a social setting.

Each attendee should bring a small creative project such as stitching, sketching, crocheting, collage, etc, to work on at Art & Craft Social. The event is inspired by crafternoons, stitching bees, and art jams people host as private get togethers in their homes with friends. We’re turning it into a publicly hosted meet up where all are welcome. The Social provides an opportunity to meet new people, get inspired, and learn something new through exposure to the creative work of each person’s project.

Please RSVP through eventbrite to attend because space is limited.

Art & Craft Social
Date: Wednesday June 19th, 2019
Time: 5:30pm to 8pm
Location: VPL Strathcona Branch, 730 East Hastings Street

On The Same Page: Transforming Paper

I’ve been working on this group exhibition as an organizer, co-curator, and participating artist for the past five months, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with the world.

North Van Arts in partnership with Crafted Vancouver presents On The Same Page: Transforming Paper. The exhibition showcases 12 artists working with paper as an obsessive occupation, devotional labour and commitment to artistry expressed in this humble and familiar material. This exhibition of 2D work, sculpture, and installation elevates and transforms paper in unexpected and provocative ways.

Featuring the work of artist-curators Rachael Ashe and Connie Sabo, and fellow artists Charles Clary, Concealed Studio (Mario Sabljak and Cheryl Cheng), Gail Grinnell, Annyen Lam, Monique Martin, Leslie Pearson, Brangwynne Purcell, Martha Ritchie, and Grant Withers.

On The Same Page: Transforming Paper
Dates: May 10 – Jun 15, 2019
Artists’ Reception: Thursday May 16, 7pm – 9pm
Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm | Thu, 9am – 8pm | Sat, 12pm – 5pm
Location: Cityscape Community Art Space, 335 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Settling Into A New Studio Space

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One of the goals I’d hoped to accomplish last year but instead got pushed to this year because of the flood, was to look for a studio space outside of my home. Doing it has always felt like an unattainable pipe dream in this city of unaffordable rent, but I’d really outgrown my tiny second bedroom. I felt the space was putting hard limits on growing as an artist and stifling my ability to create larger work.

I looked at a few different space options in January and February of this year, and have ended up in a shared studio in the BC Artscape run Sun Wah building in Chinatown. My new studio is more than double the 80 sqft of the second bedroom I’d been working out of for years. I finally have room for a paper file to store work and supplies, and also a second work table. It feels amazing to have this new expanded work area, with more surface areas to place things (instead of on my bed), and room for storage.

I had my first open studio last weekend, and many friends and acquaintances dropped by for a visit to see the space. They all seemed as excited as I am about the whole thing. I can’t wait to see how this will help me grow as an artist.

Sticky: A Post-It Note Art Show

I am excited to have work included in the latest art event hosted by Hot Art Wet City, happening for one night only on March 30th, 6pm to 10pm. I have created six small works from post-it notes for Sticky, which is an entire exhibition of art made from sticky note paper.

I bought the most lovely colours I could find at Staples, and then tried to get creative with it. I made the work in three sets of two so I could try a few different ideas. This type of paper proved to be a huge struggle to work with in paper cutting and crafting, but I managed to make a few pieces I love.

STICKY features over a thousand tiny, original, pieces of art made on 3×3 inch Post-It notes! Almost 140 artists contributed 6–10 pieces each, with every Post-It priced at $20/each. Our focus is on great art from local and international talent at a very affordable price. Join us on Saturday March 30 at The Arts Factory (281 Industrial Ave, Vancouver). Doors open at 6pm and expect a line-up for the duration of the evening; please be patient, it’ll be worth it! Cash only, FREE TO ATTEND

Sticky: A Post-It Note Art Show
Date: Saturday March 30th, 2019
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Location: The Arts Factory, 281 Industrial Avenue

Creative Paper Cutting Techniques Workshop

It’s been a long time coming but I have finally started to put together a schedule of workshops for the year. Join me on Sunday April 28th for my latest workshop teaching paper cutting.

In this hands-on workshop I will introduce students to the joys of creating intricate art through paper cutting. During the class participants will work on small projects incorporating traditional techniques with a modern twist, and a focus on abstraction and pattern. The goal is to help students develop knife skills, discuss tools and materials, as well as inspire ideas for how to integrate paper cut elements into their own work

Visit eventbrite to register.

Creative Paper Cutting Techniques Workshop
Date: Sunday April 28th, 2019
Time: 11am to 3pm
Cost: $95 + $6.80 fee (materials included)
Location: BC Artscape, 268 Keefer Street, 3rd floor

Introducing The Heart Enamel Pin

I am pleased to share the heart enamel pin I designed, based upon one of my cut paper pieces. Producing these has been on my goal list for over a year, and it feels like there were many obstacles in the way to making it happen, but I finally did it.

The pins are hard enamel with silver metal and red, measuring 1.5″ wide by 1.25″ high with double pin posts at the back, and rubber clutches.

I only had a small production run of fifty made. As of this posting, I have 39 remaining (because a few lovely friends already bought a bunch).

Follow this link to buy one online »

Mystery Mugs Fundraiser, Craft Council of BC

I created this cut paper piece as a donation for the Craft Council of BC’s Mystery Mugs fundraiser happening tomorrow evening. The event is to help raise money to replace the broken furnace at their Granville Island shop. I briefly considered creating a paper sculpture mug, but then I came up with this idea. The piece is 9″ x 9″ framed.

What do a furnace and a mug have in common you say? They keep us cozy! Many of our mug-nificent artists have practical, sculptural, fanciful and downright crazy mugs to be sold at the event. The catch? All the mugs will be wrapped up in mystery boxes (valued at $50 and $100) so you get to guess which one might be inside from their mugshots hung on the walls! Best part, after all the boxes have been sold we’ll open them up together and trade around to get your favourite!

Get your tickets here if you are interested in attending, or you can place a bid on pieces (like mine) that are featured in the online auction.

CCBC Mystery Mugs Fundraiser
Date: Thursday December 6th, 2019
Time: 7pm tp 10pm
Location: 1386 Cartwright Street on Granville Island