Paper Cut Work: New Work Available for Purchase

November 26, 2012

It was only after the Eastside Culture Crawl ended that I realized I hadn’t as yet properly documented some of my recent work. So while I was busy documenting the display I’d put together, I also spent some time photographing individual pieces. It’s so handy to be a photographer with lights, on top of everything else that I do.

These are five in a series of seven white paper cut designs I created through freehand paper cutting techniques. I do not draw anything beforehand. I have a spontaneous and iterative process using a repeating crescent shape to create slightly different overall forms for each piece. I have yet to give the series a name, but they bring to mind things like wind, waves, and even microscopic life forms.

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

The work below are larger pieces than the white series and there are only two at the moment. I call these three-dimensional paper cutting because I cut and fold the shape upwards rather than removing it. Both are unframed on 19″ x 25″ Strathmore paper.

Unframed: 19″ x 25″ | SOLD

Unframed: 19″ x 25″ | $300

This new work was a big hit on Culture Crawl weekend, with many people wondering at my laser-like precision knife skills.

All work is available for sale, and enquiries by email are welcome.

Featured on Telus TV MyVancouver

November 22, 20121 Comment

Hey look, it’s me in yet another video segment talking about my work. I did this interview a few weeks ago, shortly after finishing the paper instruments project, so I think I look very tired on camera.

TELUS Optik Local myVancouver 409 from Laura O'Grady on Vimeo.

Thanks to Telus TV producer, Mia Jagpal, for the interview.

Aftermath of Eastside Culture Crawl 2012

November 21, 20124 Comments

It’s a few days after the end of Eastside Culture Crawl and I decided to take a few photos of the set up before I dismantle it. It is a crazy amount of work to transform our apartment into a gallery space, but it does end up looking spectacular.

This year I showed a mix of paper cut work, altered books, installations of paper crows and a yarn tree, and a bit of the old metal prints. People seemed to really enjoy their visit to our location, and I received many terrific comments and questions.

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - map reconstruction

I work hard to create a cozy and welcoming environment because sometimes people feel weird about coming into the home of a stranger. It helps that Boris plays the perfect host by offering chai with optional whisky, and there are cookies for munching.

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - yarn tree, etc

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - yarn tree

I went all out this year by adding installation work in the mix. The paper crows are suspended from the ceiling in the hallway, and the yarn tree (a permanent feature in our apartment) got a facelift with new red maple leaves.

I feel this year was more successful than the previous Crawl. We had a lower visitor count, but sales were higher. It probably helped that I now have Square and can accept credit card payments.

As always, I would not be able to do the Eastside Culture Crawl every year without the support of my partner, Boris. He puts up very well with his home being turned upside down, and he does as much talking as I do with visitors over the course of the weekend.

If you were unable to make it to my location this past weekend, please drop me an email and I’d be happy to set up a studio visit.

16th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl

November 12, 2012

It’s mid-November, which means it’s time for the annual Eastside Culture Crawl.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual FREE 3-day visual arts phenomenon. This event involves more than 10,000 people visiting over 400 + artists in their studios in the area bounded by Main Street, Victoria Drive, First Avenue to the waterfront of Vancouver, BC. This year it takes place on the weekend of Friday November 16th to Sunday November, 18th, 2012.

Once again I will be throwing open the doors of my home and welcoming the public into our private space. Our living and dining room will be transformed into an art gallery for the three days of the Crawl. It will be an extraordinary display of new paper cut work, altered books, mixed media collages, and installations made from paper.

You can find my page here on the Culture Crawl web site. For those on Facebook I have created an event invitation if you would like to RSVP »

16th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl
Date: November 16th to 18th, 2012
Time: Fri, 5pm to 10pm | Sat & Sun, 11am to 6pm
My location is D06 on the Culture Crawl map
Address: 1660 East Georgia Street

Eastside Culture Crawl Preview Show: The Circle

November 5, 2012

One of the last shows I’ll be doing in 2012 is the Eastside Culture Crawl Preview Show. This year the theme is “The Circle”, and as in previous years the show features a selection of work juried from artists participating in the Crawl.

This is the work I have included in the show.

Culture Crawl Preview Show: The Circle
Dates: November 16th to December 2nd, 2012
Opening Reception: November 16th from 6pm to 8pm
Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri noon-6pm Sat noon-4pm Sun closed.
Location: Vancouver East Cultural Centre (“The Cultch”)
1895 Venables Street Vancouver, BC

SubmiT Vancouver 2012

October 29, 2012

One of my paper cut designs has been reproduced as limited edition t-shirts and prints for an awesome event coming up this week called, SubmiT Vancouver. This is an annual fundraiser in support of Imagine1Day and their mission for primary education in Ethiopia. I am one of the ten local artists whose work will be showcased as part of the event, with all proceeds from t-shirts and print sales going to Imagine1Day.

Tickets range from $15 to $60 to attend the event (depending on whether you want to also purchase a t-shirt and/or print) and are available through Eventbrite »

SubmiT Vancouver
Date: November 1st, 2012
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Location: Roundhouse Community Centre, Yaletown

The Mesmerizing Drawing Machine of Sarah Gee

September 21, 2012

My friend Sarah Gee (who I featured in an artist interview back in April) recently released a video sharing the process behind the making of her concentric drawings. It is absolutely riveting to watch as she works.

In the words of Sarah Gee: Making these takes a huge amount of concentration, and a fair amount of determination. The spin is very fast (see the remote control in my left hand: I continually change the rotational speed according to the pressure on the nib), a steady hand is crucial, and layer after layer of colour is applied very deliberately. Considering the simplicity of the primal form, there is a great amount of variety in the finished drawings: some detailed and edgy, some foggy and mysterious.

You can view more of these drawings on her website. Sarah also has a show coming up at Gundrun Tasting Room in Steveston, which you should attend.

Little Green Dress Projekt

August 13, 20122 Comments

As mentioned previously, VanDusen Gardens is host to an exhibition of land art called Earth. My friend Nicole Dextras is one of the five participating artists in the show. Her project is called, The Little Green Dress Projekt and she is creating a series of twenty eight unique dresses from plant materials in collaboration with twenty eight different women. The idea is that each woman (chosen by Nicole) provides their dress measurements, a bit of background related to clothing, and also the plant material to make the dress.

Because I don’t have a garden I needed to source the dress materials by foraging around the neighbourhood. I was eyeing all sorts of things before I settled on tansy, a wild plant that is in abundance at this time of year. I hacked down piles of it (as pictured below), being mindful of the many bees who seemed to be enjoying it as a food source.

The hilarious part was loading it all into my “art cart” and transporting it on the bus to VanDusen Gardens. The tansy is probably the most awkward item I’ve ever had to take on the bus, because the stalks are almost as tall as I am. Nicole was thrilled with the material, and I was relieved to hear I’d brought more than enough for her to work with.

Nicole Dextras – Little Green Dress Projekt

The results of this collaboration is a beautiful dress that I would love to wear if tansy wasn’t incredibly itchy against the skin.

Visit the Little Green Dress Projekt site to view more of the dresses.

The Artsy Fartsy Garage Sale

August 7, 2012

If you have fond memories of shopping for interesting art supplies at RubyDog’s Art House (as I do), and have been missing the shop since it closed down last year, then this is the sale for you.

Leanne (owner and proprietress of RubyDog) has just announced she’ll be having an art supplies lawn sale this coming Sunday. It’s called The Artsy Fartsy Garage Sale and you won’t want to miss it. She’s also invited other people to join her to sell their own wares, so there’s a potential for some very interesting art-related shopping.

The Artsy Fartsy Garage Sale
Date: Sunday, August 12, 2012
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Location: 2649 Quebec St. (corner of 11th and Quebec)

Earth Art Exhibition

August 3, 2012

VanDusen Gardens is hosting an exhibition of Earth art, and I was thrilled to attend the opening yesterday evening. It feels like a big deal to have an exhibition of this type of work in Vancouver, especially with the calibre of the artists involved.

I took photos of each of the five artists work. It will be interesting to view each piece again in a few weeks to see how they change and weather.

Nicole Dextras, The Little Green Dress Projekt