Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Review: Sleeping with Satan: Salem Witch-hunt, 1692




This poetry collection chronicles the stories of the women of Salem during the witch-hunt of 1692. They roughly take the reader from the bones of the events, through the tragedy and its impact on the lives of the survivors and perpetrators alike. Nearly all of the poems take the point of view of one of the women or girls, accusers and accused.

I chose this book for the Hallow e'en book review because the subject of the witch-hunt is so often brought up around this time. This isn't a book to thrill or entertain; it is a melancholy and sober work. It is not merely about the events of the witch-hunt, but the persecution of women which is ongoing in so much of our world. These poems touch very lightly on folk religion, mostly in the early poems featuring Tituba. The focus is largely on misogyny, the victims targeted because they are wealthy, fashionable, or prominent women of influence.

Mary Ann Mulhern, from St.Thomas, Ontario, now lives in Windsor. Her poems have appeared in Tower, the Windsor Review, Room of One's Own, and Windfall. Click here to read my review of Mary Ann's book Touch the Dead.

Inside Out

I wear hats
with golden plumes
my bodice scarlet
roses threaded
round and high
sultry underskirts
edged with lace

in a Salem court
my clothes turn me
inside out
a witch hidden
in silky seams
sewn by
the Devil's hand

on Gallow's Hill
my eyes feed
a midnight owl
my dress lines
nests of crows
torn lace
trailing down

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Press Release: Bookfest Windsor


Bookfest returns to Windsor October 25-27 at the Capitol Theatre and Arts Centre! Here is the current schedule of events, but don't forget to check the Bookfest Windsor website for the latest information.

Thursday, October 25th:

4pm to 4:50pm – Kill Shakespeare, the graphic novel. Anthony Del Col, Kagan McLeod. Moderator Shawn Cousineau. Joy Family Theatre
5pm to 7pm -  WORD to IMAGE: a panel discussion on the arts and poetics of the word as materiality, presented by Artcite as part of BookFest Windsor 2012.
Moderated by Susan Gold (Windsor ON) and featuring Karl E. Jirgens (Windsor ON), Dennis Michael Jones (Plymouth MI USA), Amin Rheman (Lahore, Pakistan and Toronto ON)
A reception with refreshments will follow, featuring the performance “Headlines”, brought to you by Slow News. Attendance is free and open to the public. Artcite
7pm to 7:15pm -  BookFestWindsor Bound – Presentation of Contest Winner. Pentastar Theatre
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Windsor’s Poet Laureate and Friends. Maxine Gadd, Marty Gervais, Peter Hrastovec, John B. Lee, Bruce Meyer, Ray Robertson. Moderator John B. Lee. Pentastar Theatre
7:30 pm – Who’s Nesta Webster? Conspiracy Rising. Moderator Madam Justice Micheline Rawlins, with author Martha Lee. Joy Family Theatre

Friday, October 26th:

2pm to 2:30pm -  Eugene McNamara reading from his new book of poetry, Dreaming of Lost America (Guernica Editions, 2012). Host Phil Hall. Joy Family Theatre
3:30pm – Picturing the Story: illustration and graphic art. Sheldon Cohen and Alexander Finbow. Moderator Karolyn Hart. Film compendium of Mr. Cohen’s animated films to follow discussion. Joy Family Theatre
4:30pm to 5:20pm -  The untold story of the Black refugees of the war of 1812. Presentation by George Elliott Clarke. Moderator Paul Vasey. Kelly Theatre
7:15pm to 7:5opm -  A Love Affair with Quebec Fiction. Translator Sheila Fischman in conversation with Ferdinanda Van Gennip. Joy Family Theatre
7:30pm – Student Poetry Contest: the Winners Read!!! Moderators Vanessa Shields and Richard Scarsbrook. Kelly Theatre
8pm – Dark Diversions. Presented in partnership with IFOA (International Festival of Authors – Ontario). John Ralston Saul in interview with Susan Pedler. Pentastar Theatre

Saturday, October 27th

At the Central Library 10am – Creative Writing Kick Start! Creative writing workshop for ages 12 to adult with Richard Scarsbrook
In the Foyer of the Capitol, 10am and throughout day Poetry on Demand. Vanessa Shields
10am to 10:50am  – Nigerian Dreams. A celebration of Nigerian arts and culture. Yejide Kilanko with moderator Kenny Gbadebo. Joy Family Theatre
11am to 11:50am – Local Heroes in War and Peace. Bryan Prince, Rosemary Sadlier, and Peter Meyler with moderator Chris Edwards. Kelly Theatre
12noon to 12:50pm -  Literary Undertakings. Multi-award winning poet and author Thomas Lynch in conversation with Peter Hrastovec. Thomas Lynch’s essays, poems, and stories have appeared in The Atlantic and Granta, The New York Times and Times of London, The New Yorker, Poetry and The Paris Review and elsewhere. He lives in Milford, Michigan where he has been the funeral director since 1974, and in Moveen, Co. Clare, Ireland where he keeps an ancestral cottage. Pentastar Theatre
1pm to 1:50pm – TD Bank presents a scene from The Loxleys and the War of 1812. A dramatic production directed by John Nabben. Kelly Theatre
2pm to 3:20pm -  Poetry Cafe. George Elliott Clarke, Phil Hall, Laura Lush, Thomas Lynch, Nicole Markotic, and E. Alex Pierce with moderator Stephen Pender. Joy Family Theatre
2pm to 3:20pm -  L’art de la traduction littéraire : les vedettes en direct! (participation de l’ATTLC) avec Helene Rioux, Lori Saint-Martin et Paul Gagné. Animateur: Jean-Guy Mboudjeke. Pentastar Theatre (sur la scene) / The Art of Literary Translation: Meet the Stars! (cosponsored by LTAC) with Helene Rioux, Lori Saint-Martin et Paul Gagné. Moderator Jean-Guy Mboudjeke. Pentastar Theatre (on the stage)
4pm to 4:50pm – Chilling secrets and betrayals large and small. Anita Rau Badami and Alison Pick with moderator Nicole Markotic. Kelly Theatre
7:30pm to 8:45pm -  Generations X, Y, and Z. On writing for teens and young adults. Eric Walters, Paul Vasey, Richard Scarsbrook, and Carol Anne Biddle with moderator Sara Elliott. Pentastar Theatre
9pm to 10:15pm -  Canada’s Journey: Points of View. Richard Gwyn, James Laxer, and Noah Richler with moderator Veronique Mandal. Pentastar Theatre.
Visit the Bookfest Windsor website for more information on scheduled events and to order tickets. Tickets can also be purchased in person from at the following locations:

Capitol Theatre Box Office (off the street, to the RIGHT, or WESTof the main doors)
from Saturday, October 20 to Wednesday, October 24 from 1 - 5 pm. Visit our volunteers there for tickets and information. 121 University Ave. W.

Windsor Public Library Self-Publishing Lab at the Central Branch downstairs off Ouellette Ave.
Self-Publishing Lab Opening Hours
Monday 10am-4pm
Tuesday 1pm-8pm
Wednesday 10am-4pm
Thursday 1pm-7pm
Friday 2pm-5pm
Saturday* 10am-4pm
*2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month by appointment 519-255-6770 x4603

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Book Review: The Nightcrawler by Mick Ridgewell



Think back to the old stories, the fairy tales and myths. The hero is approached by a man, or a woman, desperately poor and almost unimaginably ugly. They ask for something simple, maybe some bread or shelter for the night. The hero is disgusted and turns them away. When does that ever end well?

Today I will be reviewing The Nightcrawler by Mick Ridgewell. Earlier this year, I interviewed the author. Since then, the Nightcrawler has been placed on the Horror Writers Association's Stoker Reading List and recommended for the Bram Stoker Award.

 I will admit that I my experience with the horror and thriller genres begins and ends with academic work with Gothic novels so cannot make any comparisons with other works. But I can commend the storytelling which is, after all, what is most important.

My personal taste is for novels where engaging characters drive the plot, and the Nightcrawler certainly delivers there. It is a story about journeys for two men, but primarily of corporate VP Scott Randall. Despite the modern urban setting of the story, there is a deep, mythic quality to Scott's trip to L.A. It seems the spirit of Nemesis has come to visit in the form of a homeless man in Detroit. Given the current global recession, having Randall chased by the furies of the homeless does have its resonance, especially when the story unfolds from Detroit across the U.S.A.

Ridgewell carefully works up to the surreal so gradually that, like Randall, the reader has one foot in the realm of psychological terrors when the Nightcrawler is fully revealed. The chilling atmosphere is insidious. If nothing else, you'll never be able to hear the phrase 'okey dokey' quite the same again.
The Nightcrawler is available in digital formats from Barnes and Noble, Samhain Publishing, and in print and for the Kindle at Amazon.

Mick Ridgewell will be signing copies of The Nightcrawler in the upcoming months:
Mason's Haunted House of Shalom in Amherstburg. Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, and 30, from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm. A portion of the proceeds from each book sold will be donated to the House of Shalom Youth Center.
Oct. 23rd Stars of the Game will be hosting a launch party for The Nightcrawler at 7:30.
The fine people at Stars will be serving up some tasty treats and I will have copies of The nightcrawler available.
Oct. 21st at the Caboto Club attending a fundraiser for Windsor Essex Literacy Leadership Student Program.
Dec. 2nd in Maidstone at the Windsor Essex Local Authors Book Expo at St. Mary's Hall, from 10:am - 4:00 pm.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Press Release: A Girl's Night Out and Sample Sale


Think Pink and Think Art and Think Sale!

A group of local artists is partnering with The Canadian Cancer Society to show some appreciation for women. The Back Room Gallery is hosting A Girl's Night Out and Sample Sale to help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness and to offer women a bargain at the same time!

Ladies consider yourselves invited and get your gals together for some great deals on one of a kind and rare art, fashion, glass, pottery, jewellery, giftware and so much more all at discounted prices. Back Room Gallery artists are clearing out inventory and thought what better way to do that then to help out local women in the process!
 
Girl's Night Out is being held Friday, October 19th from 5pm-9pm at The Back Room Gallery located at 4749 Wyandotte Street East in the heart of Pillette Village in Windsor. Ladies who attend will be treated to light appetizers, refreshments and even "cup-sized" cupcakes all in the name of breast health and drastically marked down beautiful items.

There is a modest fee of $6.00 to attend and have first crack at the great deals to be had. The theme is women and there will also be outside vendors offering all kinds of girlie stuff!
 
The first 50 women through the door will be treated to free goodie bags.
 
 The sample sale continues on and will be open to the public on Saturday October 20th from 10am-3pm.

For more information and to get your ticket/invitation contact:

The Back Room Gallery
4749 Wyandotte Street East
Windsor, ON
519-915-3535
email: backroomgallery@cogeco.net
 
 

Friday, September 28, 2012

Culture Days Kicks off In Windsor & Essex County


Culture Days 2012 is finally here! Get out and experience these free studio tours, workshops, and events happening all over Windsor and Essex County this weekend! You can get started by checking out this collection of local events on the Windsoriana Culture Days Bulletin Board.

There are many ways you can get involved in the free cultural and artistic activities this weekend. Just take a look at this link for information about registered Culture Days events in your area: http://on.culturedays.ca/en/activities/map

Monday, September 24, 2012

Press Release: Writing Salon with Marty Gervais

     
     
     
    “THE WRITING SALON” WITH MARTY GERVAIS

    Every other Monday starting Monday September 24th at the Arts Council Windsor Region starting at 5:30pm. 

    “The Writing Salon” is an opportunity for both established and aspiring writers to meet and workshop their work in a productive setting under the guidance of Windsor writer and publisher Marty Gervais. This is sponsored by the Resident Writing program at the University of Windsor in partnership with the Arts Council Windsor and Region. Writers are asked to bring 
    one or two pages of poetry or prose, but not exceeding 750 words (fiction or non-fiction).

    It is suggested that writers bring multiple copies (7 to 10 copies) of these works so they can be distributed to other workshop members. This program is free of charge and runs every two weeks. Writers will gain knowledge of how to improve their work, and details about editing and publishing. The sessions are held between 5:30 and 7 p.m. every two weeks beginning Sept. 24 at the Arts Council Windsor Region Office (Artspeak Gallery) 1942 Wyandotte St. W., Windsor.

    BIO

    Marty Gervais is an award winning journalist, poet, playwright, historian, photographer and editor. In 2011, he was nominated as the City of Windsor’s first Poet Laureate, and runs a Poet Laureate’s Blog.

    In 1998, he won the prestigious Toronto’s Harbourfront Festival Prize for his contributions to Canadian letters and to emerging writers. In 1996, he was awarded the Milton Acorn People’s Poetry Award for his book, Tearing Into A Summer Day. That book also was awarded the City of Windsor Mayor’s Award for literature. In 2003, Gervais was given City of Windsor Mayor’s Award for literature for To Be Now: Selected Poems.

    As a writer, he has written more than a dozen books of poetry, two plays and a novel. His most successful work, The Rumrunners, a book about the Prohibition period was a Canadian bestseller in 1980 and was re-released in an expanded format in 2010 and was on the top ten Globe and Mail bestseller list for non-fiction titles. Another book, Seeds In The Wilderness (a collection of essays with Quarry Press/General Publishing) stemmed from interviews he conducted with such notable religious leaders as Mother Theresa, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Hans Kung and Terry Waite. With this latter book, Gervais photographed many of these world leaders.

    Gervais received his M.A. in Creative Writing under the supervision of Morley Callaghan. He is founder of Black Moss Press, one of Canada’s oldest literary publishing firms, and is managing editor of The Windsor Review



Press Release: Having Words; Art Talks with Marty Gervais

HAVING WORDS; ART TALKS WITH Marty Gervais, Windsor’s Poet Laureate. This new monthly series brings together writers who will read and talk about their work with Marty Gervais at ArtSpeak Gallery. The series is intended to promote informal discussion about the craft of writing, exploring the challenges and joys related to poetry. The event to be held on Thursdays is free. It begins at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored in part by the Poet Laureate program of the Cultural Affairs Office of the City of Windsor and the English Department at the University of Windsor.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Fall Harvest Creative Writing Workshop @ WrEd Ink


Fall Harvest Creative Writing Workshop @ Juniper Ued and Rare Books 1990 Ottawa Street, Windsor.
October 2nd - November 20th (Tuesdays 7-9 pm) with Laurie Smith B.Ed., M.A., co-publisher of Cranberry Tree Press. Enrollment limited. 8 weeks for $150

Call Roger at Juniper Books (519) 258-4111 to register


Monday, July 16, 2012

1st/3rd Wednesdays @ ACWR



1ST/3RD WEDNESDAT – JULY 18 AT 6:30PM
The Acting Block Presents a Youth Theatre Showcase at the Arts Council Windsor and RegionEnjoy a presentation celebrating youth theatre and interactive activities offering a taste of fine arts summer camp.
The Acting Block is a new youth-focused theatre company based in the Windsor area. To kick-start our upcoming summer fine arts camps, a youth presentation focused on singing, dancing and acting will be performed at 6:30pm on Wednesday, July 18 at the Arts Council of Windsor, located at 1942 Wyandotte Street East.  This presentation and performance is part of the ACWR’s 1st/3rd Wednesday series
The open house style evening will include interactive activities including improvisational drama games. Staff will be available to answer questions about summer programming as well as classes and productions offered in our upcoming Fall season.
For further information, please contact The Acting Block.
Paul Kenny, Artistic Director
519-980-6958
www.theactingblock.ca

ABOUT 1ST/3RD
The Arts Council Windsor and Region invites everyone to come and JOIN the Conversation, EXCHANGE Ideas and CONNECT with others every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.
This is a bi-weekly arts networking event held at the ACWR located at 1942 Wyandotte St E in Olde Walkerville, where artists and community organizations come together to facilitate discussions and create connections. Please scroll down to read about upcoming and past events.
To RSVP and more information, please contact: 519-252-ARTS (2787) or info@acwr.net
For more information on 1st/3rd Wednesdays or the ACWR

Please contact
Arts Council Windsor & Region
1942 Wyandotte St. E, Windsor, ON
519-252-2787
info@acwr.net
www.acwr.net

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Press Release: Poetry Classes @ Juniper Books





Contemporary poetry with Laurie Smith, of Cranberry Tree Press. Tuesday evenings beginning July 3 (tentative). Location changes (motivational field trips) will be announced on a weekly basis, but home base will be Juniper Used and Rare Books, 1990 Ottawa St. 4 weeks/ $100. For more information or to register please email.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Press Release: Made in America Cocktail Party @ AGW



YOU ARE INVITED!
PREVIEW TOUR and COCKTAIL PARTYwith special guest Ann Thomas,
NGC Curator
MADE IN AMERICA: 1900–1950
Photographs from the National Gallery
of Canada
Organized by the National Gallery of Canada
Presented at the AGW with the support of
The Morris and Beverly Baker Foundation
Thursday, June 21, 7 pm
Be the first to see Made in America on the inaugural stop of its national tour after opening to rave reviews at the National Gallery of Canada this winter. NGC curator Ann Thomas will lead the tour and provide her insights and anecdotes on putting this exhibition together.
Spend a lovely summer evening on our third floor terraces while indulging the great views inside and out. The City Grill, the AGW’s newest caterer, will prepare a wide range of savoury appetizers that will be a sample of what you can expect from their fine chefs when at the Gallery!
Tickets: $85 AGW members; $100 non-members
Includes appetizers, host bar and exclusive tour
A tax receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket price
For tickets, contact JoAnne Fletcher, 519-977-0013 ext. 133
or http://ca.mc1301.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jfletcher@agw.ca, or visit http://www.agw.ca/.
Image:
Walker Evans; Citizen in Downtown Havana, 1933
Gelatin silver print; 25.1 x 20.1 cm; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa;
Gift of Phyllis Lambert, Montreal, 1982
© Walker Evans Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art Gallery of Windsor
401 Riverside Drive West
http://www.agw.ca/


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Press Release: Demo Day @ Back Room Gallery



One week from Saturday, you are warmly invited to stop by the Back Room Gallery and meet and greet some of the artists in the co-op, watch them demonstrate their craft and talk with them about the range of their work. You may even be moved to place an order for something totally unique made just for you. The demonstrations are free, as are the light refreshments. Workshops with take-away items might have a small fee applied or a free-will donation requested to help cover the cost of materials.

Saturday, June 23rd

10 am-6 pm, 4749 Wyandotte East.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Press Release: Of Thread and Stone


Windsor Dance eXperience presents Of Thread and Stone: Greek Myths Weaved Through Dance.

St.Clair Centre for the Arts
Chysler Theatre
201 Riverside Dr. W.

Saturday, June 9th @ 8pm
Sunday, June 10th @ 2:30 pm

Tickets $20
Available at http://www.wdxtheatre.ca/

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Press Release: Call for Artists EPIC Lavender Fest


Attention Artists and Artisans!

We’re excited to host the 1st Lavender Festival ever in Essex County and it will be an EPIC event! We’d love to have you get involved and showcase your wonderful talents.

The festival will be held on Sunday, July 7, 2012 from 10 am to 5 pm at Serenity Lavender Farm 130 County Road 50 East, Colchester. This event is open to any Artist, Musicians, Writers and Artisans selling handcrafted materials. Please note no Electricity will be available.

All items to be sold must be original pieces created by the person.

10×10 spots are only $40.00.

To register for a 10×10 spot please complete the application available on our website and email to Suzanne@serenitylavender.com or mail to Serenity Lavender, 130 County Road 50 East Colchester, Ontario N0R 1G0. Fees must accompany the registration form. cheques will not be cashed until after the applicant is accepted. NSF cheques will be charged a fee based on bank charges.

Booth locations will be selected by lottery.

Please bring your own tables, chairs, self standing canopies. Vendors must have their spaces staffed at all times. Set up begins at 8 am and tear down starts at 5:15 pm on the day of the show.

Visit the Serenity Lavender events page to download the application.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Press Release: June Bug Art Show



Group exhibition at the Artspeak Gallery. Artists include:

Yara El Safi
Alex Derbyshire
Victoria Strehlau
Erin Donnelly
Carley Ouellette
Todor Tesla Oluic
Kristina Palazzi
Chelsea Spellchuck
Randell Inting
Rosalie Edwards
Jill Snider
Michelle Donaldson
Hannah Maitland
Connor Linton
Olga George Politis

The show will be a week long where the artist will be painting in the gallery and showing their process on their artwork for the week.
So come! Speak the artists, buy some art and watch us in our element! Everyone is welcome!
Free admission!


ETA: The June Bug Art Show has been extended to June 15th.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Press Release:Plein Air Society 3 Day Show @ Mackenzie Hall


Exhibition: Friday - Saturday May 25 - 26 10 am - 5 pm
Meet the Artists Reception: Sunday May 27 - 12 - 4 pm

Landscapes of Windsor, Essex County & More -en Plein Air-
Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich St.

Artists:
Margaret Dawson
Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald
Mary Wheeler
Patrick Nicell
Terry Desjardins
Phylmarie Fess
Joan Rieveley


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Review: Music: Reflections on 1812


It always surprises me when I hear that the War of 1812 was boring. Growing up in Windsor, I heard many stories about General Issac Brock, the astonishing victories, the ridiculous defeats. I always kept coming back for more. The Windsor Regional Writers Group, the local chapter of the Songwriters Association of Canada produced Reflections of 1812, a collection of original songs to commemorate the war's bicentennial. The CDs were distributed gratis to promote Canadian heritage.

An eclectic mix of folk songs, a blend of traditional tunes and traditionally-flavoured original music  performed by local musicians recreate the feel of 1812. The perspectives, the anxieties and boasts of the people who struggled through that difficult era in our region's history draw these songs together. Paulette Ingram's expressive vocals and adaptation of the traditional lyrics of Come All Ye Bold Canadians is refreshing and evocative.

The collection is performed by Peter Boyer, John Broadwell, Dale Butler, Judy Butler, Mark Campsie, Adam Gilchrist, Linda Girard, Paulette Ingram, Roger John, BJ Laub, David Light, Sharon Light, Tim Logsdon, Glen MacNeil, Chris Martin, Anneke McCabe, Jeff Meloche, Philip Scott Poli, Ryan St.Denis, Terry Taylor, and Sue Wilson.

Track Listings:

1. Dance Queen Charlotte Dance
2. Come All Ye Bold Canadians
3. The Wonder of All the World
4. The Ranger's Lament
5. La Riviere Detroit (Detroit River)
6. Detroit Coming Down
7. Our Last Storm
8. Tecumseh
9. The Messenger
10. And I March
11. The Road Leading Home
12. One Hundred Man Strong

The collection will be performed on the Reynolds Stage in the Kings Navy Yard Park August 4th - 5th.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Sketch(es) of the Day: Cambiasi Exercises

Today was another one of those experimental art adventures. This time I cracked open my Moleskine and made some messes. I discovered the sketches of Renaissance painter Luca Cambiasi. They intrigue me; I was trained in a modern drawing style which emphasises gesture and mark-making. My natural inclination is to realism, and here I find the two in harmony, which is something I continually strive for: expression and precision of each mark I make. And these are meant to help the artist solve visual problems. I'm hoping to use this technique to improve reference material.

I tried using the kuretake waterbrush I have inked up with a grey wash but it was very dry on the Moleskine paper, so I switched to the Aquash waterbrush. I stroked the tip of a charcoal grey Derwent inktense pencil to produce the ink tones. Also, the Noodler's black ink reacted with the water since I did not give it time to set in. This wasn't a great way to be accurate but I still got plenty of visual information down.
Pieta sketch by Luca Cambiasi

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Press Release: Slam Homophobia


The 3rd Annual Slam Homophobia hosted by Dan MacDonald takes place Thursday May 17th - 7pm sharp at the Windsor Pride Centre. Fun, informative, heart-wrenching, hilarious - Slam Homophobia explores perspectives and thoughts on the impact homophobia has had on all of us. If you'd like to share a poem(s) at this event - please email dan.m@Windsorpride.com - you must register in advance to read - space is limited. Small donation mid-show...not mandatory...give what you can give, all proceeds go to Windsor Pride.

Sketch of the Day: Dilly Daisy

Yesterday, it was my turn to run the shop at the Back Room Gallery. Whenever I had a moment or two to myself, I worked on this little sketch of my view from the cashier a display of clothes by Dilly Daisy. The colours actually look brighter and fresher than this in my sketchbook (and, of course, in reality!). I rather like the effect of mixing Caran D'Ache with Winsor and Newton artists' watercolours. The Caran D'Ache crayons, used as paint pans, can be stunning in their intensity and the chroma is amazingly high. When I have the pennies to, I'll be getting more crayons. They're fantastic!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Press Release: Call to Artists: Windsor Essex Open Studio Tour


CALL TO ARTISTS
WINDSOR ESSEX OPEN STUDIO TOUR 2012
Application Deadline – June 09, 2012

The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County invites individuals, groups and organizations working in the Arts and Cultural sector to participate in the 2nd Annual Open Studio Tour, being launched during Canada Cultural Days September 28, 29 and 30th, 2012, with additional Studio and Gallery tours, arranged by appointment, throughout the month of October, 2012.

The Open Studio Tour is an annual event which celebrates and promotes the creative communities and artists that live and work in our region. All art forms are invited to participate including visual, literary, performing, media arts and artisans throughout the Windsor Essex community. We invite you to open your studios/work space to introduce your work and processes to the general public, fellow artisans and interested groups. You may wish to offer demonstrations, hands on workshops, play opportunities to children and youth groups.
Your studio and artistic works will be promoted in the full color Tour Guides and on the Open Studio website with a link to your site. Your name and contact information will be publicized for 12 months from date of listing in the Tour Guide Brochure and on the Open Studio website. As a participant, you’ll receive a series of Free Tour Guides, Signage and postcards promoting the event. The Open Studio Tour 2012 Participation Fees are broken into 3 categories: Individual $130.00; Small Group (up to 4 artists) $160.00; and Large Groups, Galleries, Organizations $200.00.

The Open Studio Tour is designed to showcase fine art and craft in the artist’s working environment demonstrating a broad range of media and styles. The self-guided tour offers visitors the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the artistic process in a wide range of original work. This event is a marketing opportunity for serious professionals and a supportive environment to nurture and present new talent. Last year more than 30 local artists displayed their creations and projects in homes, studios, galleries and community centres. The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex expects the 2012 event to be even more successful. Admission is free.

For additional information and participant registration forms, please go to the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Windsor Essex County website at http://www.artsculturalalliance.org/ or contact Gulnaz Turdalieva at gulnazt@gmail.com

Monday, May 14, 2012

Press Release: Daily Grind @ ArtSpeak



As part of MayWorks Windsor 2012 youth from Catholic Central High School and Holy Names High School have created a piece entitled: “The Daily Grind” a commentary on the meaning of work. They have written stories about their workplaces, usually part time jobs after school and on weekends and have added a few stories by people with whom they come into contact on a daily basis. The work collective consists of the students their teachers Andrea Rice and Laura Vidler and is curated by Elaine Carr.

At ArtSpeak from May 14-18 the students will have on exhibit images and story about their daily grind and on May 14th at 7 pm tonight, they will be in the Artspeak Gallery 1942 Wyandotte St. E. with a performance piece. The work is very engaging and the youth give us much to think about and many laughs as well.

The project is part of the third annual MayWorks Festival of Arts, Culture and Labour.

MayWorks will continue throughout the month of May in venues throughout the City.

The Daily grind is sponsored by OECTA and is a partnership with the Arts Council Windsor Region.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Sketch of the Day: New Sketchbook


When I open a new sketchbook, I like to go straight to the back and make some test charts to see how the different tools work on the paper. I just finished my last sketchbook and am starting in a new watercolour Moleskine sketchbook. Instead of making little ordered grids of squiggles, I thought it would be fun to sketch the supplies using the supplies! Easier said than done, it turns out. It sure was fun, though! The pens turned out very bendy, which amuses me (need to remember to wear my glasses next time). I forgot to use the Aquash waterbrush, but otherwise I kept to my rule: the Winsor and Newton paints are just that, same with the Neocolor watersoluable crayons. This is the first time I've tried to use them like gouache. I had swapped the white for ultramarine, but I found it fun to add white touches here and there for a different effect.

For the sake of completeness, these are two examples of the same exercise using the Aquash waterbrush, both from when I was just getting used to it. In fact, I was starting to believe I wouldn't like to use it; it seemed like a lot of water and very little control. But I did get used to it, or it to me!