exquisite corpse

This is my latest piece, done in collaboration with artists Claude-Aimee Villeneuve and Joanne Kielo. We are exhibiting at Galerie Ouest and our vernissage is tonight. The show is called Exquisite Corpse.

In the 1920's, the Surrealists developed a game that involved creating a collage of words or pictures. It was played with several people, each of whom wrote a phrase or drew an image on a sheet of paper, then folded it to conceal what they created and passed it on to the next person, who added their contribution. Only at the end of the game was the whole poem or creation revealed. The name Cadavre Exquis or Exquisite Corpse was taken from the first phrase that was generated by this game: "The exquisite corpse--shall drink--the young wine".

The concept of this show was similar. Three artists team up. Each artist chooses a section of the body and creates a piece independently of the other two collaborators. We then meet to reveal our pieces to one another and to connect our works to create a single piece.

My section of the torso was highly personal and reflects how I was feeling after the death of my father this summer. Scroll down for some detail shots.

soulful vessels

Inspired by my plaster "clot" forms which I experimented with in February, I decided to try something bigger. I ended up with these soulful vessels and I am in love with them. I could photograph them for hours!

and a few more reliquaries

spinal notes (2008), 7½” x 7½”, cast paper, silver wire

spinal notes (detail)

waiting... (2009), 4½” x 4½”, cast paper, beeswax, glass

waiting... (detail)

resolve (2009), 4½” x 4½”, cast paper, ptarmigan feathers, shale fragment

resolve (detail)

more reliquaries...

despite harm (2009), 4½” x 4½”, cast paper, washi, silver, tangerine tree thorn, ink

despite harm (detail)


thwarted (2008), 7½” x 7½”, cast paper, beech seed pods, waxed linen cord

thwarted (detail)

seeking tenderness (2008), 4½” x 4½”, cast paper, silver, washi

seeking tenderness (detail)

reliquaries new and old

I participated in a local studio tour this past weekend and made a few new reliquary pieces. I thought I'd show them here over the next few days with some of my older pieces.

shout (2009), 7½” x 7½”, cast paper, plaster bandage, ink, thread

shout (detail)

tenuous abundance (2007), 7½” x 7½”, cast paper, thread

tenuous abundance (detail)

contained no more (2008), 4½” x 4½”, cast paper

contained no more (detail)

hammering in haliburton

My second course at Haliburton School of the Arts was a silversmithing course on the main campus (pictured above) given by the patient and respectful Todd Jeffrey Ellis, who is a great silversmith and a wonderful instructor. In my first paper course we were embracing happy accidents - welcoming them! In this course, precision, planning, and technique was everything. We spent the week hammering (sinking, raising, and planishing) to create one bowl. I worked on a second bowl in the evenings, taking advantage of being able to use the studio after hours.

I was very excited about this course because I love hammering metal. At least I thought I did! I had lots of emotional ups and downs: I am one with the metal; I am born to hammer; the metal hates me; I hate the metal; frustration to the point of tears; wait - the metal is starting to listen to me; I love the metal; I start listening to the metal; nope - it isn't listening to me anymore; or is it me not listening?; more frustration; many technical errors; metal moving well; back in love; and the saga continues... But it was so satisfying. And I love my bowls which fit perfectly into cupped hands.

My copper bowl made in class

My silver bowl made in the studio after hours

This video clip (not my forte so forgive the shaky and slightly-too-fast tracking) gives you an idea of our workspace and the constant hammering. Through my earmuffs, I found this quite comforting. All of us working together, yet apart in our little ear protection bubbles...making stuff!

Stages of my copper bowl...from a flat piece of metal to a lovely round vessel. Click on photo to get a better look.

I was a beginner but there were various levels in our class as seen by these bowls of my classmates. Everyone did a great job!