kangirsuk

I'm back from Kangirsuk. Above is a photograph of the town (pop. 463) seen from my plane as I approached. Had a very nice time there, although was fogged in for three days which delayed my return home. No roads, so planes are the only way in and out. Got lots of work done, met some lovely people and fed my soul walking on the tundra. It looks so barren from a distance but once you set foot on the tundra, you are transported to a rich, colourful world of rocks, lichens, mosses, and plants. Below are some photos of the town and the landscape (often in the fog). More to come...

nunavik

As you are reading this I am in Nunavik. I'm here for 6 days doing some consulting work in Kangirsuk. I had the privilege of visiting Nunavik for 6 weeks in 2007 and thought I'd share some of my favourite images from that time until I'm back to share some new ones. The ruggedness of the rocks and the plants really reached into my soul and I've been yearning for them ever since. I'm doing this via the magic of a scheduled post because I doubt that I will have internet access here! By the time you see this post I will be winding up my trip here and gearing up to post my new photos. Stay tuned for next week...

mask

I generally don't like masks. They scare me a bit. But I like making mask forms from plaster. I love the process. That element of trust and contemplation while under the plaster and the feeling of re-birth as it is peeled off. Once I have a mask I have little desire to embellish it. I like to leave them white...not so scary. But in the attempt to prepare for a mask-making workshop I am giving in October, I decided to do something with one of my white masks. I collaged it with some of the paper I had prepared in Haliburton and added a few extra elements. Here's the result. A little creepy I think...but I have only myself to blame :)

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)