ON WITH THE SHOW

What a lot of people busily unloaded the truck and set up this room for our Show and Sale. The lights seemed to go up without much difficulty. Shelves were together, picture racks set up, and tables in place before we knew it. Well pleased.

The crowds were downtown at the First Friday Art Events which was not unexpected, but there were people coming through continuously, just not in large numbers. We anticipate a large group tomorrow night for the Gala.

Some changes have taken place since I was last involved in set up. This year the picture holders were angled in the center of the room and the pottery shelving set at the same angle. There seemed to be a lot more room to walk around and space to step back and look at the paintings as well. In this picture, the angle may not be obvious, but more panels of the picture holders can be seen because of the angular placement.

I left around noon and returned again at 5 taking along my pens and postcard blanks to do some doodling demos. Lots of time for chatting and meeting new members to SAW and visitors to the show. Some suggestions and observations to mull over at our post show meeting. Met Monica and learned that she does Birthday parties and other clay workshops where participants can make some pottery. She has certainly had a lot of experience. She will prepare a list of workshops and events for me and hopefully there be a sufficient number of people interested in taking part in some of the workshops. Home just after 9 p.m.

Valerie, Kaitlin and Tessa will be playing tomorrow afternoon for an hour beginning at 2 pm so I will go back to The Riding Club for an hour or so and fill in anywhere that I am needed

BURIAL OF THE IRON MAN

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Some time ago I mentioned going to an Installation meeting at Gallery Lambton and watching a slide show by Peter Von Thiesenhausen which really impressed me. Some days later, the feet that he created out of the dirt from the excavation work on the street outside, appeared in the local paper. A week or so later I finally got to the exhibition and was suitably overwhelmed with the message of his 'installation'. Preserving our water and air were dominant themes in his work and also in Sean's. Overwhelming impact which I am sure was increased because of the first meeting of the artist and his slideshow.

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Next, I read in the paper that the artist has approached City Hall asking that his $10,000 iron bust be buried, no charge, in the dirt of the street excavation, a sort of Loch Ness myth for Sarnia. I do not know who brought up the myth part, but council made some cautionary comments then passed permission for the burial. It would be buried when the roadwork was nearing completion. Great!

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I returned to the exhibition again with a friend and again with my 4 year old Amy. We had a great afternoon together, beginning with the Gallery visit. We had talked a bit about the exhibition and she seemed interested and was looking forward to seeing the feet. She was also interested in seeing the dirt floor in Sean's exhibition space. The rooms are dark and that caused a problem initially but she was willing to take a brief look at the smaller displays as well as the feet. She signed the visiters book and we noted there what she liked - the feet and the dirt floor, and that the dark was not to her liking. We had looked at the iron bust sitting amongst the corn husks and at the picture that marked the spot where he was to be buried under our street then went outside to look at the street itself to see if we could find that spot. We stopped at the Blackwater Cafe before checking out some toys. What fun and privilege I had.

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But back to Peter and his iron man. This week I read in our paper that there is now some concern about giving assent to his burial. The myth has become somewhat of a political statement about our current primeminister. Of course, he did withdraw funding from the arts and made a very foolish statement when doing so. [Look who is being rewared in his cabinet these days!] I got the impression that Peter was not restricting the meaning so much as looking at the possibilities of meaning but the paper would focus on the political one and our councellor's reaction....might not have voted yes had they known, they say.

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What then is an Artist? One who paints well? One who calls forth emotion in the viewer? One who disturbs the status quo? One who portrays a reality others do not want to acknowledge? One who paints pastoral scenes allowing an escape from reality? One who paints reality, perhaps in symbols, calling us forth to action?

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I think of the wooden guys Peter created and all that they represent for me. I still see them standing in Newfoundland in the cold on the rock above the ocean and on the bow of the ship taking them to Tuktoyuktuk or standing in his field or in his truck. Fun, but a much deeper meaning too. I love that they are immortalized in Bronze on a Toronto street. I will see them there.

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What meaning do you see in the burying of the iron man?

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** Click on the Blog Title to read the Observer Article

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Losses & Shows

Yesterday, we learned that Dave Dunk, a SAW Artist, specifically a Potter, who was always there to get the lights up for our December Show and Sale, died early Sunday morning. Farewell friend!

The days have passed quickly these past two weeks. Took a silver clay jewellery course for two mornings. A lot of information to absorb and some opportunity to play with ordinary maleable clay to get accustomed to the process for rolling and designing with the silver clay. We were told we would have to work quickly, so I kept my design simple. Turns out there was more time than anticipated, but the result is okay. After our design was done, the sliver clay piece was put to the torch to burn off the clay. There were a few flames, then the piece changed colours, finally done when it appeared white. Next came the burnishing and polishing and in my case some tumbling in the rock tumbler too. The piece was dipped into a solution that changed the silver to various dark shades up to black. This highlighted the indented lines of the design. More burnishing brought the raised portion of silver back to its shine and our jewellery was done.

Three paintings are ready for the SAW Show and Sale and since there was a mishap with my other painting, now repaired, it will also go to the SAW S&S. That piece was meant for the Floyd Gibson Colours Show at the LHCA but I could not get it there in time. If it does not sell at our show, it will be at the LHCA for the December show I guess.