Urban Art at Minto Park

Here's another poster prototype for our upcoming event. Check out our the Urban art @ Minto Park show blog for participating artists and show information.

Urban Art at Minto Park, 2009

Katie (out of my mind) and I have taken on the organization for the 4th Annual Urban Art @ Minto Park. Our focus is local art, craft, poetry and music. Check out the show blog featuring participating Artists and other tidbits about the show. See you there!

Aunt Evelyn's Night Out, Friday April 17, 8 pm

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This promises to be a great event for the benefit of Lady Evelyn Alternative School, where our kids attend. Hosted by Patrick Gordon Framing, Patrick and Jennifer have done a great job assembling a stellar cast of artists and sponsors for the art auction and raffle on friday night. Here's everything you need to know:

It’s an Art Party! It’s a Fundraiser. It’s open till 1:00 am!
Lady Evelyn Alternative School is holding its annual Fundraiser and Night Out at Patrick Gordon Framing on Friday, April 17th.A silent art auction of works donated by Heidi Conrod, Tanis Dennis, Katie Dutton, Tony Fouhse, Adrian Göllner, Christopher Griffin, Sarah Hallman, Meaghan Haughian, Timothy Hunt, Danny Hussey, Samuel Jan, Lois Kapitanik, Karina Kraenzle, Donald Kwan, Maria Lezon, Patti Normand, Erin Robertson, Ian Roy, Peter Shmeltzer, Andrea Stokes, Michael Tardioli, Amy Thompson, Tom Thompson, Remi Theriault and possibly a few others believe it or not.And if that’s not enough, there will be door prizes and raffles sponsored by Raw Sugar Café, Shanghai Restaurant, Wabi Sabi, Workshop Boutique, Whalesbone Restaurant, Canteen Art Shop+Gallery, The Green Door Restaurant, Oz Café, Il Piccolino Restaurant, Domus Café (courtesy of Tracy Arnett ), The Singing Pebble Book Store, HBK Concepts Salon, Star Gymnastics, Camp Fortune, Cuckoo's Nest Designs, and many others, including the always hotly contested Teacher "is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?" dinner.This year’s catered event will include delectable food provided by Chef Annette and Chef Allison.

Beer, wine and champagne! (Take a moment to put your socks back on as they have been no doubt knocked off.)

Music spun by Lady Evelyn's own, DJ Billy.Date: Friday, April 17thTime: 8:00PM - 1:00AM (Silent Auction bidding open from: 8:00pm to 10:30pm) Location: Patrick Gordon Framing @ 160 Elm St. (lots of parking off City Centre Drive side of Elm)Map of location: www.patrickgordonframing.caPhone: 613-232-7146
Email: info@patrickgordonframing.caSuggested admission $15.00 (includes chance to win one of the fabulous door prizes.)

Please join us for an awesome night of art, creative gifts, great food, great music, and a whole lot of fun. Wow! What a night!!

All money raised by the fundraiser helps fund forward-thinking initiatives in arts and sports related activities.

From the Archives: 1992

Whilst cleaning out the shed, I came across these slides. No kidding. They were in a bin in the shed.

This was taken at the old sculpture studio at U of Ottawa. I was doing these large abstact paintings at the time and had constructed a screen of found debris to hang in front. The hanging piece was meant to echo the shapes in the painting and it, in turn was painted with black and white.

The viewer was invited to walk in the space between the painting and the hanging.

This may have been inspired by seeing footage of Jackson Pollock painting on clear glass, the viewpoint being from the other side of the glass.

Illustration Friday: Instinct

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Instinct collage and paint on panelling

Illustration Friday: Celebrate

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Standing By collage on canvas board

I like to squeeze in an accordion whenever I can.

Illustration Friday: Time

Time Machine 5"X7" mixed-media

Mixed-media, you ask? This piece is a 5"X7" canvas board with a section from a found map, magazine cut-outs,photo-copies, a piece from a Hilroy notebook cover, packaging from a cough and cold remedy, images on tracing paper, paint, a section of vinyl tape measure, 2 sections of metal tape measure, acrylic paint, a raffle ticket and varnish. The text is courtesy of my portable Olivetti typewriter--don't drop it on your foot.

I have had an etsy shop in limbo for quite some time and am looking at trying to get it up and running this week.

Illustration Friday: Flawed

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Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys mixed-media

This one is dedicated to my Mom, whose birthday it is today--Happy Birthday Mom!!!

My friend Katie found this little cowboy on a gravel driveway while on a studio tour last summer. Sunbleached and missing a leg, she rescued him and passed him on to me, thinking he might inspire a collage or something. He seemed like a natural choice for this weeks IF topic: Flawed.

In my sons' world of play, the pervasive influences are knights, pirates and spacemen, but for me it was cowboys. I still harbour nostalgia for simpler times, ridin' the lone prairie and singing a cowboy tune. I've had this Waylon Jennings song rattling around in my head, although it's always Willie Nelson singing it when I hear it. Recently I've found myself plucking it out on the ukelele. Here are the lyrics:

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys written by Ed and Patsy Bruce

Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold

they'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold

Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levis

And each night begins a new day

If you don't understand him, and he don't die young

He'll probably just ride away.

Chorus:

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks

Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone

Even with someone they love.

Cowboys like smoky old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings

Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night

Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do

Sometimes won't know how to take him,

He ain't wrong, he's just different, but his pride won't let him

Do things to make you think he's right.

Illustration Friday: Climbing

Lunch Hour mixed-media

This story is rooted in reality.

From the Archives: 11 April 2000

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Headlines newspaper collage on Cheerios box

For this collage, I cut out a bunch of words of interest and then made headlines out of them. My personal favorite is Bad Sellers plot to kill consumers.

From the Archives: 11 April 2000

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Cross Words newspaper collage on cereal box

I used crossword puzzle clues for this collage. It is a sort of sound poem, meant to be read like a comic, although there are no lines separating the frames.

From the Archives: 15 April 2000

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Confused? newspaper collage on cereal box

Solace to the confused, paranoid, defeated and depressed: you are likely to live longer!

From the Archives: 17 April, 2000

Romance newspaper collage on cereal box

I was really enjoying taking bits of existing text and trying to make a story out them. The perameters I had set for myself during this project were that all text and images were to come from the same newspaper. I got a real kick out of pairing abstract concepts with computers, science and machinery.

From the Archives: 13 April 2000

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Fashion newspaper collage on Life cereal box

Another daily newspaper collage from 2000.

From the Archives: 14 April 2000

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I was recently going through my basement and came across a bundle of collages that were all stuck together. I haven't had the heart to try to pick them apart yet to see if they can be saved, so until the right rainy day comes along they will stay that way.

So, I decided that I would start scanning some of the things I did before digital technology came into my life.

This was from a series of collages I did from the daily newspaper on cereal boxes. Each day I would go through the paper and cut out anything of interest, both text and images and then try to make a narrative out of the stack. It is meant to be read like a comic panel.

This particular collage was from an article about Charlton Heston's speech in British Columbia in 2000. The text is all directly from his speech--you just can't make this stuff up folks!

I meant to post this when Mr. Heston died last year, but couldn't put my hands on it at the time.

Illustration Friday: Pale

Winter Postcard (mixed-media on cracker box)

Think of this as a post card from today. We were out on snowshoes, walking along the Ottawa River, the horizon blurred by a mid-january squall. Hope you had an equally sublime day!

Illustration Friday: Contained

Contained mixed-media on old board

One of my resolutions for the New Year is to sort through all my papers. It is an uphill battle.

Illustration Friday: Resolve

Riding Mower Joust collage with paint on rec-room panel

With this first post of 2009, I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year and share a hope that your gardening implements not be raised in anger, but put to good use in fertile plots. Good Cheer!

Illustration Friday: Clandestine

Clandestine collage on plywood

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Illustration Friday: Voices

Dissenting Voices: collage in sketchbook

I didn't have much time this week, what with the holidays and all that. I ended up pasting this up in my sketchbook today, not wanting to miss the deadline.

If I had time, I would have made this a sculptural piece of automata, with the top of the head flipping open and spring-loaded protesters popping out. I may still do that.

Saying "No" does not always come easy. Sometimes it feels like you have to muster great power from within to utter a tiny little "no".

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Holiday!

Illustration Friday: Rambunctious

Rambunctious collage and paint on cereal box

Another cereal box collage. I used images from some old encyclopedias, my old Cub Book, and incorporated a cancelled cheque written by my grandfather in 1974 which I recently came across in an old copy of The Journals of Kierkegaard.

Illustration Friday-Similar

The Common Nail collage and paint on cereal box

There are almost as many types of nails as there materials to nail them into. Be very careful in your selection of the proper nail as an incorrect choice may cause weak joints, instability and loss of sleep.

101 Frames at Gallery 101, Sat. Dec. 6

Here is my piece for the Gallery 101 fundraising auction 101 Frames. The gallery provides the empty frame and it is up to the artist to fill it. The topic for this year is LUST. I chose to use the wholesome Quaker from the Life cereal box, who has popped up in previous collages. The words that are partially obscured by the chain, read goodness inside. I got to use the security chain from my old apartment and behind the crack in the door there is a mirror, so it looks like there is light and movement behind the door.
The auction takes place this Saturday night at 301 1/2 Bank st. (upstairs) and proceeds go to this non-profit, artist-run centre in downtown Ottawa.

NaNoWriMo 2008, We did it!

National Novel Writing Month is done for 2008 and Karen and I both completed our 50,000 words before last night's deadline. Karen finished up last week and I limped over the finish line yesterday thanks to her encouragement (it helps having a real writer in the house!). My approach was to write the minimum number of words per day and after missing three days in a row twice in the month I thought I was beat. It was a very busy month. I started two new jobs, had a solo art exhibit, two Christmas Art and Craft sales, started math tutoring at the school where I also volunteer 2 part days a week and took a Knitting for Men workshop at my friend Carol's store Wabi Sabi among othere things, so I'm glad I was able to perservere.

What I didn't do was keep up on email, or blog posts. I planned to put in a few progress reports along the way and that just didn't happen, so thanks for checking in!

SKETCH at SAW gallery: Friday Nov 28, 8 pm to 1 am

collage and paint on a no-name waffle box

I submitted this collage for the SKETCH fundraiser at SAW Gallery . This is not the finished version, which I forgot to scan--I changed the text and altered the position of the text bubbles.

The event was Friday night. I worked late, but attended with friend and fellow contributing artist Katie . There was a good crowd to purchase work donated by over 100 local artists. Artists were asked to donate un framed sketches, collages, roughs and the like to be sold for prices starting at $10. with all proceeds going to SAW for future programming.

NaNoWriMo 2008

I signed up for National Novel Writing Month (November) after my partner Karen pitched the idea, sometime after midnight. Two busy already-sleep-deprived parents writing 50,000 word novels under one roof within a month? Stay tuned...

Linda Street Gallery, Nov 2 to 26

This will be a solo exhibit of mixed-media work created within the past year.

Timothy Hunt

Oct 29-Nov26

the Linda Street Gallery

Dovercourt Community Centre

411 Dovercourt Ave.

Ottawa, ON

Old Ottawa South Art and Music Festival-Sat.,Sept 20.

I will be at the Old Ottawa South Art and Music Festival this Saturday 10-4 in Windsor park. It is my first time doing this show and I am in booth number 55, which according to the map, is across from the BBQ pit. Hmmmm. So far the weather looks great; sunny with a high of 21. Come on down for some art, music, food and a walk in the park!

Outdoor Art in Minto Park, Sunday Aug. 24

On Sunday I'll be at this Outdoor Art event in Minto Park (Elgin at Gilmour) from noon to 8pm. I'll have artwork as well as t-shirts. Sounds like a great time with artists, musicians, drumming circle and more. Come downtown and check out some local art and music for free!

Strathcona Park

Well, tommorow is Art in Strathcona Park. Keep your eyes on the skies and note that they have posted a raindate for Sunday. Currently, the forcast is for rain late in the afternoon, and there are also showers forcasted for Sunday, so...? I suspect that unless it is pouring rain first thing in the morning, that they will go ahead with it on Sat. I am usually set up at the

Somerset st. end of the park, on the path not far from the parking area.

The Ottawa Farmers' Market is relocating to Sylvia Holden Park during the EX, and I am NOT planning to be there on the 10th, 17th and 24th of August. The Market will continue during this time with many of the Market regulars, so stop by and check out the lovely park atmosphere. Here are the details:

Illustration Friday

This is one face of a six-sided block I collaged while pondering the subject of enough; having enough and not having enough. The sides of the blocks are titled Art, Music, Books,Food,Shelter and Love.
I've had these wooden blocks for quite some time, waiting for me to get to them. I really enjoy working on these multi-sided objects and the interplay between the sides. I like that you can pick them up and turn them around in your hands and that somehow a story evolves. Here are some others that I have done and will have for sale at Urban Art in Minto Park , in Ottawa this Saturday.

Illustration friday: foggy

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Even as the cab pulled away, she regretted her vain decision not to wear glasses. It had been years since their chance encounter. How on earth would she spot him on such a dark, foggy night?

Illustration Friday: Sour

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Bored by the stodgier board members' wishes to pour over the financial statements ad nauseam, the fiery Juan-Carlos ended the meeting on a sour note, then beat a hasty retreat.

Legs up to here

Old Ottawa South Art and Music Festival

Saturday, Sept. 20, 10am to 4pm at Windsor park. This will be my first time at this show. Hope to see you there!

Illustration Friday: Punchline

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"Even with a ruler and set square, he found it difficult to get the punchline straight."

Welcome to my new site. From now on my Illustration Friday posts will be posted here. To view comments on previous IF posts, please visit mobiustshirts.blogspot.com. Thanks for stopping by!