Globe and Mail Project: #12, Business Grads Unharmed in Grape Avalanche

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Unsuspecting business school grads were caught

in an avalanche of giant grapes yesterday, while

touring a winery adjacent to a major nuclear facility.

While no one was injured in the incident, experts

agreed that many of the stains would never come out.

My Globe and Mail delivery resumed today, so here is my collage from today's newspaper. As for my musings on Monday, about whether or not there were still young newspaper carriers, this was in the Globe today:

Globe and Mail Project: #11, Life continues despite Globe oversight

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Life continues despite "Globe" oversight

"I just have to carry on as if everything

is normal", said the man, his voice betraying

little emotion.

After three consecutive days of missed delivery

on a free three month subscription many would give up hope,

but this man remains optimistic.

"My chair is comfortable and I'm not waiting

in an airport", he said, "the world will

continue its steady demise with, or without

the Globe and Mail", he added.

Today was the third consecutive, and fourth day of the last twelve delivery days, that I did not receive my free paper. You get what you pay for?

I was unable to reach the subscription department at the Globe yesterday, but the polite and efficient representative that I spoke with today (after speaking with the robot man, having my call redirected and waiting on hold for aproximately 5 minutes) assured me that the wrinkle would be ironed out and I will receive my newspaper tomorrow.

The Globe and Mail Project: #10, Waiting for the Globe

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Waiting for the Globe, with apologies to Samuel Beckett

Another day in limbo, as the Globe has not yet arrived. No matter, 90 days of collage will continue as long as there is hope that some day the paper will arrive again. Today's collage is made from Dec. 23-24th's papers. I butchered some text from Waiting for Godot and I've managed two collages from the lovely A.Y. Jackson painting In Jasper Park from the cover of the Christmas Eve Edition.

So today, I was thinking about waiting for newspapers and was reminded of the days I delivered the Sudbury Star. For a long time they had circulation problems and the papers were constantly dropped off late to the carriers. After school, on cold winter days I would wait for hours outside the confectionery for my newspaper bundle to arrive while consuming my weight (and profits) in pop and chocolate bars. The customers would blame us for late delivery and withhold much needed tips. I'm not sure if there are paper boys, or girls anymore. Our paper is delivered by a man in a van with a faulty transmission (sometimes he has to run after his van and jump into it while it is moving). Maybe there are still kids who deliver the paper in Kirkland Lake?

Globe and Mail Project: #9, Happy Holidays

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Ecstatic royal-watchers look on as former PM

Jean Chretien and Queen Elizabeth II compare

last-minute purchases outside HEFT'S at the

Northgate mall.

This is day 9 of 90 Days of Collage using images from my free Globe and Mail subscription, and my Christmas Card to you! Happy holidays and safe travels to all. Collages will continue when the Globe delivery resumes on Monday . Cheers!

Globe and Mail: #8, GAGA, FLAHERTY CONFRONTATION ESCALATES

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A passing lemur intervenes as informal talks on economic growth

between Lady Gaga and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty escalate into

a streetfight outside the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

This week's Illustration Friday topic is "undone", and Lady Gaga and Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have definitely come undone in today's collage from my Globe and Mail project, 90 Days of collage. This is only day 8 and it is already the second celebrity dust-up involving the Finance Minister (see day 1). Am I repeating myself? First appearance of Lady Gaga, though...and the lemur.

Globe and Mail Project: #7, APPLE UNVEILES iPOD DESKTOP

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Undeterred by brutal weather conditions, eager holiday shoppers

came out in droves for the advanced release

of the new iPhone Desktop,

featuring big screen and large, easy-turn knobs.

This is day 7 of 90 days of collage, dedicated to all those who still haven't done their Christmas shopping.

Globe and Mail Project: #6, ENDANGERED ANIMALS OR HERITAGE SITES, CITY MUST CHOOSE

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Couple flees as extremely rare white rhino

devestates another endangered heritage site.

"It's either the rhinos or the heritage sites", said one city official,

"we can't save them both".

So begins week 2 of my current project, 90 days of collage from the Globe and mail. Check in daily (Monday to Saturday) for collages made with clippings from each day's paper.

Globe and Mail Project: #5, POOR MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT BLAMED ON SPECTACLES

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Suddenly the Board of Directors understood

the lacklustre support of the membership.

The Steward had confused the rose coloured glasses

with the spectacles of grim reality.

I am recieving The Globe and Mail for free for 90 days and am endeavoring to post one collage a day using images from the paper. This should be day 6, but my paper did not arrive on friday, so this is to replace my alternate programming from the previous day 5 post.

Globe and Mail: 90 Days of Collage, Day 5--Rain date!

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Chance of Showers

You know, I've been really psyched for this project. Alas, today the Globe and Mail did not arrive on my doorstep. I phoned the circulation number and the kindly robotic gentleman informed me that my subscription account would be credited one day, so 90 days of collage will continue, rain, snow, sleet or hail. It just may not be 90 consecutive days.

So to deal with my nervous energy and to fulfill my self-imposed task of one collage a day, I give you Chance of showers, another cereal-box collage which I completed today. It reflects the state of limbo one enters when putting too much faith in the weatherman.

Two consecutive days of elephant collages, you may well ask? Pure coincidence.

Globe and Mail: #4, MANSBRIDGE HELD CAPTIVE BY BABAR

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All right, Babar, you win.

Release hostage Peter Mansbridge

and we will attempt to meet your demands.

It won't be easy, though.

This whole damn country's gone peanut-free!

The Globe and Mail is sending me a 3 month subscription for free. Everyday I will be posting a collage using only images from that day's Newspaper. This is day four. I need a drink of water. Maybe some soup.

The Globe and Mail Project: #3, INVERTEBRATE ENTHUSIASTS GLIMPSE PRARIE OCTOPUS

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After hours of heightened anticipation, throngs of

invertebrate enthusiasts were rewarded by a fleeting

glimpse of the illusive and beautiful prairie octopus.

Illustration Friday: Hatch

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Hullo, Houston?

We seem to have landed on...

Quebec?

Hullo? Hullo?...

Mighty cold out here.

A bit of seasonal nostalgia for my heritage in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and time spent there during the "space race" era.

Globe and Mail Project: #2, STREET RACING FIDDLERS SPEED TOWARD CITY

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Acting on an anonymous tip, Police set up blockade as street-racing fiddlers speed toward city limits.

The Globe and Mail Project: #1, FLAHERTY INTERVENES IN BUBLE, MUPPET DISPUTE

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty appealed to muppet Kermit the frog and crooner Michael Buble last night, to end their dispute peacefully as riot police moved in on the agitated performers outside a crowded Tim Horton's in Leamington, sources confirmed.

This is the first collage of my 90 day Globe and Mail marathon. Imagine, Kermit, Buble, and Flaherty all at the same Timmy's at the same time.

The Globe and Mail Project - 90 days of collage

About 10 days ago, I got a phonecall with an offer to have The Globe and Mail delivered free for three months and it arrived on my doorstep this morning, as promised. Initially, I greeted the offer with a well crafted, curmudgeonly skepticism reserved specifically for telemarketers, but since I didn't have to surrender my credit card number, or provide any personal information beyond my delivery address, and the caller assured me that the paper would be cancelled after the three month period without any action on my part, I accepted.

Having the latest news delivered to my door in a form that is digestible over morning coffee is a luxury I have been doing without due to time and budgetary constraints. I love the newspaper, not only for the print, but for a wealth of pictures which are not so precious that I am afraid to cut them up for collage. It has also proved useful for cleaning windows, lining the catbox and creating small, paper mache animals.

To celebrate receiving the paper again, and as a thankyou to Canada's National Newspaper for free fodder, I am embarking on a project where I will post a collage a day for the next 90 days, using images from The Globe and Mail.

Please note that this is a personal project and is not an endorsment of The Globe and Mail newspaper as a product; neither has The Globe and Mail endorsed me or any of the content that may appear in the aforementioned collages. See you in the funny papers.

Illustration Friday: Crunchy

collage and paint on orange crate

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When the Nutcracker arrived at the office Christmas party,

the usually affable Mr. Peanut headed for the nearest exit.

There was something about that Nutcracker guy...

I have to say that this week's IF topic, Crunchy, left me a little cold, but Mr. Peanut had been staring at me from the recycling box, and K had taken our youngest to The Nutcracker on the weekend, so as the French say, voila!?

Illustration Friday: Entangled

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collage and paint on cereal box

Undeniably fashionable, his hair-do was, nonetheless, ill-suited to his job

as Press-Operator

While this is, perhaps, not the best representation of this weeks IF topic: entangled, the potential for entanglement is implicit.

101 Frames, Sat. Dec. 5, 2009

Here is my contribution to this year's fundraiser for Gallery 101, 101 Frames. Here is all the pertinent info.


GALLERY 101FRAMES- SILENT ART AUCTION AND PARTY - THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS PRIDE
Saturday, December 5, 2009, 7pm
Preview: December 3rd and 4th from 12pm – 9 pm 301 Bank Street Art Auction/Party: Saturday, December 5, 2008. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets: $10 at Gallery 101 or Mags & Fags or $15 at the door

PRIDE
On Saturday, December 5th, 2009, Gallery 101 will host the second of seven years of THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. Each year artists interpret a different deadly sin. This year, G101 invited artists to make art that engages with the boldest sin in the bunch: PRIDE. We certainly want to show our PRIDE, and why not? This year, Gallery 101 is celebrating its 30th Anniversary of supporting Ottawa’s arts community, and we feel the need to brag, to boast, and to get a little narcissistic.

But that’s not the only way we are spicing it up. Other sinfully delightful features of this year’s event will be the best performance art, arrogant door prizes (including some very glorious big ticket items), and grand appetizers, all set to some choice tunes by the sauciest djs in a PRIDE-inspired setting. So come on out and show us you have PRIDE (for the arts) in Ottawa, indulge in a night of arts and culture, and support your local non-profit artist-run centre.

Proceeds from the auction help Gallery 101 maintain its services to artists and the community. This event is supported and made possible by our local artists, volunteers and friends. Special thanks to our sponsors Allen's Flowers, Bossarts - Beauty in Balance, Capital Xtra, Collected Works Bookstore, Giraffe The African Store, Hartman's Your Independent Grocer, Jack Of All Trades Design, La Bottega Nicastro Fine Food Shop, LaPointe's Seafood Grill Café, McAuslan Brewery, Mags & Fags, MediaStyle, Metro newspaper, Mikaza Home Modern Furniture, Patrick Gordan Framing, Pelee Island Winery, Pizza Shark, Pure Gelato, Schoeler & Heaton Architects Inc., Spins & Needles, The Scone Witch, The Village, The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro, Venus Envy, Vittoria Trattoria.

All frames generoulsy donated by FRAMES BY ROCKWELL. Gallery 101 greatly appreciates your support, which contributes to the long-term, financial stability and well being of the gallery.

Illustration Friday: Music

This is my entry for this week's IF topic "music" as well as my entry in the annual auction for Gallery 101, 101 Frames.

Just for the sake of context, Big Joe Mufferaw is the Canadian equivalent of American folk legend Paul Bunyan. Speaking of music, another Canadian Icon, Stompin' Tom Conners spins a few tales of the giant, French-Canadian lumberjack in his song "Big Joe Mufferaw".

Illustration Friday: Unbalanced

"Houses On My Street"

cereal box collage

These are all buildings in my neighbourhood. People move here because it has a "quaint", small-town feel. They buy quaint, small houses then knock them down and build ridiculously large houses . Unbalanced.

I'll be donating this piece to the annual fundraising auction at Saw Gallery, called Sketch, Friday, November 27, 8pm until 2am.

Illustration Friday: Skinny

This is a mini-collage, pasted on the back of a hockey card. I had some of those plastic membership card laminating sleeves lying around and thought it would be fun to make a wallet-sized collage. So here it is, Actual Size! I also used some wood-grained Mac-Tac that I've had around forever. My friend Katie, whose birthday it is, used to make the most fantastic and hilarious postage stamp collages with her brother many years ago. This is my hommage. Happy Birthday Katie!

Bicycle Chandeliers at the 2009 Lumiere Festival

I hung the chandeliers in the trees early in the day. Earlier in the week they had forcasted rain for the weekend, but it never transpired. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic evening. It was my first time at this festival, both as an artist and spectator. The beautiful handmade lanterns that lit up the pathway along the Rideau River, combined with stilt walkers, magicians, musicians, fortune tellers and fire jugglers made for a truly magical event.

Here are my three chandeliers, first in the daylight, then lit up at night.

Hours later, when the lanterns were lit, they took on a very different appearance.

Illustration Friday: Modify

Here is a sneak preview of one of the three chandeliers I will be exhibiting as part of the Lumiere Festival this Saturday Night at Stanley Park in Ottawa. It will be the first time I get to see all three lit up with candles, hanging in trees and displayed within about 30 metres of each other.

The chandeliers are made up of bike wheels and all manner of items that I have been collecting the past few months (some I've had for years). I've also had items donated from friends and neighbours. The candles are placed in jars of various sizes that hang from the spokes of the bike wheels. When lit, my hope is to illuminate the beauty in these everyday objects.

What's he doing out there?

What's all that tinkering going on in the garage? I've been working on an installation to be included in this year's Lumiere Festival. Stay tuned!

How do you thank someone for loaning you an accordion for over 10 years? What kind of person calls you on a Wednesday, so she can get her accordion back in order to learn to play Flight of the BumbleBee while reciting The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in Latin, for the weekend? I am humbled and truly inspired. Thanks A.

Countdown to Urban Art at Minto Park

I went a posterin' with my 2 pint-sized helpers last Thursday. It was uncharacteristically hot for this summer, and they were paid with a trip to the museum and a frozen treat--Thanks guys!

Organizing this year's Minto Park show with friend Katie has definitely been a learning experience and the show is shaping up nicely with 50+ fantastic local artists and artisans (check out our show blog at urbanartinmintopark.blogspot.com. Don't miss this rare opportunity to buy art directly from your friendly neighbourhood artists!

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.