Before (2016)
After
Before
After (2020)
Update – Woven Tree
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Category Archives: art
Deep Woods Words Land Art Project
It all started at a used book sale when I saw a pile of Reader’s Digest Condensed Books sitting in a pile. Some of them had a bit of mould. I asked the organizers if I could just make a wee donation and take the whole lot off their hands.
I have been inspired to do odd stuff with old books by @book_ronnie on Instagram. She leaves books in piles or assemblages in the woods and waits to see what will happen to them.
I am privileged to have a piece of land which has nature paths. I chose these two trees.
To see what happens to my library in the deep words, oops, woods, stay tuned.
UPDATE June 2018
Thanks to another great yard sale I’m able to add to this project.
Update Summer 2019
UPDATE – Sept 2020
1 Year of Stitches – DONE
1 Year of Stitches FINISHED
1 Year of Stitches
One year ago my friend Lou Anne Sybenga and I started a project called #1yearofstitches or #onestitchaday. This challenge was begun by Hannah Claire Somerville. When I saw this project on Instagram it took my fancy. I had just finished a year long one-a-day project which required me to go outside everyday and make ephemeral art. So stitching was a nice change.
I decided to take Hannah’s idea and share it with my artistic muse and neighbour, Lou Anne. We decided to both start hoops and trade back and forth every couple of weeks. She chose a light pink ground and I choose black. To say she is not computer savvy is a bit of an understatement. And I am the opposite, so I documented everything on Instagram.
1 Year of Stitches BEFORE
Hannah describes #1yearofstitches thusly:
“I am interested in the impact, or mark, that an individual makes on a daily basis. Big or small, our daily activities are often times unquantifiable and intangible. I am approaching this project as a personal map making; the fabric ground represents each day of the year, with the needle and thread representing my actions throughout the day. I will embroider— maybe one stitch, maybe more, (hopefully) every day and photograph the result. The embroidery I create will become a tangible, visual account of the decisions, movements, conversations and sometimes lack there of, that I make each day. I hope to use this project as a means of creating mindfulness and deeper reflection upon the choices we make as a society. ”
Our Rules and Stipulations (adapted from Hannah) were:
- Our fabric ground consists of a swatch of poly-cotton in a 10’’ x 10’’ hoop. The thread we use may change daily and we may adhere additional types of media to our ground with thread.
- We will embroider something each day and I will try to post a photograph of the result each day on @wavesongart.
- It is not required that we make a stitch— some days you definitely do not contribute anything to society.
- We are allowed to remove stitches, because mistakes can sometimes be undone.
- We will exchange hoops on a regular basis.
- More rules and stipulations may be added as the project evolves and lessons are learned.
Lou Anne’s hoop
Ev’s hoop
WHAT WE LEARNED:
- We both had to give ourselves permission to be more flexible and less anal. Some days we just forced ourselves to stitch. Some days, fuck it! Who’s gonna police this but us?
- The hoops became fluid. Meaning we had to drop the notion that the pink one was ‘hers’ and the black one was ‘mine’ because at first we were both afraid of screwing up each other’s hoops. The funny thing is, when the year ended, we decided to keep the one we each began with.
- The pink hoop called out to be filled in totally. The black hoop called out for more negative space or background showing through.
- Lou Anne’s default was to complete a little area with a scene or object. I tried to create little objects and I didn’t enjoy it. Chain stitch, running stitch and back stitch were my go-to’s.
- A year is a long time and SHIT happens. Sometimes you just don’t feel like carrying an embroidery hoop into a hospital waiting room.
- Everyone who saw the hoops was very inspired. But it was less inspiring in some ways for us. I was glad to get back into hand stitching actually though and I realize I abandoned it for my machine a number of years ago. So I am looking forward to more hand-stitching.
- Where does inspiration come from? Ah, the eternal artist’s question and still waiting to be answered!
- We always enjoyed what the other person was doing more than our own work.
- We were very glad to FINISH, to see the year through to the end! If we hadn’t had each other to be accountable to we may not have finished.
- We make our mark on each other. Our friendship is very important.
- I don’t need to do another year long one-a-day project for a l-o-n-g time.
Chloe’s three little bugs
Purple Rain, Cabin in the Woods and Vancouver Island forest
Lou Anne’s paisley and Ev’s Aurora
texture
beading
Lou Anne’s jumping fish and Ev’s Ombre
Eye of the Storm – Land Art Project
Another offering in the woods. I found some nice green grapevine. Green vine is easy to weave, leaves and all. When I find a pile of grapevine I interpret it as a free art supply, just waiting for a challenge.
I featured an old clock, minus the mechanical parts, in this weaving. It has metal sails.
“Eye of the Storm”
Lately there have been lots of hurricanes in the Caribbean. So the phrase ‘eye of the storm’ has been particularly poignant.
It started to rain half way through the process, which is actually fine. Because it’s easier to weave the vine when it is supple. But sucks on the hands.
I chose a place in our woods which has two paths converging, sort of at a fork in the road.
Grapevine walls are notoriously difficult to photograph. But here is an attempt from a distance as you approach it from my path.
Square Foot Art – Westland Gallery, London, Ontario
Westland Gallery is an amazing place for art. In the heart of London, Ontario’s Wortley Village the Westland hosts new, original art shows each month.
Their biggest show of the year is undoubtedly The Square Foot Show, opening July 12th, where you will see over 500 pieces all measuring 12″ x 12.” That alone is reason to go see this unique show.
Square Foot Show 2016
You will find all manner of artistic media, from painting to mixed media. And all at very reasonable prices.
Here are my entries for this year:
Old Tears Series: Time Moves Fast So Make it Last
Detail – Old Tears Series: Time Moves Fast So Make it Last
Old Tears Series: She Spilled the Flour
Old Tears Series: Letter to Mabel
Pop into The Westland sometime between July 12 – August. You will not be disappointed. Make sure you meet owner Karen Stewart and tell her I sent you.
