Art Walk 2010

DAY ONE: rain

from the moment i got up until it was time for me to pack up and leave. it rained! steady and hard at times. discouraged... yes! because i had strep throat. determined... yes! because i had strep throat.

i sat for seven hours in the rain. met a few artists. one even told me i was brave for setting up under such conditions. well it did say rain or shine. oddly enough people stopped and chatted. asking me about my art and poetry. possibly they felt a little sad that i endured such conditions. still it was nice to have those moments. one guy had a heavy accent, he was from Cornwall and he was telling me all about his adventures in Jasper. he had some pretty interesting tales! one was where he went down a crevasse and i am amazed he is standing there telling me this story! so i guess my cold numb fingers pale in comparison.

this was my view. it was comforting to know that i was not entirely alone. my friend Robin was across the street at her booth. we would wave every now and again and call each other on our cell phones.

DAY TWO: sunburnt

ahhh... the warmth was very comforting after yesterday and so were the people that stopped by my booth. there were lots of people out enjoying the Ave. i met and chatted with so many people. i sold a few pieces. one piece was bought by my friend, local indie director/producer/writer, Ben Babchishin. Ben is currently working on a documentary with Bill Bourne called For the Record featuring... Bill Bourne. i did not realize just how hot it was. i got a wicked sunburn on my left side. i did get some sketching done in-between questions.

here is Ben and the piece that caught his eye! thanks for your support Ben!

one of my tiniest fans. everywhere i go a lady bug follows. good luck i suppose.

DAY THREE: blue skies

my sunburn was making this a painful day for me but i managed. my voice was still in smoky jazz mode but with loads of people on the Ave it was easy to forget these facts. i saw a guy walking a three legged dog and he had a snake around his neck. this was my last day of the Art Walk. more friends dropped by. time flew by and by two in the afternoon i sold some more pieces. i want to thank all who stopped by "my negative space" it was great meeting you. my family who helped me set up and brought me lunch... that i didn't want to eat... sometimes i think eating is an inconvenience. my friends for all their support.

THANK YOU!

© all photos by JAQ.

four more days until...

Art Walk!

since the beginning of July i have been preoccupied with preparing myself, feverishly painting for this years art walk. i am a first time participant so i do not know what to expect. nervous... i say a reluctant yes!

for three days, 10-5 each day, i will be showcasing my art on Whyte Avenue. meeting other artists and the curious art patrons that are attracted to one of this city's major outdoor festival. if you are in need of something to do this weekend pop by Whyte Ave and check out all the amazing local art, buy some amazing art, stop and chat or just say hi! see you there. *wink*

my wonderful friend, Stu, over at "confessions of an ambitious pessimist" has been experimenting with his camera. black and white photography sets such a mood. upon seeing his photographs i was inspired and wrote a handful of poems. this is one of them...

upon roof tops

i sit

watching all the lovers go by

no one is immune

to my poison arrow

from high

my wings shall guide me

hidden luv

will find thee

if death

doesn't come to soon

behind me!

© copyright written June 2010 by JAQ. publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission. Photography by Stu Morris.

floating along

another Brighton inspired sketch...

© artwork by JAQ

the pen is my sword

or just the thing i sketch with...

this was inspired by Brighton. the town is very hilly and the houses appear to be narrow and squished together. for me, that is what makes Brighton charming!

connections

i tried for the most part of yesterday to do this blog post but blogger was being quite fussy. so i walked away and decided to do something else instead.

i tried sketching in pencil but i get hung up on the fact that you can erase at anytime. it feels like i am constantly erasing not drawing! pen has more flow, more build up for me. plus it is permanent therefore i do not get hung up on erasing.

last week i had the pleasure of meeting in person the lady over at dressmedearly.blogspot.com we had a pleasant chat about beauty products and blogs. when you have a moment swing by her blog. Although i haven't met this lady in person, yet. i say yet because we live in the same province. she too has a fantastic blog. you can find her blog at mariealamode.blogspot.com

some might say...

my two weeks in England have come and gone. the jet lag is slowly on it's way out. i had fun visiting with friends and family. meeting new people. visiting galleries. going for walks along the Thames. riding the tube. blending in with London and London life. just being!

ten years ago the euro was being introduce which lead to the motto "save the pound". now both pound and euro are still standing. upon my arrival it was "down with Brown" and in with Cameron, British Airways threats to strike and they may have. i flew Air Canada, pity, so i wasn't paying to close attention to that story. airport closures, volcanic ash, the Queen opened up Parliament, the 99p wasn't 99p anymore, record breaking temperatures saw me sporting a lovely sunburn, a royal scandal.... ahhhhh yes!

well Big Ben was still standing strong and the chime was more in tune than ever, the TATE Modern is my new luv, charity shops are my favourite for amazing finds, Jamie Oliver's Fifteen was a fabulous delicious dining experience, eating strawberries along the South Bank is my thing, marveling at St. Paul's architecture and Trafalgar Square and the four lions which guard Nelson's Column and house the National Gallery, Brighton ROCKS!!! the tube still hot and overcrowded, over priced admissions and luv those tacky souvenirs. until next time London... xo

yes...

as of today i am on vacation. i am jetting off to London, England for all things poetry, art, friends and family. it has been awhile since i crossed the pond, 10 years. has it been that long... yes!

as sure as i am that somethings remain the same somethings have probably changed. ten years is a long time. i am well overdue. i have always had a very deep fondness for London or England in general. could it be the history, architecture, high tea, the rain, the fog? most of my families heritage comes from the British Isles. or could it be the two pieces of artwork my parents hung in the living room? i remember as a little girl i was always drawn to these to pictures. one was Big Ben the other of a red coat guard standing outside a building. the two pieces were brown and beige tones done in a watercolour like style behind a thin gold frame. i would stare at them for hours. you know i stared at them so much that when i close my eyes i can see them as clear as day. it is sad because i do not think my parents have them anymore. they will forever remain a childhood memory.

whatever my connection with London is, it is one i can not deny. even though i was born in Canada i feel it is not the place that is in my heart. do not get me wrong... i luv Canada. for everything that it is and everything that it is not! England is my home away from home. i will return within two weeks. full of inspiration.

well... i have a few last minute things to do and a plane to catch! *wink*

turn the page to...

yesterday i renewed my membership and picked up my copy of the Stroll's anthology. my poem here she said is featured on page 97. nothing wrong with that all!

the weekend is gone

Sunday i had another poetry reading at the main library downtown. this reading was apart of the Edmonton Poetry Festival. which was a week long festival. everyday a new venue to listen to fellow poets. i read to a packed house. all the seats were full, people were even standing! i kept my five minute set on the move with minimal intro's and lots of eye contact. i got grouped with six other poets, who were absolute amazing. with a poetry reading like that, i wish every week were poetry week.

and we met again

Sunday morning i woke up to find what appeared to be a black dot moving down the white curtains. upon taking a closer look i saw that it was a ladybug... THE ladybug, our former humble house guest of the Royal Windsor Arms. Steve McQueen/Houdini had never left. ever since the great escape i remained hopeful that one day the ladybug would return. it is nice to know something so small can be so resilient.