The Weekend is Over

Well, what a fantastic weekend that was.
Close to a hundred people braved typical mid January temperatures (-30) in early December (normally -10) to take part in the 3rd South Osborne Arts Group studio tours. Lots of scarves and mitts and toques and fogged up glasses were on hand to enjoy a fun weekend of conversation and a glass of hot cranberry apple cider. Well, that is if they could enjoy those kinds of things, they certainly would have.
Sunday proved to be the more popular day in the end as we had a consistent stream of visitors from 12:30 to 6 PM.
Lots of talk of travel, artistic process, history, city development, and of course, the weather throughout the day. I especially enjoy reading people's reactions to my art, what pieces inspire questions, laughs, and further discussion.
It's a tiring weekend but definitely worth it. I really enjoy meeting neighbours that I haven't met before, and love the comment, "It's so cool to see what my neighbour is doing!" or "Who knew that an artist lived here?"
So thanks Winnipeg. Thanks Lord Roberts and Riverview. I love my neighbourhood.

December Studio Tours just around the corner

With the takedown of the Art Expo complete, it's time to focus on the South Osborne Arts Group December studio tours, happening in just over a month, December 7th and 8th.
Time to clean and decorate, paint and draw, photograph and frame in order to be ready to greet all the cheery faces coming through the door. Last May's tour was a resounding success with over two hundred visitors at my studio. We'll be looking for a bright sunny day as people walk the streets of South Osborne in order to get a glimpse of some new art, make some new friends, and celebrate with old friends as well.
As always, come with questions and conversation, and sip a fresh cup of hot apple cider as you chat and browse in a pressure free, art friendly environment.

Click here to see the brochure and for more information.

Clothes on the line along the canal in Alleppey, India.

That's my art!

In an article on the Timeraiser event happening next week, the Winnipeg Free Press featured my painting. Very nice.
Have a look at the article.

Timeraiser on May 30th

The Winnipeg Timeraiser is fast approaching. If you're interested in attending, check out the website. If you're curious, have a look at this video. Timeraiser is an innovative approach to bringing potential volunteers and organizations together. You can use your pledged volunteer hours to bid on art at the Timeraiser event on May 30th at Manitoba Hydro Place. Check it out!




This is my piece that is up for auction.

It's an oil painting on board. As reference, I used a photograph that I took at Petra in Jordan a few years ago. Our family's journey to Petra was part of a nine month long trip around the world, and seeing this horse all loaded down with everything you could imagine, I couldn't help but see it as a metaphor for my feelings at the time. We travelled with nothing but the backpacks on our backs, carrying everything we needed in four packs ranging from 45 to 80 litres. Each time we gathered our belongings to move on to our next destination, I would wonder what was going to be left behind, unintentionally or otherwise. As well, though, at each new stop and all those times in between, we were gathering memories that we would carry with us for a lifetime. We would file them and store them as efficiently as possible, and prepare for the next extraordinary experience.

Come and join us on May 30th!

Winnipeg Timeraiser

I'm heading over to the Tavern United tonight for the kickoff of the Winnipeg Timeraiser event.
One of my pieces was chosen as an auction item and tonight everyone is getting together to meet and learn a little more about one another.
The Winnipeg Timeraiser is happening on May 30th. If you're looking for something to do with your volunteer time, check it out.
If I understand everything correctly, a number of organizations are in attendance with information on what they do, giving volunteers a chance to find something that matches their interests. Then people will be given an opportunity to bid on artwork using volunteer time for a specified charity. If your bid takes it, you win! Your artwork will hang in a corporate office somewhere (one of the event sponsors) for a year and when you have completed your volunteer hours, the work goes home with you.
Hence, time raiser.

Downtown

One of the interesting things about Winnipeg is our fascinating Exchange District. According to Wikipedia, Winnipeg has one of the most historically intact early 20th century commercial districts in North America. This may be a bit of a joke to those on the other side of the Atlantic, but some of the buildings date to the 1880's. It's a pretty cool place to wander around with a camera at any time of year.

The uniqueness of the Exchange is echoed in many small, intimate spaces throughout the area, east and west of Main Street. Whether it's windows or doors, stagnation, modernization, flyers, graffiti, you name it, it all seems to have its own special character in this neighbourhood. There are places so quiet, that look so undisturbed in their own way, the thrill of coming across them is a bit like finding that undiscovered beach in some remote tropical paradise. Only colder. And without the water.

But you get the idea.

Lake Louise, Alberta

My love affair with the Rocky Mountains continues. We rented a house in Canmore, Alberta and enjoyed three days of skiing in Lake Louise. It was a marvel to be at the top of a mountain, with peaks as far as the eye could see, then skiing down, sometimes without my toque, sometimes with my jacket open. Warm, sunny, clear skies, good snow, no wind, and no (serious) mishaps. What a great way to spend a spring break.

Canmore is a pretty nice and new looking place with condos everywhere, including the Safeway parking lot. But they do have a nice view of the mountains. Our large log house was on the west side of the town and we found it difficult to tear ourselves away from the view some mornings.

The hot tub in the back yard made it easy to come home to in the evenings. Some nights the moon was so bright it would keep us awake. Every morning I sat on the deck and waited for the sun to touch the peaks on the west side of Canmore.

Skiing at Lake Louise is kind of expensive (when you're used to Manitoba hills) but kind of exhilarating (especially when you're used to Manitoba hills). From the summit, it can take up to twenty minutes to ski down to the lodge, much longer if you pause to enjoy the view.

 The gondola and chair lifts are comfortable, quick, and rarely had lineups more than a dozen people long (and when the chair lift seats six, that's not a long wait).

The view from the lifts is nearly as remarkable as from the top of the hill.

I'll probably have more to say about this in the future, but if you're ever on the fence about Lake Louise, leap off with both feet and get up there.

South Osborne Spring Tour

Would you like to do something a little different this Mother's Day weekend?

The dates are set, the artists are confirmed, the weather is guaranteed.
May 11 and 12 are the dates for the South Osborne Arts Group Spring Tour, new and improved with three more artists!

If you're tired of taking mom to lunch at some non-descript restaurant, come have a bite in the New Village, where restaurants of all kinds abound, then treat yourself to an afternoon of art in the homes of ten artists, all within walking distance of one another.

If you want a preview without mom, show up on Saturday afternoon for a walk through, and return on Sunday with mom to show her your favourites. This is an opportunity to see a working artist's studio, chat with them about their work, their inspiration, their aspirations, and if you feel so inclined, to part with a piece that captures your imagination.

Where can you eat in the New Village, you ask?
Oh, let me count the ways/wheres.
Deseo Bistro
Café D'Amour
Luxalune
Bistro 7¼
All About Thai
Monticchio's
Oakwood Café

All of these restaurants, and there are many more, are in the heart of the New Village on Osborne Street, smack dab in the middle of the artists' homes.

Not sure where South Osborne actually is? Think Riverview/Lord Roberts. Think south of the new Rapid Transit's Osborne Station and north of only slightly south of the St.Vital Bridge. Too confusing? See our handy map.

We are potters, painters, glass workers, drawers, sculptors, plein air people, photographers, jewellers, and probably more as well.

We hope to see you out.

that time of year

Well, things just keep moving along and it's 2013. We're two months away from the 2nd South Osborne Open Studio tour, probably happening on Mother's Day weekend, May 11 and 12.
That will be confirmed this weekend.
In other news, exciting things are afoot but that's about two weeks away from announcement time.
And more exciting things afoot, but that's about two and a half months to opening so I'll get back to you on that.
In the meantime, paint, draw, relax, basketball, paint and draw some more.