Confucius says…
Thank you Confucius - you've just made me feel better about my pace of late - which has felt slow, like I’m not accomplishing much. The last while I seem to be more introspective vs. generative. And exactly where has the first quarter of 2024 gone???
Yet, on reflection. I've actually been quite occupied and accomplished with art related activities:
Brian and I attended an amazing botanical costume display at the Leaf in Winnipeg in January, I also created some business cards and jigsaw puzzles from my artwork, and made more pet tag necklaces.
And though I'm slowly still working on blocking in my latest linocut design, I am all prepped for two upcoming zendoodling workshops I'll be instructing in Birtle, I've compiled a solo exhibit of art works being shown in Winnipeg during May, I've registered for the Arts West Council’s annual artists' retreat in June and I've got a September painting holiday in Italy planned with three artist friends. I am so looking forward to all of that!
I've set up and loaded all the content onto a brand new website for our region's Arts West Council, creating their event posters and helping with their social media promotions. As mentioned, they organize an annual artists' retreat (which I'm attending), an annual juried art show promoting our region's artists, and a travelling gallery of the top 20 chosen from the juried show. The artists' retreat is open to anyone on a first come-first served basis - meals, instruction and accommodation included - no cooking, dishes or chores for 5 days! Want to join me? Click here to check out their website and events, including the artists' retreat.
I've also been creating event posters and social media posts for a local group called the Third Age Learning Cooperative (TALC). They arrange guest speakers on a wide variety of subjects for twice-monthly Friday morning presentations at the Brandon University. Recent topics have included ChatBot AI, Indigenous Drum Making, Vasectomy, and Reiki. Upcoming is Monarchs In My Yard that Brian and I really want to catch. If you live in the Brandon area, you might be interested in attending.
As our former Dauphin neighbours once said, "The best way to meet new people when you relocate to a different city is to get involved in your community and volunteer." I think I've got that pretty well covered now! And now that I've finished filing last year's income tax I want to get back to creating some new original works.
And speaking of new beginnings, may the arrival of spring bring warmth, peace and joy to you and yours alongside the re-greening of our world! Enjoy your summer everyone!
My work is currently available for purchase at Poor Michael’s Emporium in Onanole (pictured above), at Lagasse's Studio in Souris, and at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon. In May, I will also have work at Manitoba Arts Network in Winnipeg and Wasagaming Community Arts in Riding Mountain National Park.