Monday, November 29, 2010

thought process...

When I was a child I was very odd. But you know, lots of kids are funny, if you spend time around kids you know what I mean, I mean that in the most positive way possible. I wore rainbow fluorescent tie-dye outfits, didn't brush my hair, was super painfully shy in social situations and wanted to be frankenstein when I grew up (that was until my wise brother told me I would have to have bolts in my head; so I chose to be an astronaut instead).
But anyways this all has a point I think...
thats me in the middle

So anyways my work this year has to do with destiny and dreams. It gets me thinking a lot about how different events in your life alter those original plans and dreams. Also though how you can be in something that makes no sense what so ever at the time but look back on it and have moments of major clarity. For as long as I can remember I have had an odd fascination with tarps. Yes those blue, orange, yellow whatever colour bright plastic things that cover construction sites in the winter. When I was little they looked magical to me. They made me want to go play in there. A few years ago I decided to re-visit this fascination after seeing a large balloon shaped tarp on a power line by my home.

This launched into a photography project that brought up issues of time, change, transformation, whimsy and the way I see the world. I love the photo collages that I created in 2009 and this year when applying for a show I dug up those images to send along with my application. All of a sudden my brain just click click clicked all together. Here I was painting these children in their dream spaces... while their cities have turned into tent cities. They were essentially living my childish naive dream of living and being under a tarp, with some very real very difficult realities.
While in Haiti this past May I myself slept under a "Samaritans Purse" tarp in a pastors yard in Port au Prince. All of this led me to turn my studio space into a kind of gallery under a tarp, the blue light is both comforting and limiting. I feel like this idea and how to incorporate it still needs a lot of developing. But its so odd how these things come together, it both makes me smile and makes me feel on track.
I guess I'll see what it turns into.
-Julie

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

school... the countdown begins...

my little corner of the world :)
SO its November 17th and the last day of classes is December 8th... so the end is in sight (and by end I mean a temporary break). It feels like I have a million things to do before that happens but I'm sure in true Julie fashion I will just stay up until 2 the day before they are all due. BUT the good news is my thesis work has been progressing (however slowly) but progressing none the less. Below is my currently messy studio...
As I may have mentioned all of my work this year (so far) has been about my time spent in Haiti. This causes me to get side tracked easily while looking for just the right source image, browsing through my photos (and team mates photos) I can easily get lost for an hour or two.
Excuses excuses I know but thats what I've been dealing with for the last while.
Who wouldn't get distracted by this cuteness though!? All of the memories come flooding back, which in a way help me paint with more clarity. So who can really be upset about that. I just hope that I am able to begin to work more quickly and am able to balance all of my stuff a little bit better next term.
Anyways thats all for now as I really should be painting...
-Julie

Thursday, November 4, 2010

family time

So for a long time I've been making art and photographs about the importance of family... but just to be clear I probably have a different notion of family than most people do. I'm talking about your support system, whether that group or person actually has any blood relation to you isn't the point for me.
I find the difference between siblings raised in the same circumstances fascinating, all of that birth order stuff, and just the specific gifts and destinies of each individual. I think that will always shine through and survive any rough patches, because at the end of the day you are who you are. Who you were created to be.
That brings me back to the whole "what do you consider family" thing; now for me lets be honest it has just a little bit to do with food. Once you feed me, I'll never leave. I'm like a stray that way. But just the ability to sit down and enjoy a meal and each others company is a huge deal for me.
I am very blessed in that I have a pretty great support system around me made up of many different families, friends and my real life immediate family. Though it not always roses at home, they still support me in what I want to do with my life, which for many art school kids is kind of a family deal breaker. I live at home rent free while I spend all my money and time painting, taking photos, and working at starbucks to make tuition. Its not the worst deal in the world.
I'm still figuring this all out in how it fits into my work this year, but its still a central focus for me. It all comes back to the value and purpose of each person, and how some kind of support is almost always necessary for that full potential to be reached.

So just a big THANK YOU to anyone who has ever fed me, liked a painting, or just given me encouragement and support.


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

make tiny paintings for a good cause? YES PLEASE!

So this week I have been working on artist cards for a charity event put on The World WISE Resource Centre at the University of Manitoba called - Create for Pakistan...

Heres how it works, us (fine art students, or creative types from any faculty) make art on little cards free of charge and sell them in university centre, all proceeds go to the red cross and their relief effort in Pakistan (following the terrible flooding that took place this summer and continues to devastate the nation.)

I chose to make little paintings of things that fly!

Now you might be saying, well thats all well and good but what do I do with these tiny little masterpieces? If thats you, I thought I'd throw out a couple ideas...
You could buy a bunch and frame them (all together or separately) because; like my wise brother once told me "chicks dig when you have original art in your room."
You could also use them as gift tags on presents you will soon be running around getting for the holidays, just saying how much cooler is a hand painted rocket ship than a mass produced non-personal card.
And if you aren't feeling overly creative you could always use one as a trusty bookmark, and know that you've helped people out who are way less fortunate than you!


Here are the details for the sale where you can purchase or just donate;

ARTISTS CARD CREATING SESSIONS
November 2 :: Art Barn (2nd floor common area) :: 3:00 to 5:00
November 3 :: University Centre Fireside Lounge :: 1:30 to 3:30
November 4 :: University Centre Fireside Lounge :: 11:00 to 2:00
CARDS & COLLAGE MATERIALS PROVIDED
Materials Potluck :: bring what you can and want to use and share with everyone else

All artists are welcome to contribute to the campaign by creating cards. Contact world_wise@umanitoba.ca with your questions.

You're not an artists? Join the World W.I.S.E. Resource Centre for World Opportunities Week on the first floor of the University Centre on November 3 & 4 to see our team of visual artists in action, and to purchase your own miniature art piece in support of Flood Relief in Pakistan.

THE CANADIAN RED CROSS ::
http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=35760&tid=001 Please donate generously. Donation jars can be found at GPA's and IQ's on campus (University Centre).