new season, new site

i will now be posting to tumblr,

http://juliecoss.tumblr.com/

if you want to follow what i'm up to...

thanks for checking out my blog!

-Julie

FLUX in FLUX

Spring is here and though it would be nice if it were warmer the cold reminds me that there are a few school related things left on the good ol "to-do list" which need to be checked off. The most exciting of which is setting up for FLUX in FLUX the thesis group show which will be happening all day today and tomorrow (featuring painting, drawing and sculpture students work). I must say the organization and cooperation of everyone is great to see and there is a large variety of work. It should make for a great opening tomorrow night (7-10pm) at Aceartinc 290 McDermot Ave in the exchange. Here is a handy map if you are not exchange district familiar.

There will be beer and snacks at the opening tomorrow night as well as all of the artists if you want to chat about the work. If you can't make it out tomorrow night the gallery is open to the public from 12-5 Tuesday to Saturday and the show will be up until April 30th (admission is free). I hope your spring is wonderful!

-Julie

april art shows

This week has been a little rushed so far, but I am enjoying my last week of classes. On Friday I had a lovely time hanging photos up at Stellas for Gen & I's show 'Transitions'.

I always find it funny how much art work I make about time, spaces and change when in life change has always been a tough thing for me. I am a creature of habit, and anyone who knows me knows this to be true, I like to have a plan. I think it has my close-circle prepping for a post-university melt down of some kind. But I am avoiding that at all costs, it doesn't feel productive [hah]. I'm a lot better than I used to be with the "i need to know what comes next" thing; I've even been putting my ipod on shuffle [you may think this is a joke, but I like to see it as progress] hah.

Anyways, yesterday was a fantastic time painting shoes and going barefoot to raise awareness about TOMS shoes One for One movement. Needless to say I love being barefoot, painting, and charitable companies. So it was a good day!

rainy day collaboration with Gillian King

April brings a lot of art shows -- Open House* for U of M fine arts students is this Sunday (April 10th) from 12-5. Come out and walk around campus, check out the best of the entire Fine Arts faculty's work from 2010-2011.

*note that there will be a lot of nudity, other work that my be offensive to some so exercise caution when bringing children (or if you are like me in the past walking around with your grandma hah)

happy april everyone,

-Julie

one week

one week to have this cleaned up, set up, and ready for open house/ final crits.

tonight though i will be heading to Stellas on osborne to hang photos, which will be up for all of april! all of the photos will be from my ongoing series of collaged winnipeg images.

next week i will be only speaking spanish in preparation for my spanish finals, i have a feeling this could get increasingly annoying for my friends and family. apologies.

one week left of classes left for my degree, i never thought this would happen, i feel so old.

as far as arty stuff goes in the next little bit my schedule is;

april 2nd - "Trantions" Photography at Gallery Ingenue (Stellas on Osborne)

april 5th - style your sole event at U of M; i will be painting shoes (from 11:30-1:30) in university centre; in support of TOMS and 1 day without shoes [more info here]

april 10th - fine arts open house (U of M campus), noon-five

- painting featured in gallery 111

- studio space in the artbarn (upstairs #227)

april 16th - "Flux in Flux" (Thesis Students Group Exhibit at Aceart), opening saturday seven-ten

so if you are out & about in wpg in april checkout some art, it makes you cooler :)

-Julie

march; blink and you'll miss it

The opening for Temporary Spaces went soooo well, thank you to everyone who checked it out throughout the week. The comments in the book were overwhelmingly positive and very encouraging so thank you. It was fun to go check on my paintings everyday and try and eavesdrop on what people were saying, catch up on the new comments and go on with my day wondering campus.

[the above two photos courtesy of miss brittany mahood visit her photogblog here]

So post-show it was back to real life with a pile of not-so-fun papers to write, which I am happy to say are FINISHED! Its sinking in that I have less than 3 weeks of classes left. Last minute paintings to finish and running around to do, all very exciting. I'm happy to say that I am back in the studio, working on that final push before final crits. This was my morning :)

And as schedules lining up have it, I happen to have an art gallery date with my mom this evening, looking at art will always remain one of my favourite things. So the moral of the story is; breath in, breath out, life is good.

happy march everyone; heres hoping it warms up soon.

-Julie

temporary spaces

Well in true March form I have spent the past week buried in assignments and fighting off a nasty cold. But nevertheless it has been a busy great week. Despite the sickness and snowstorm, my sister and I went out to Stellas on Osborne for the opening of Canadiana - a group show full of wonderful pieces that especially speak to the sensibilities of us northerners. Two of my photo collages are among the bunch. For more about the work in this show [click here].

And tonight at 7pm is the opening of my show Temporary Spaces at GoSA (Gallery of Student Art) at the U of M, featuring paintings from this past year of thesis work. Very exciting stuff, there will be snacks and you are more than welcome to stop by. If you can't make it out tonight the show will be up for the rest of the week gallery hours are 9am-4pm

Monday to Friday.

My thesis this year has been in a way a reflection of my time spent in Haiti. For the past couple of years I have been making paintings about time, memory and dreams. Kind of dreamy landscapes varying in degrees of abstraction. My time being away impacted how I make work in that I had all of these new places in my head, new memories. I feel really good about my work at this point in the year, and I think I have stumbled upon some really interesting pieces.

In other news am getting very close to the end of the school year and I am very excited to finish, just over a month and I will have my degree. This is both great and scary as I'm not really sure what I am going to do afterwards. But I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go along.

-Julie

back in the swing

Well after a year or so of an unplanned hiatus from the art world (between academic classes and not being in the country not much art was made) I'm somewhat back. It was a great time setting up the TOMS group show at GoSA on Sunday night.

Yes that would be me with a level, feeling semi-official, I think everything was fairly straight. Group shows are a fun dynamic, and I must say everyone had a great attitude and excitement about the show. Which makes for a great hanging. The food from degrees didn't hurt either (my favourite place on campus to eat).

Some of the beautiful shoes being featured in exhibit, which runs until this Friday March 4th at GoSA (Gallery of Student Art in University Centre at U of Manitoba).

Oh and the new issue of Chesterfield Magazine came out this week and a photo of mine from Nicaragua was inside, nothing like black and white film photography to brighten my day.

Here is to a productive week!

-Julie

revelation in a kids movie

Okay so I know this is lame, I'm fully aware. BUT as some of you may know I did not grow up in church, that being said I fully choose to believe what I do. By fully I mean my family would most likely prefer that I not be Christian, I make life (especially holidays) awkward, just by being me. So when I'm at church and an old hymn starts and everyone (but a few other "first generation christians") knows it, I'm left feeling a little less than smart. Same goes for old testament Bible stories that "everybody" knows, I've been known to nod and smile and google it when I get home.

So when I was away and one of our speakers was going to play a veggie tales movie, I didn't know what to think, the only veggie tales I had ever known was from babysitting, and teaching sunday school. But I kid you not when I say this movie for children helped change my perspective. If you have the time (about 13 mins) please watch part 1 & part 2. Its all about your identity in God. And it warms my heart.

I hope this means something to somebody :)

-Julie

just a few favourite things

As it is reading week and I am on my break from classes, even though I am working full time I find that all of this free time is just lovely. I thought that since I have time to enjoy some of my old and new favourite things I would share some of them.

1. TOMS shoes/ other companies that care. (and yes i'm aware that people love to criticize others who step out in trying to do some good saying "they could do more" but at least they are seeing a need and trying to help fill it.) PLUS they are cute and I can't wait until it is warm enough to wear them all the time.

2. Listening to sermons online from Mars Hill; this one The Cost of Discipleship was just what I needed to hear this morning

3. Two new worship albums aftermath from hillsong united and be lifted high from bethel church. Both of which are amazing; hillsong favourites include "Like an Avalanche" and "Nova"; bethel favourite songs if I had to chose would be "Forever and a Day", "Furious" and "One Thing Remains"

4. Having delish lunch at Stellas on Osbourne while checking out beautiful artwork & catching up with my brother

5. Having slow mornings, in which I can drink coffee in my pjs and not have to rush anywhere

6. surviving off of my favourite diet of chips and salsa, starbucks pastries and chocolate milk because if you can't eat whatever you want on "vacation" then when can you? hah

Happy february everyone, I hope its a good one for you as well!

-Julie

thanks, i really do appreciate it

As I was thinking about how to not be jaded about Valentines day tomorrow I came across my old "green apron" cards (starbucks thank you cards meant to give to each other on staff) and the kind words from just over a year ago struck a cord. How simple is it to let someone know what you really think about them? That you really and truly appreciate them. We don't often take the time to write those things down, and though it can feel really nerdy at times I am happy to work for a company that encourages this.

I dug out the notes in the front of my Bible as well and read through them. Each one was so thoughtful, so specific, honest and encouraging.

So I guess what I am trying to say is if Valentines day gives you that extra little push to tell someone you care about how you really and truly believe in them and then it just might not be so terrible. So I'm going to do my best not to make gagging noises when I see really lame couples everywhere tomorrow, but instead write a few over-due "this is why I love you" notes. So when those people who I love and hold dear are having a tough time, they can read over and over why they are so appreciated (at least by me).

Much Love,

-Julie

february means studying, freezing and thank GOD some painting

So it is officially February, aka school mid-term explosion. Despite that I have been getting to the studio I feel like even more often than I was last term. Though that could be because I have my thesis review on Thursday this week (as a part of the mid-term fun). I am actually quite excited to get some feedback form my profs, as I have been branching out and doing some different things this year.

Some finished and not so finished things in my space as of today.

Also very exciting stuff my shoes are here! Now I have to make the final design choices and get them back for their exhibit by the 18th, its a good thing I am a girl who likes a deadline because I sure do have a lot of them in the next few weeks. I am very excited to be a part of this upcoming show.
This is a section of my BIG painting I've been working on, I have a love-hate thing going on with it right now. Working big has always been very challenging for me but I think once I get past all the scary-ness its going to be worth it. My work has been transitioning to be more about temporary spaces lately and how temporary often means ignored. I am beyond excited for my upcoming solo show in GoSA (Gallery of Student Art) in University Centre March 14th and I hope to complete this big monster of a painting long before then.

I will be studying my butt off in the mean time,

-Julie

TOMS

Very exciting stuff, I was selected as one of the winners of a design your own TOMS contest which was put on by Segue in association with SOFA at the U of Manitoba.

.blurb from the fb page.

(Segue is a group of students committed to their spiritual journeys who see great needs in our world. We want to raise awareness of these needs and provide opportunities to get involved and make a difference. We intend to be a part of positive change.

TOMS represents a need and a way to help meet that need. Help us raise awareness of the need and put shoes on the feet of kids in need through our series of TOMS events this year.)

this is my design...

and these are the shoes I will get to put my design on

As one of the winners my shoes and artwork will be displayed in GoSA (gallery of student art) February 28 - March 4 & during the “Style Your Sole” event.

I can't wait to get started on this little project, it should be a great show and I can't wait to see what everyone else does with their shoes!

For more info on TOMS shoe company visit... http://www.tomsshoes.ca/ very cool company with a global perspective!

new year, new work

So I've been decently hard at work once again, with classes and painting and freezing my tush off taking picture outside... All of which are thing I like to do but nevertheless need a push to get going on. Since I am graduating in May I have really been focusing on trying to get the most out of this last little bit of my life that I will be in school for. Before I know it, it will all be over. Both a good and scary thing. So here are a few things I have been working on so far in 2011...

a recent photo collage

my latest painting... my work seems to be getting more abstract

Hopefully I will be able to maintain my good studio work habits well into this new year, and not get overly bogged down with my academic classes. I think I will be able to manage it all and let my academics just serve as research for my paintings.

Oh my beautiful mess of a studio. If you need me ever, this is hopefully where I will be. I'm really going to try and not get caught up in perfection this term, and just paint, "let it flow" if you will... I tend to get in my own way a lot. But have been flooded with ideas lately and am excited to translate that onto a canvas. Exciting stuff.

Thats all for now,

-Julie

best of 2010

One of my lovely friends (fellow photographer/blogger Brittany Mahood) encouraged me to post a "best of 2010". I thought it was a great idea and started scanning through the thousands of photos I have from this past year. So as most of you know this past year 2010, was a big one for me. In early January I had the amazing privilege of travelling to Costa Rica (with YWAM)... it was an absolutely insane (in a good way) experience.

bonfire, bonding time with the new family in CR

baptism at Manuel Antonio

I was in school and living in community with people I had never met. But they were all amazing, I have never felt so accepted in my life. I learned so much, and made great friends.

after a school program in Nicaragua

From there I was able to go on outreach throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Haiti.

across from the Guanacaste YWAM base

Haiti was both a dream come true and a nightmare. It was hectic and blazingly hot. I went with a team of 9 other people to work with those who had been affected by the terrible earthquake (which happened in January 2010). It was life changing! The children were so precious but the atmosphere in the nation was just so different. There is a lot of poverty and fear. I feel like our mission of bringing hope was successful, and though it was challenging, it was so so worth it (these next few were my May in Haiti).

June marked my return to Canada :) how I missed so much about this beautiful country.

Tulabi Falls -- one of my favourite places on earth

I was, needless to say, happy to be back with my family here. For me that includes a lot of people outside my parents and siblings. Mostly from my amazingly supportive church. These beautiful ladies are part of a very special family that shares their love with me and so many others. This was taken right after the beach baptism in September. So carefree. I just love their free spirits.
This candid shot of my mom laughing at my brother with a kayak on his head at our family cabin in October just makes me smile. It had been years since we had all spent thanksgiving together at the lake and I was so thankful that we made it all work this year with all of our crazy schedules pulling us in so many different directions.

fall light after a second thanksgiving dinner with the Cormie family

A very oddly mild November led to this moment captured. A friend at work who always encourages my creativity was interested in some new family shots of her bunch. I really feel like family pictures are one of those very important things that we often put off in our very busy lives. And was more than happy to take these pictures for her. This one I snuck (no warning, un-posed) just wanted to capture the genuine love in this family.

My final "best" was taken a few days ago, while I was finishing off a roll of film on campus. I have taken many pictures of this spot and I always come back to it. I guess I find this graffiti on an old green house to be a little charming. The importance and power of love is underestimated daily I think. But I think its the most important.

Photography has always been such an important way of processing how I see the world. It has been a truly amazing year, full of new experiences and challenges. Hopefully I will be writing again in one year from now with more photos, and stories.

wishing you lots of love and blessings in 2011,

-Julie

back at it...

So I'm back at it. Christmas is over, and it was great! Crazyness at work, busy with family stuff and running around... but I'm settling back into some kind of a routine. Its nice to have time right now before classes start up again on the 5th

I have been working on some photography stuff, re-visiting an idea that I was working with in the winter of 2009. I'm excited to see how it turns out, the photographs on their own don't really look like anything special. But once they are put together they become this new image made up all of these little pieces.

one of the little pieces

I love shooting outside in the winter, but it takes some getting used to your fingers burning from the cold so badly that you want to scream :)

today i found this in my hundreds of haiti photos...

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

--exodus 14:14

So simple but one of the hardest things for me... "being still" is not natural for me. Everything in me wants to be tough and fight my own fights and all of that. But thats not the way it works. It was great to stumble upon this today, just a nice reminder that I can "be still" and its okay. No guilt, just be still and keep quiet, pick your battles and save it for when you really should take a stand.

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