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.