Book of Shadows

Mixed media, altered book workshop with Cathy Stoyko

                       at the Abbey in Cumberland Oct. 6th and 7th

      Join Cathy Stoyko at the Abbey Studio in Cumberland for an intensive 2 day exploration of mixed media painting and altered book techniques, visual story telling and creating with intention. Using 2nd hand and 'freestore' children's board books as the base you will create a personal art book, your own a 'Book Of Shadows'. It could also be called a Book of; Wisdom, Dreams, Magic, Prayers, Visions... you decide. We will use images a

nd text to tell stories, honour muses, manifest visions, record dreams, recipies, significant memories, lists and more. This may end up being a work in progress and a jumping off point for future projects. Learn fun mixed media techniques that can be applied to other art practices, perfect for new and experienced artists.

     "We will start by sanding and priming the pages with gesso. While these are drying we will look at examples of altered books and mixed media art and I'll demo a variety of mixed media techniques. Then we will start creating backgrounds and layers on the pages. For each page spread I'll suggest some ideas and give you prompts to jump off from. Work stations with tools, materials and prompts will be set around the room to use during the workshop and a creative flurry will be had!"

    Cathy has been active in the arts in the Comox Valley community for over a decade and loves to share her passion for creating. She has taught various mixed media art workshops in the past for children and adults at the Dennman Island Arts Centre, at the Abbey, Comox Valley Art Gallery and through the Denman Island and Cumberland community schools.


    The workshop will take place on the weekend of Oct 6th and 7th. Conact Cathy for more information and to pre register at cdstoyko@unserve.com or call (250) 218-0704. Bring a lunch or plan to pick something up at one of the near by Cumberland cafes. Class size is limited to 10 people and if you register by Sept. 30th  pay only $100(m

ost materials and tools are included and provided). Those who register will get a list of suggested ideas and things to bring like personal ephemera, photos/copies and basic tools to bring. 

The Abbey Studio is lcated at the corner of 1st & Penrith Ave. in Cumberland.

Collaborative Book Projects For All Ages

above pages from a community art jam, collaborative  book
"I believe__________" (you finish the sentence)




Recently I was staying with a dancer friend of mine in Seattle, Julia. She is working on a collaborative story book with her daughter's class, her daughter is eight. My daughter is close to the same age and I have been thinking about doing a similar project at her school. Hearing about her book got me inspired again. Julia's idea is to retell the story of The Woman Who Swallowed A Fly (I don't know why she swallowed a fly...) Each child makes up their own verse and designs a larger, fancy capital letter to start the verse off with. Also, everyone creates an image in a specified size to go with the verse. She plans to altar an existing book or create a book and then arrange the pages with a verse and an image on each page. Her vision is for the book to be large and in the style of an old fashioned fairy tale book. Sounds like a fun project and I hope to keep you updated and post a photo of the finished book. Here are some photos of 'fun for all ages' collaborative book projects that I've organized in the past. I encourage you to create your own collaborative book project. Plan an art jam, take it to the classroom or collaborate with others from near and far through the mail! See my older posts from 2010 for more details, photos and instructions about collaborative book projects like:

October- Exquisite Corpse Collaborative Board Book (how to)

 November- Art Jam Report  "I believe_______"

 December- Moonlight Madness Collaborative Book Project

Exquisite Corpse collaborative board book

 
collaborative alphabet book

Random Acts of Creativity and Love

  Valentine Fairies Shower Cumberland with Love!

Feb. 14th, 2012 was my first Valentine's day in Cumberland B.C. I was delighted to learn that it's a modern Cumberland tradition for anonymous 'Valentine Fairies' to plaster the main st. with hundreds of hearts bearing words of wisdom about love. I had the fortune of strolling down Dunsmuire St. that day on my way to the park and took these photos. Enjoy!

Last dream arrived and show came down today

Just came back from taking the 'Sigmificant Dream' mail art show down and the whole show fits in a small box! Mail art, gotta love it! Also, one last post card arrived, enjoy. Thanks again to the Comox Valley Art Gallery for help with the show and exhibition space and thanks mostly, thanks to all the contributors from near and afar that made this show a success! Looking forward to the next project, hmmm...

anonymous, Comox Valley

More Dreams

New 'Significant dream' postcards that were made at the workshop earlier this month at the Comox Valley Art Gallery. Check out the 'Significant Dream' page on this blog to see the complete show. The post cards made at the workshop will also be added to the show at the Comox Valley Art gallery in Courtenay which runs until Nov. 5th, 2011

anonymous

Leah Taylor, Courtenay B.C.

Brenda Jackson, Courtenay B.C.

Significant Dream Mail Art Show and workshop at the CVAG

Significant Dream 

WORKSHOP

Date: Saturday October 15, 2011

Age: 12 years & over including adults

Time: 3:30pm to 5pm

Cost: $15 - $25 sliding scale, includes most materials

Location: CVAG Lower Level Studio

About The Workshop

In this workshop you will get a chance to produce 2-3 of your own ‘Significant Dream’ inspired artworks. All materials are included, but bring anything you would like to include in your work. 

Hope you can come out and play this weekend! Mail art and collaborative projects are a fun and inspiring way to create and connect with folks both near and afar. We will get out of our heads and create 2- 3 post card sized works during the 2 hours using fun excersises and mixed media and collage techniques. All materials provided. Pre-registration is required, register by Thursday Oct. 13th if you are planning to come.

Photos of the Significant Dream mail art show at the Comox Valley Art Gallery.

Show is up until November 5, 2011

see the complete show in detail by visiting this page

Significant Dream MAIL ART Project opens this Friday at the CVAG

New art exhibits at CVAG explore life, dreams, breath and death…

On Friday September 16th from 7pm, Comox Valley Art Gallery opens 3 new exhibits; “A Releasing Breath”, “Always and Forever”, and “The Significant Dream Project” which explore life, dreams, religion, breath and death.  Everyone is invited to attend this celebratory reception from 7pm-9pm, artists will be in attendance and refreshments will be served.  These exhibits will run from September 17 – November 5th, 2011 during regular gallery hours.

In the main gallery, “A Releasing Breath” features the artwork of Sara Vipond (Hornby Island BC) and

Joël D. (Cortes Island BC).  This show examines the physical, visceral and liminal qualities of life/death of the human body.  A series of ceramic sculptural abstractions of human/animal body parts and delicate translucent drawings questions the connection, or lack thereof, of life and the beyond.  Joël D.’s ceramic sculpture echo the shapes of internal organs and muscle tissue, appearing to be parts from science fiction cyborgs.  Some of them are finished in pale colours, lending a ghostly yet institutional feeling to the work.  Vipond’s work is comprised of prints and drawings that use the language of medical illustration to infuse the human action of breathing with lyrical and ethereal qualities.  Together the pieces weave an experience of the space between body and breath; what can be touched and what cannot.

Sara Vipond holds a BFA from University of Toronto and an MFA from York University and is a visual art instructor for North Island College and Emily Carr University.  She will be giving an art talk to discuss the works in this show on Saturday September 24th from 1pm – 2pm at the CVAG. 

Joël D. has a Visual Arts Diploma from Centennial College, Ontario and studied at Alberta College of Art, completing a BFA at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

The Arts and Crafts Gallery features “Always and Forever”, artwork by artist Robert James (Courtenay BC), who goes by the moniker “YARTYS”.  His exhibit of Old World European reliquary chests, crosses, mirrors and sculpture will be on display only until September 28th.  His works are created in his Comox Valley studio/workshop using a variety of woods and found objects.  These pieces are inspired by his travels to cathedrals, churches, shrines, and museums throughout Europe and South America.  He has a Diploma in Architecture, Bachelor Degrees in Industrial/ Technology Education and Visual Arts and has taught at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta; North Island College, BC; and various Alberta and BC high schools as well as Japan & Korea.

“The Significant Dream Project”, taking place in the George Sawchuk Gallery and organized by Cathy Stoyko (Cumberland BC) brings approximately 80 artists from around the globe, whom have sent in a total of about 100 dream based artworks.   Along with postcard sized art, there are also 2 'dream' related zines and an incredible collage.  Stoyko says, “One of the interesting observations I have made after seeing all of the art work people have sent is the honesty in dreams. It is one of the beautiful things about dreaming, our ego isn't involved in the same way. Another inspiring aspect about dreams is that anything is possible and that is a good reminder to carry over into our waking lives, the surrealist know this well.”

Cathy Stoyko operated The Abbey Gallery in Cumberland BC from 2004-7.  For the past 15 years she’s been active in the local arts community as an artist, dancer, choreographer, mask maker, costume designer, event organizer/producer and curator. She also organizes collaborative and correspondence art projects and cabaret/performance art events.

Comox Valley Art Gallery is located at 580 Duncan Ave, in the old Firehall.  Hours are 10am-5pm, Mon-Sat. For more information 250 338 6211, visit our website or find us on Facebook.