Community Altars

Community altar, Cumberland, B.C. 2008

detail from above altar

   This is the time of the year when the veil between the worlds is thin, a time to connect with the dearly departed and ancestors.  Many civilizations and cultures have created rituals at this time of year to honor and celebrate the dead.  Feast of All Souls, All Saints Day and Dia De Los Muertos all fall between the end of Oct 30 and beginning of Nov. Many of these rituals include; visiting, cleaning, and decorating the graves of loved ones, creating altars and, feasting. The above community altar was created for the 'Day of the Dead' art show at the Abbey in Cumberland B.C. in 2008. People were asked to bring offerings for the altar such as; food, flowers, meaningful objects and/or photographs of loved ones, ancestors, mentors... that have passed away. It is a powerful way to celebrate this magical time of the year with community.  
   In the Mexican tradition of the day of the Dead, this not about sadness and grief but a time to celebrate, remember and connect with the dead! I was first exposed to this tradition and, community altars back in the early 9o's when I was working at La Quena, a volunteer run, Latin American coffee house on Commercial Dr. in Vancouver B.C. It was also around the time when my father and grandmother passed away and I found these rituals really resonated with me. A few years later I was a witch in the first Public Dreams 'Parade of the Lost Souls' in Vancouver. Public Dreams Society was created by Paula Jardine, an inspiring Canadian artist that creates community art events, see the 'art in community' link on this blog FMI about Paula Jardine's work. The Parade of the Lost Souls is a collaborative community event that continues to be a Vancouver tradition and community altars and shrines play an important role in this event. Many communities hold similar events involving community altars and personal shrines, examples can be seen on the following links. 
http://www.reclaimingquarterly.org/web/dia/dia-1.html
http://www.allsoulsprocession.org/projects/personal-altars


   

Bee Hive Collective coming to Denman Isl. Oct. 26th

   Denman Island will be visited by the Bee Hive Collective on October 26th. They describe themselves as an all volunteer, internationally renowned political arts and activism group that creates educational materials on issues of corporate globalization, colonialism, militarism, resource extraction, and resistance. Their Denman Island visit will explore the 'True Coast of Coal', and I'm sure they will inspire acts of creative resistance around this issue which is so close to home with the proposed coal mine in Fanny Bay. The bees will be at the Denman Island Community Hall (back hall) on Tuesday evening, October 26th to share information about what they do and, they will present a performance. Also, they'll be doing an art workshop for the school kids at the Denman Community School. I've only just heard about this group myself and I am looking forward to checking it out and encourage others in the area to 'interact with the bees'.

Their mission;

To cross-pollinate the grassroots, by creating collaborative, anti-copyright images that can be used as educational and organizing tools.

detail from the Bee Hive Collective, 'True Cost Of Coal' collaborative poster project

Some more info about the Bees taken from the BeeHiveCollective website- 



The Bees have spent 10 years developing an innovative and story-based education strategy that we share through a variety of interactive, image-based picture-lectures and graphic workshops. We believe that art is a tool for popular analysis, education and organizing- and that the complex and overwhelming issues that face our world can be broken down and understood in simple pictures.
In our workshops and presentations, we use giant, portable murals to deconstruct issues as far-reaching as globalization, climate change, colonization and resource extraction. We strive to provoke discussion, raise hard questions, and share hopeful stories about the small-scale changes and actions we can undertake to build a better world. Our current workshops and presentations include: Mountain Top Removal- The True Costs of Coal, Dismantling Monoculture- Tales of Ants & Economies in the Americas, Mesoamerica Resiste!- Celebrating Resistance to Plan Puebla Panama, and Graphics For The Commons- Collaborative Graphic Design for Movement Building.

  
   
Find out more at-


http://www.beehivecollective.org/english/front.htm

ATCs, Comox Valley Trade Show and, R.A.G. deadline Nov.1.2010

         Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of original art measuring 2 ½” x 3 ½” (6.35 x 8.89 cm) that are made to be traded.  This international art movement is intended to be are non-commercial, non-hierarchical, non- judgemental avenue for artistic exchange. The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland. There is much info out there on the web about ATCs; history, swaps, techniques, trading groups... 

    I was first introduced to ATCs back the early 90's at the ARTROPOLIS exhibition in Vancouver B.C. I was intrigued but didn't become an active ATC enthusiast until 2004. In 2007 I hosted the 'Comox Valley Trade Show', an ATC swap via mail and, exhibition in Courtenay B.C. and later on Denman Island. About 70 entries came in (1-2 sets of 9 cards), making a total 661 interesting and diverse ATCs to display and enjoy. Overall, the show/swap was a success and a learning curve personally, it was the first project like this I had hosted. Each participant sent in a set of 9 cards and received a print catalogue along with 6 exchanged cards by mail after the show came down. I kept 1 card from each set as a perk for project organizing and, the host gallery Leapenhi Paper got 1 card from each set for their collection. The show at Leapenhi Paper inspired a Comox Valley ATC group to form and, they still hold monthly swaps in Courtenay at the Zocolo Cafe.  

Here are some photos from the 'Comox Valley Trade Show' 

Denman Island Arts Centre Oct. 2007

Leapenhi Paper in Courtenay B.C. Sept. 2007

  I haven't been making ATCs as much lately but, was re-inspired when I saw that the Richmond Art Gallery ATC show deadline is fast approaching, November 1st , 2010. This is the 5th annual ATC exhibition organized by the RAG. I have contributed to this show in the past and it was a great experience. I encourage you to submit to this show! Cards will be on exhibit in the gallery November 26, 2010 - January 22, 2011 and, a closing ceremony and trading session will be held on Jan. 22, 2011.  

For more details see-  http://www.richmondartgallery.org/pdfs/ATC_2010_Call_for_Entries.pdf

or visit  http://www.richmondartgallery.org/index.php

Flashmob dance in Nanaimo!

According to wikipedia -

   A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests, and publicity stunts.

    The first flashmob dance I saw was a youtube video sent to me by a friend, The Sound of Music in Central Station, Antwerp, Belgium. This is still a favorite and I've attached a link at the bottom of this posting in case you haven't experienced this phenomena yet. Although, years before I remember being really inspired by a FatBoySlim video where a 'flashmob' like dance evolves out of a movie lineup/cue in a large city somewhere in the USA. Another classic and, slightly creepy flashmob dance that became well known thanks to youtube is Micheal Jackson's 'Thriller' performed by inmates in a prison. Apparently, this performance was so 'successfull'  that the prison now invites the public into the 'yard'  to see the dance for a fee, crazy! 
    My own experience of participating in a flashmob style dance happened spontaneously after the 'sing-a-long Hair' event at the Abbey in Cumberland back in 2006. A crew of us maybe 15-20 people (not quite a mob) were dancing and reveling after this event and, decided to 'shape shift'  through the Waverly, a busy bar next door. We 'shape shifted' in the front door, through the crowded dance floor, and out the back exit still in our fabulous 'hip' outfits. Not quite flashmob, but still embodying the spirit. Anyway, as you can tell flashmob dance inspires me and I wanted to share info about a releated dance event in Nanaimo organized by the Crimson Coast Dance Society. This info was taken from the Crimson Coast Dance website and more details about this event and the INFRINGING DANCE FESTIVAL can be found by visiting their website.

 

Flash Mob 

choreographed by Amber Funk Barton of the response dance company

rehearsals at the Scout Hut, behind Tim Hortons at Comox and Wallace in Nanaimo

Sat. Oct. 9th, 11-2:30  & Sun. Oct 10th, 11-1:30

also Nov. 16th &17th time and place TBA

Suitable for anyone who can learn a simple movement/dance routine and repeat it. We would love you to come to all of the rehearsals. Learn the dance, teach it to others, bring them along,

learn 3-5 minutes of dance. Wear comfy clothes and shoes, bring water.

This dance will be performed tree times, three different days, times and places, in November

as part of our INFRINGING DANCE FESTIVAL.

There is no charge to participate in this event thanks to out funders. 

Sorry for the late notice about the workshop. I wish I could be there! I would love to hear feedback about the workshop/event.


Link for favorite, popular, flashmob dance  'Sound of Music', Central Station, Antwerp, Belgium


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

exquisite corpse collaborative book project

   The exquisite corpse is a surrealist technique that exploits the mystique of accident. It is kind of a collective collage of words and/or images based on an old parlor game. Each wrote a phrase on a sheet of paper, folded the paper to conceal part of it, and passed in on to the next player for his/her contribution. The game was adapted to the possibilities of drawing, and even collage by assigning a section of the body to each player.

   Back in 2005 I hosted a collaborative 'Exquisite Corpse' book project. I invited about 15 people to contribute and, ended up with a total of 14 pages including my own. Each person was sent an 8.5" X 11" piece of matt board  to create their image on, along with basic info about the project and, instructions. Also, I asked people to write a three line description of the character they created.

   I made the front /back covers and, a title page with the list of contributers. The finished book was bound with binder rings. *Before cutting and assembling the book I made color copies on card stock of each page and, of the covers.  These copies were comb bound and then the pages were cut in 3 sections. Each contributing artist received a limited edition copy.

    The finished book exceeded my expectations and, the seemingly endless combinations of random, fantastical 'corpses' and text never cease to intrigue. The following year I hosted a second Exquisite Corpse book project and wrote a 'how to' article about the project for Artititude Zine issue #23 (Artitude is now out of print but back issues can be found by visiting www.artitudezine.com).  I encourage others to participate in, and/or host a collaborative book project. I hope this is inspiring!   
Here are some photos of the actual process-
  

photos of the process

cut matt board pages 

putting it together with binder rings

cutting 'copied edition' pages (front and back covers are folded back)

Enjoy discovering the seemingly endless combinations of images and text!

   

the Denman Island Graffiti Fence

I took a nice panorama shot of the Graffiti Fence today when I went to check my mail. This is right across the street from my mail box. The Graffiti Fence is a Denman Island phenomena that I so treasure. It is a space where anyone can express themselves; their ideas, views, visions, promote an event, post a community notice, commemorate a birthday/wedding/death... anything goes! There seems to be an unspoken etiquette about sharing the space, when something has been on the fence for a while you paint over it or, you alter it for your own creation. I'm not sure how long this has been an Island landmark, I've been here 15 years now and I get the feeling this fence outdates my arrival by many years. I believe it was originally built by the local volunteer fire dept. for safety reasons, as behind the fence there is a steep cliff that drops straight down into an old limestone quarry.

Long live the Graffiti fence!

Gallery of Dreams

The first 'Significant Dream' post card arrived in todays mail and makes for an interesting and exciting beginning to this project. Thank you so much!
To stay updated about this project visit the 'Significant Dream' page on this blog.

Text around drawing reads-

I dream in texture and tone... flying over every crook and valley never seeing the whole.

Significant dream project and introduction to my blog

Above is a post card that I sent to myself about a significant dream I had back in 2006. The 'message' of this dream was the inspiration for this blog, so it seems a good place to start. I hope to share my passion for collaborative art and 'art in community' by posting projects, observations, documentation... of these ideas at work in my community and world wide.

I recently posted a mail art project 'Significant Dream' and invite you to participate. Please send me a post card size art work about a significant dream you've had. Create an image using any technique; collage, mixed media, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography... On the back include some information about the dream like; a brief description, what was the most memorable aspect of the dream, any insights, was it a reoccurring dream, how did you feel when you woke up, approx. when did you have this dream... 
Send art work to -

Significant Dream Project

1480 Pickles Rd.

Denman Island B.C.

V0R 1T0

Contributions to this mail art project will be included in an exhibition planned for 2011 in the Comox Valley, B.C. Deadline March 20, 2011, no returns, documentation to all participants. I will post project entries on the 'Signifigant Dream' page of this blog and, will keep you updated about the upcoming show.

Hope to see you in dreams!

About my dream-

There is some kind of natural disaster, meteorites falling in San Fransisco Bay. I try to escape on a motor bike but the waves are coming, then I am flying. I am a 'tattoo flash' style blue swallow. I fly and fly and fly. I am tired and falling when I get/hear this message "the collaborative spirit". This message gives me strength to keep flying. I finally land in New Orleans at a dock. People are in survival mode, eating snails, bugs... what ever is available, someone shares food with me. A man of 'means' is in a sea plane well stocked with supplies, looking out for himself. The message I received in this dream has stayed with me and continues to inspire me.  When I awoke I was sore from flying and it took a couple days for this real muscle ache to subside. Dreamt in 2006.