an artist's garden
About a week ago I wrote about some garden art we'd installed to hold up some flowering plants. One commenter in that post mentioned Derek Jarman's garden in Kent, England, including a link to wonderful photos of it as... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 11/07/2011 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Other artists
Gabriola Petroglyph Park
Back to our visit and explorations a month ago (already!) on Gabriola Island. I previously featured a few images taken of some petroglyphs we found on one forest trail. The next day we visited the Gabriola Museum. Though closed... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/06/2011 | 8 comments
themes: Books, Canada and BC, Rock Art & Archaeology, Travel
lichen
More lichen studies at the scanner (see previous post and comments). A few days ago, I received my copies of MERCY ISLAND by Ren Powell and I've been dipping into the poems at random, allowing a slow digestion of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/03/2011 | 16 comments
themes: Books, Nature, Photoworks
Mercy Island
I am thrilled and honoured to have one of my very favourite and special-to-me photographs on the cover of Mercy Island, a collection of new and selected poetry by Ren Powell and just published by Phoenicia.
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 03/03/2011 | 22 comments
themes: Books, Meta-morphosis, Photography
Marshall McLuhan Centennial
Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) was already a famous Canadian name for my husband and me in our student days at the University of Manitoba where he too received his first degrees. You may have heard the phrases "the medium is... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 04/02/2011 | 5 comments
themes: Books, Concepts, Culture
the art instinct
I heard a fascinating podcast quite some time ago on CBC Radio's IDEAS Podcasts and had saved the link, meaning to share it on my blog. Forgotten though it was, I found it again today as I was going... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/11/2010 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Concepts, Rock Art & Archaeology
more Mary Anning
Ichthyosaur skull, Lyme Regis Museum Some readers may recall a post I wrote about a book which I enjoyed reading while on vacation last spring at our favourite on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Yesterday, in my rounds... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 22/11/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Books, History
eBook readers
This Bizarro cartoon is especially for Joe who just wrote about his new eBook reader. It's also for blog friends Barrett and Hattie and other proud owners of eBook readers. The first time I saw and held one was... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/10/2010 | 19 comments
themes: Books, Neat stuff
a volunteer
This datura emerged in my pot of sweet bell peppers, not quite as large as the one that grew in another pot three years ago. As it did back then, it still makes me think of some prehistoric giant... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/08/2010 | 13 comments
themes: Books, Nature, Photoworks
women who inspire
I am touched and honoured that author Kate A. Laity has chosen me as one of many women who are 'an inspiration' over at a new women's group blog curiously called Women's League of Ale Drinkers, a repository of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/08/2010 | 6 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Blogging, Books
bones, stones & fossils
As so many of us do on seashores everywhere, I like to pick up interesting shells and stones and take some home. This time, on our recent little vacation on the west coast, I discovered small stones that seemed... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 02/06/2010 | 16 comments
themes: Books, Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rocks
Alice and algebra
image from wikipedia As you can imagine, art has been my main interest in my life right from when I could hold a crayon. I took art in high school along with the required variety... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/03/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Books, Films, History
Olga Campbell's Graffiti Alphabet
Friend and fellow-artist Olga Campbell has just published her very first book, Graffiti Alphabet. She calls it a visual tour of the graffiti of Vancouver. I just bought a copy from her a few days ago and I've been... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/11/2009 | 6 comments
themes: Books, Other artists
revisiting Hornby's petroglyphs
This year's mini-vacation to Hornby Island was a sort of pilgrimage for me as we revisited some favourite spots from past visits. It must be over 15 years ago when we first saw the petroglyphs made... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 09/11/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Books, Canada and BC, Photoworks, Rock Art & Archaeology, Rocks
William and Kate Blake
I have just finished reading a fascinating book about a famous artist-printmaker-poet and his wife. As a printmaker, I found this passage particularly intriguing to find in a historical novel: William and I began to be real partners in Printing.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 03/10/2009 | 18 comments
themes: Books, History, Other artists, Printmaking
weather fireworks
We had the most spectacular thunderstorm Saturday evening lasting about three hours. We rarely get them and usually only briefly. Dark billowing clouds were moving in from the east and the north, and soon multiple forks of lightning crackled over... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/07/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Books, Canada and BC
K.A. Laity's Unikirja: Dream Book
I want to take a short break from the subject of our recent trip to tell you about a special book that I'm very excited to learn is now published and available: Unikirja: Dream Book. Author Kate A. Laity has... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 31/05/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Books, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths
talk on creativity
You must watch this amazing video at TED. Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have"... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/02/2009 | 13 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Films
older female geeks
Natalie d'Arbeloff, artist, cartoonist, author of the amazing 'The God Interviews' and blogger with alter-ego Blaugustine continues to inspire me with her colourful career and many talents, her humour and her energy.
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/06/2008 | 8 comments
themes: Blogging, Books, Other artists
a letter from Teju
My friend Teju Cole is the author of Every Day is for the Thief, which began life as a temporary blog, and was published in Nigeria last year. He is at work on another book, a novel about a young... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/05/2008 | 6 comments
themes: Books, Other artists, Photography
Robert Rauschenberg 1925-2008
I've just learned that one of my favourite contemporary artists has died at 82: Robert Rauschenberg. The New York Times has a very good obituary on him. In case you cannot get past the registration wall that it may... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/05/2008 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Other artists
Elaine de Kooning
Recently I discovered Elaine de Kooning and some work she had done at Crown Point over 20 years ago...
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 06/03/2008 | 6 comments
themes: Books, Other artists, Printmaking, Rock Art & Archaeology
Looking back: Jule favourites
Deep in the archives of three years ago is this favourite Christmas season post of mine and reposted here almost fully: My favourite things about Christmas are the things that appeal to the romantic and the child in me.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 16/12/2007 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Culture, Home, Music
Marianna Schmidt
I was very pleased to have seen a large body of Schmidt's mixed media works at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam (a suburb of Vancouver) on its last day and last hour!
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/09/2007 | be the first to comment
themes: Art Exhibitions, Books, Other artists
sun and shadows
summer is here at last
hot days, warm nights
seeking shade, cooling breezes
just finished reading Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 06/07/2007 | be the first to comment
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Recently
Tove Jansson biography
Way back in February of 2005, I wrote about trolls and my love of folk legends, myths and fairy tales especially anything Finnish. In that context came up the name of internationally well-known Tove Jansson and her Moomintrolls. There... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 20/05/2007 | 13 comments
themes: Books, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Recently
Kalevala and Vietnam
I know that the Finnish national epic the Kalevala is read around the world, translated as it is into 61 languages. So I've been quite intrigued to read a fascinating story about two Vietnamese women and their involvement with... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/03/2007 | 14 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Recently
Ancient British Columbia
I'm thrilled and proud to have two of my photographs of Hornby Island petroglyphs in this book....
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 28/01/2007 | 3 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Rock Art & Archaeology
the xylothek
Alnarp, Sweden is the home of a unique Wooden Library. "The wooden library, or xylothek (from the Greek words for tree, xylon, and storing place, theke) consists of 217 volumes describing 213 different species or varieties of trees and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/11/2006 | 12 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Recently
mellow
Well, it's still rather soggy in southwest BC, with storm after storm bringing us more heavy rains in the past nearly two weeks than we normally get in the whole month of November, usually our wettest month of the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/11/2006 | 9 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Music, Recently
Griffin & Sabine
Griffin and Sabine, An Extraordinary Correspondence, written and illustrated by Nick Bantock grew into a series of six books that achieved great popularity and are some of my very favourites. I love the artwork, letters inside envelopes and postcards... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/10/2006 | 7 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Other artists, Recently
summer reading
"Tita thought of the many times she had germinated kernels or seeds of rice, beans, or alfalfa, without giving any thought to how it felt for them to grow and change form so radically. Now she admired the way... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 10/07/2006 | 7 comments
themes: Books, Recently
Canadian books
Canadian publisher McClelland & Stewart is celebrating 100 years and has put out their Essential 100 list of books: "Selected from the 700 plus M&S backlist titles currently available, our Essential 100 consists of those titles that should be on... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 01/05/2006 | 9 comments
themes: Books, Recently
Night Gardening
"Deep within each of us lies a garden. An intensely personal place. Throughout most of our lives, this garden remains hidden from view save for brief glimpses during moments spent daydreaming or in quiet contemplation...but many of us long... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 28/04/2006 | 3 comments
themes: Books, Recently
Kathan Brown
This is very interesting for printmakers and other artists! Artist-blogger Gregg Chadwick at Speed of Life has written: "Kathan Brown, the founder of San Francisco's Crown Point Press, has a new book out - "Magical Secrets about Thinking Creatively:... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/04/2006 | 4 comments
themes: Books, Other artists, Printmaking, Recently
Toronto's Lord of the Rings
"The much-anticipated musical theatre version of The Lord of the Rings made its formal début in a gala première in Toronto on Thursday evening, and the reactions of the audience suggested that the massive production would not be leaving... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/03/2006 | 13 comments
themes: Books, Films, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Music, Recently
Santa Lucia's Day
Illustration by Satomi Ichikawa in Merry Christmas - Children at Christmastime around the world (Wm.Heinemann, 1983) In Helsingin Sanomat is an article about the Saint Lucia parade held last night, December 13th, in Helsinki. "As the doors of the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/12/2005 | 2 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Recently
Finnish libraries
The Dome Hall, National Library of Finland As I've mentioned before, I love reading Virtual Finland for all kinds of interesting facts about my birth country. I knew that Finns have long led the world in reading and literacy.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/11/2005 | 2 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History, Recently
a blog adieu
"This blog is thinking about hibernation. I'm an Adorable Little Rodent (TLB blog ranking) with hundreds of hits a day. But I'm getting bored with my humble self and I want to spend time on other things." Sadly for us... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/11/2005 | 6 comments
themes: Blogging, Books, Recently
Picasso and grandson
Protean Picasso: Drawings and Prints from the National Gallery of Canada and Selected Paintings from International Collections, an exhibition that brings together the full scope of the artist’s career through drawings, prints and paintings, opened at the Vancouver Art... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/10/2005 | 5 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Books, Other artists, Recently
Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf
This is the unusual and attention-grabbing title of a new book on Finland, as announced in the aforementioned e-newsletter from Canadian Friends of Finland. The announcement reads: DEAR FINN OR PART- FINN: Finland is revealed in a new book by... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 15/10/2005 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Recently
a rubbing
This is a rubbing I made of a wonderful image embedded in the cover of a book I found in the library a few days ago. 'Indian Rock Carvings of the Pacific Northwest' by Edward Meade (1971) has numerous... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 01/10/2005 | 7 comments
themes: Blogging, Books, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
Pekka Kivikäs
As my readers know, I'm nuts about prehistoric art, particularly that of northern Europe. One site that I check periodically is Arkeo.net, a Finnish portal for archaeology fans. Recently I spotted a notice about some new books (PDF) that... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/09/2005 | 3 comments
themes: Books, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
Spirit in the Stone
"Salmon Man" on beach at Quadra Island - drawing by Hilary Stewart I am slowly savoring 'Spirit in the Stone' by Joy Inglis, a book that was recommended to me by reader Irene from Manitoba and which I recently... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 31/08/2005 | 23 comments
themes: Books, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
Lascaux Caves replica
The Unicorn in the Great Hall of the Bulls, Lascaux Caves A few days ago I picked up a gorgeous book from the library - Chauvet Cave: The Art of Earliest Times by Jean Clottes, and Paul G. Bahn... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/08/2005 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
Land of the Saame
Photo by Pekka Antikainen, in "Land of the Saame" As my dear readers know, I'm fascinated by the northern indigenous cultures, in particular the Saami people of northern Europe who are a branch of the Finno-Ugric family. Some time... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/06/2005 | 5 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Ethnicity, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Other artists, Photography, Recently
on artists & celebrity
Poking around in my bookmarked "articles to re-read", I was taken in once again by this Guardian interview of JG Ballard about a year ago. His thoughts on today's art scene struck a chord with me: "Today's art scene? Very... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/06/2005 | 8 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Culture, Films, Recently
Hans Christian Andersen Bicentenary
A few days ago I received a lovely letter from a good friend in Denmark. She mentioned that the whole country is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, as are many countries around the... [Continue Reading...]reading break
"And when at last a puff of air would toss a delicate thread of scent his way, he would lunge at it and not let it go. Then he would smell at only this one odor, holding it tight,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/04/2005 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Recently
book meme
Amy passed on the stick for this book meme which I didn't want to do for a lack of time, but it stuck in my mind. So here's a quick list because I've not been reading as much as I... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/03/2005 | 2 comments
themes: Books, Recently
'Rings' debut in Toronto
"The much-anticipated stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy will have its world premiere in Toronto, producers announced in London Tuesday. The $27-million show, co-produced by Toronto's Mirvish Productions, will open in March 2006 at the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/03/2005 | 2 comments
themes: Books, Films, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Music, Recently
all about trolls
Illustration by Rudolf Koivu, "The troll and the shepherdess" in "Matka Satumaahan" (A Trip to the Land of Fairytales) by Raul Roine, Otava, Helsinki 1954 Sometimes I wonder if some readers think I'm silly when I write about my... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 04/02/2005 | 7 comments
themes: Books, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Recently
why do we like art?
Recently (Jan.17th) Arts Journal had a post with a question, "We like art, anyone know why? .... why do we care about art? And, given that we obviously do (and that this is worldwide phenomenon that has stretched throughout history),... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/01/2005 | be the first to comment
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Concepts, Recently
My favourite things
about Christmas are the things that appeal to the romantic and the child in me. I love the visual delights of little white lights, red candles, evergreens, snow, red berries, pine cones and red folk embroidery on linens. I love... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/12/2004 | 3 comments
themes: Books, Culture, Music, Recently
Pierre Berton 1920-2004
Pierre Berton died today at the age of 84. A well-known award-winning author of 50 books and a broadcaster, he was one of Canada's best known and beloved figures. He wrote about his life in the Yukon and about Canada... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/11/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Culture, Recently
more about Elvish
Shelley at Burningbird wrote this about a Guide to Elvish: "If you're a Tolkien fan, or interested in linguistics, David Salo's new book on the linguistics of Elvish, Gateway to Sindarin, A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J. R.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/11/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Linguistics, Recently
Stonehenge book
Here's an interesting tidbit about Stonehenge found in today's Arts Journal: Daily Arts News: 'Stonehenge Under Attack (For 150 Years) - Debate is roaring over a plan to redo the Stonehenge site to accomodate tourists. But photographs over the past... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 22/11/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
archaeology & anthropology books
As my dear readers know, I'm fascinated by archaeology and anthropology. So, this article in the Guardian caught my eye: Michelle Paver's favourite books on archaeology and anthropology. All the listed books, some new to me, make me greedy for... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/11/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Recently
The Museum Called Canada
Imagine this - an interesting website with a virtual tour about a book The Museum Called Canada. The "tour guides" are "a renowned academic and author with a documented love for unconventional histories" Charlotte Gray and "museum curator" is the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/10/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, History, Recently
Nick Bantock exhibition
"URGENT 2ND CLASS": The Art of Nick Bantock and Book Launch for his new book, Urgent 2nd Class (Raincoast Books) - opening tonight Tuesday, September 7th and continuing until Sept. 26th at the Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver, BC... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/09/2004 | 1 comment
themes: Art Exhibitions, Books, Recently
man and beast engravings
Eliane at Sellotape Files pointed to Bezembinder who has featured a gorgeous online version of Le Brun's System on Physiognomy by Morel d'Arleux (after Charles Le Brun). "The present exhibition concerns a rare and astonishing album of engravings first published... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 03/09/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Printmaking, Recently
the artist in a gift economy
I am really going to have to get my hands on this book: "The Gift - Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property" by Lewis Hyde**. I am very intrigued and find the quotes really resonate with me as a... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 13/08/2004 | 3 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Concepts, Recently
alphabet books
Abecedarium is an online exhibit of lovely hand-made alphabet books by the Guild of Book Workers. "Given only the 'alphabet' theme, each participant has created a unique interpretation of the letterform, delivering two- and three-dimensional works in a plethora of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 14/06/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Printmaking, Recently
ancient pages
A few days ago when visiting Mysterium, I found this treasure: the Diamond Sutra, a Chinese Buddhist scroll printed in 868 that is the world's oldest, dated, printed book.... yes oldest! It is featured in the British Library's website Turning... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/05/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Recently
the artist's childhood
As a child I loved reading books and fairy tales were my very favourite. My first books were in Finnish written by Finnish authors, but most loved were the tales collected by the Grimm Brothers. This edition, a very... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/05/2004 | 1 comment
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Recently
an artist's retreat
Last week my husband and I went to our favourite retreat on the west coast of Vancouver Island, staying in a small, rustic oceanfront cabin near Pacific Rim National Park and Tofino. It had the basic necessities of a small... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/04/2004 | 5 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Photography, Recently
for the child in us all
Now, this is off my usual topics but I really want to share what I found on Keri Smith's blog: "If you haven't been, run don't walk to Shel Silverstein.com". I thought I'd have a look and then fell in... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/03/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Recently
Rock art research
In my research into the history and art of my ancestors, a wealth of information has come from Loit Joekalda. He believes the best researcher of the rock art of the Fenno-Ugrians is Väino Poikalainen, chair of the Estonian Society... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/02/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Books, Ethnicity, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology
Fenno-Ugrian people
Some of my image research delves into the marks left by early humans, particularly the Fenno-Ugrian peoples. Their region includes Finland (my birth country), Karelia (now in Russia), Estonia and Lapland or Sami. The Gallen-Kallela Museum in Finland had an... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 03/01/2004 | be the first to comment
themes: Art Exhibitions, Books, Culture, Ethnicity, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History, Recently, Rock Art & Archaeology