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Happy 141st!
It's Canada Day today. Despite all the hoopla, crowds and fireworks everywhere, we're just enjoying the holiday around home, puttering about and trying to keep cool in a heat wave. This thoughtful Canada Day meditation, written by a Canadian... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 1, 2008
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white nights
Awake at 3:30 this morning, unable to get back to sleep, I made myself a soothing cup of hot cocoa (with goat's milk and stevia) and sat at the table reading yesterday's paper. Looking outside, to the northeast I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 20, 2008
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mothers
Remembering my mother this Mother's Day and Äitienpäivä, here in Canada and in Finland, US and a few other countries. I still miss her almost every day even after 20 years since her passing. On this sunny afternoon, I'm... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 11, 2008
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sima for May Day
The sunshine is so warming today as it streams into the house (oh, but such dirty windows). Fresh green leaves, spring flowers and even dandelions are bursting everywhere in spite of the cool temperatures. The tulips I had picked... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 30, 2008
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special long weekend
Yesterday came the spring equinox Last night the full Lenten moon, (did you keep me awake, Moon?) Today son-in-law J's birthday, a make-your-own-pizza party! and cake! Sunday is Easter, so early this year An egg hunt for the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 21, 2008
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Sunday afternoon in Burnaby
Yesterday we headed out to Burnaby (a city next to Vancouver) and the Scandinavian Centre where we enjoyed a recital of songs sung in Finnish, Swedish and Italian by a beautiful, rising talent, Finnish-American singer Maria Männistö. Here's the announcement... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 17, 2008
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paper hearts
I made these for my loved ones, and also wish to share them with far-away family and friends, including all of you dear blog-friends and readers in honour of Friendship Day! Have a sweet day! Hauskaa Ystävänpäivää! And,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 14, 2008
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old year, new year
On this last day of 2007, I feel some sadness in saying goodbye to another year. Changing the annual calendars is such an adrupt marker of the passage of time and of aging, inducing a twinge of melancholy... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 31, 2007
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Happy Boxing Day
Christmas Day was almost a white one when it started to snow in the afternoon as we headed over to one daughter's place for a nice meal and play with the granddaughters. The snowfall was beautiful to watch....
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Posted by Marja-Leena on December 26, 2007
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winter story 2007
Our granddaughter Lael's annual Winter Story has become her family's traditional Christmas greeting to all their family and friends. As always, Lael (now 7 years) does the delightful drawings and tells the story. Her father creates them into... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 25, 2007
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good tidings
The countdown is quickening,
the house is decorated and clean (almost),
the baking nearly done
except for the plum tarts
(the filling is made, the dough is chilling)...
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 22, 2007
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to light
Tonight or very early tomorrow, here on the west coast of North America, it's the winter solstice, the longest night of the year....
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Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2007
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Looking back: Joulupukki
Isn't it fascinating how the Santa Claus figure has evolved in different countries? In Finland, the jolly fellow is called 'Joulupukki' and his home is on Korvatunturi Mountain, in Finnish Lapland.
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Posted by Marja-Leena on December 19, 2007
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 16, 2007
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Looking back: Lucia's Day
I am finding that one of the downsides of being a blogger for more than two or three years is that I feel that more and more I begin to repeat myself. Yet, readers come and go though there are... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 13, 2007
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two candles for Finland
In honour of Finland's 90th Independence Day (Itsenäisyys Päivä) today, I have lit these two candles in a window, as is the custom there. "Why two candles? Well, one is for home, the other is for country. This silent... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 6, 2007
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Happy American Thanksgiving
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Posted by Marja-Leena on November 21, 2007
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November/Marraskuu
Ah, the calendar page turns to November. This morning's too-brief sunshine drew me outdoors. I could not resist taking the camera to capture some of the last of fall's beauty in our garden. Curious about the source of the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 1, 2007
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frights and feasts
As you are out tonight chasing ghosts and goblins, watch out for what may be underfoot.
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Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2007
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witchy trees
Come, my dearies, for a tour of my woods See, here is the witches' castle Meet Witch Hazel and Witch Rowana Here's Raven There's our resident treehugger witch.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 25, 2007
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dying languages
Image credit: Enduring Voices Project Finnish was my first language. I was five years old when my family emigrated to Canada. Arriving in Winnipeg, I was promptly placed in school, not knowing a word of English. Now that was... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 20, 2007
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summer's end
In these last days of August, I'm feeling lazy and lingering, almost as if I'm holding on to summer a little bit longer.... PS.Tomorrow is International Rock-Flipping Day!
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Posted by Marja-Leena on August 30, 2007
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a wedding
A trip and a wedding took us away this past weekend, in more ways than one. The beauty of the drive over mountains and valleys to a lovely lakeside town made us grateful, once again, that we live in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 26, 2007
solstice memories
midsummer dreams, white nights in Nordic lands
solstice celebrations, bonfires on beaches...
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2007
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remembering Dad
It's Father's Day here in Canada and USA. I awoke very early and started thinking of my father, who passed away 15 years ago. I pulled out my parents' worn old family album that they carried with them as... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 17, 2007
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a queen's birthday
She reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days -- the longest reign ever. She was five feet tall and monarch to one-quarter of the world's population. She was 81 when she died. Her own sons lifted her... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 21, 2007
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May Eve and Day
This April 30th I'm once again reminded by Helsingin Sanomat that today and tomorrow are Vappu or May Eve and May Day, "one of Finland's most boisterous (and liquid) annual festivals". May Day in Finland is a national holiday,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 30, 2007
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diversions
I've recently come across some great links on a couple of interesting subjects - the first an important environmental story and the second a fascinating linguistic and ethnological one. 1. At Biodynamic Farming and Gardening I found out about a... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 10, 2007
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 12, 2007
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The Danish Poet
Torill Kove, a Norwegian-Canadian anImator with Canada's NFB (National Film Board) won an Oscar this year for Best Animated Short Film. Her film, The Danish Poet, is a "charming 15-minute meditation on life's peculiar coincidences, based loosely on a... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 27, 2007
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friendship day
Hauskaa Ystävänpäivää and Happy Friendship Day, everyone! Since learning about this very inclusive celebration, I like it far more than our over-commercialized and wasteful Valentine's Day, as long as we keep it simple. I did make this heart for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 14, 2007
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the magic flute
Oh my, what a wonderful evening! We splurged on a special night out at the opera and were thoroughly enthralled by the wonderful new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, in a unique and fascinating collaboration with First Nations... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 6, 2007
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our New Year's weekend
As I mentioned in a comment in the previous post, we went away for the New Year's weekend - to the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. Once there, we first had a wonderful visit with my elderly uncle... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 2, 2007
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another year
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and the sixth day of Christmas. We are readying ourselves for our favourite way of celebrating, a quiet evening with close friends over good food and interesting games, rather than parties or clubs, with... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 30, 2006
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winter story 2006
I'm very proud to share my grand-daughter Lael's 4th annual Winter Story, done with a little help from mommy and daddy, of course. It's now on a special blog so you can see the past winter stories as well,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 24, 2006
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love, peace & joy
To all my readers Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël and Happy Holidays! Love and light, peace and joy this season and always. If you are travelling over the holidays, keep safe and warm.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 22, 2006
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the longest night
Once again in the northern hemisphere it is the winter solstice - the shortest day and longest night of the year, the first day of winter. It amazes me how very many cultures of the world have celebrations around this time. If I were able to choose a special and ancient way to celebrate, I'd go to Newgrange.
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Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2006
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Christmas favourites
'Tis the week before Christmas and we're all busy getting ready. To sustain the anticipation, one of the things I've been doing is looking at some of my favourite posts on this blog from the last two years. I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 18, 2006
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Happy St. Lucia Day!
This young maiden dressed in white with a red sash and a wreath of candles on her head brings light to the northern darkness! I wrote about this Swedish-Finnish tradition a year ago, so if it's new to you,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 13, 2006
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savouring
writing letters and cards, until cross-eyed watching high winds tossing our huge trees, worrying admiring the little garden lights in the early darkening listening to favourite Christmas music, heart singing putting out a few Christmas decorations each day, savouring... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 11, 2006
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Happy 89th, Finland
Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää to Finland and my Finnish readers! On December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence. On this date, 89 years later, Finns are celebrating their country's Independence Day. If you are... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 5, 2006
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thankful
A Happy Thanksgiving to all my American blog friends and readers! I'm enjoying reading some of your thanksgiving posts. Many count the , or the things they love about Thanksgiving. Here's Patry's number 4: "Traditions. In our family, we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 23, 2006
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 21, 2006
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poppy day
Wear White Poppies for a culture of peace Today on Remembrance Day in Canada Many thanks to wood s lot who always finds such treasures UPDATE: 8:30 pm. I've just been reading a lovely post about Remembrance Day... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 11, 2006
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Halloween
Happy Halloween! Be safe, little ones! All about Halloween All about pumpkins All about Samhain, Day of the Dead, All Souls, All Saints Halloween 2005 Halloween 2004 and a complaint about commercialization... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2006
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 24, 2006
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no more plastic bears
The ongoing fashion for cute, unoriginal and downright kitschy public art fauna continues to make me peevish, as I voiced here on July 9th , July 13th and July 17th of 2004 . And I'm not the only one who... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 19, 2006
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fall equinox
Dear readers, I hope you've all had a great autumnal equinox, or spring if you're in the southern hemisphere. Yesterday was the first day of fall and the weather was gloriously warm and sunny all weekend here in southwest... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 24, 2006
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the human journey
I've been happily lost in my travels through the pages of the Atlas of the Human Journey. I'm always fascinated to learn more about the amazing migration of humans from Africa to all the far corners of the earth.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 24, 2006
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Blue Buddha
This past Monday evening 'The Nature of Things with David Suzuki' presented Blue Buddha: Lost Secrets of Tibetan Medicine. It traces the odyssey of traditional Tibetan medicine from it's roots in ancient Tibet, to a worldwide interest in it's... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 19, 2006
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Fiskars Village
An exhibition called 'Fiskars Art Center presents Remix-Rethought'. Fiskars? The Finnish scissor company? Yes, and there is a place in Finland called Fiskars that I didn't know about. This tickled my Finnish funny bone.
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 14, 2006
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Happy 139th birthday, Canada!
On this Canada Day, we have pomp and ceremony in Ottawa, parades, musicals events and fireworks in many communities and many vacationers at cottages and campgrounds. We're at home awaiting family guests, some from the US too. The weather... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 1, 2006
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midsummer dreams
If I were in Finland right now, I'd be celebrating Juhannus at someone's summer cottage by a bonfire next to the water.
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Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2006
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Dad's day
Happy Father's Day to all dads out there! Happy Father's Day to the father of our children! I can't think of anything better than reposting this wonderful poem written by our eldest daughter and designed by our youngest for their... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 18, 2006
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Arts news in Canada
Fairly new on my daily net reading list is the excellent Arts News Canada, "a digest of national arts news collected from Canadian sources and updated every weekday". An exciting item today is about Montreal's designation as City of Design... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 23, 2006
Victoria Day
We've just had a long weekend here in Canada. Victoria Day is a Canadian Statutory Holiday celebrated on the Monday on or before May 24 in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian Sovereign's birthday.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 22, 2006
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Mother's Day birthday
A very happy and beautiful Mother's Day to all moms and their families! Mukavaa ja kaunista äitienpäivää kaikille äideille ja perheille! The weather is glorious here this weekend. Our three daughters, two granddaughters and partners are gathering here Sunday... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 13, 2006
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Happy Walpurgisnacht
"Ah, it's May Eve", I wrote last year, "Almost anywhere else on the planet this would not be so very significant, but in Finland it means "Vappu", a kind of Finnish "Mardi Gras meets the Rite of Spring", with... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 30, 2006
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Happy Easter
I've just put our treasured collection of Easter eggs on display. Most of these lovely eggs have been made over the years by our youngest daughter. I decided to photograph them and post them here because I was so... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 14, 2006
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April First
"It's snowing", he whispered into my ear. My eyes opened instantly, then I remembered... The maple syrup's full of ants. A mouse is creeping on the shelf. Is that a spider on your back? I ate the whole pie... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 1, 2006
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Happy St.Patrick's
Irish smiles to Bizarro.com... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 17, 2006
cherry blossoms & snow
A new cultural event taking place right now in Vancouver is the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration of the 36,000 cherry trees in the city's parks, boulevards, and private gardens, more than in any other Canadian city. According... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 10, 2006
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WOMAN
(image scanned from invitation - designed by Andrew Cairns) WOMAN is an art exhibition in celebration of International Women's Day at the Ferry Building Gallery, 1414 Argyle Ave, in West Vancouver, BC. The opening reception is tonight, Tuesday, March... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 7, 2006
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Valentines
Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers! If you are in Finland, I wish you Hauskaa Ystävänpäivää! (That means Happy Friends' Day, which I just learned about and like very much!) Because my birthday is so close to Valentine's,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 14, 2006
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Gung Hay Fat Choi!
Happy New Year, that is the Chinese Lunar Year! "... old debts will be settled, new clothes purchased and homes cleaned and decorated to ring in the New Year with a fresh start. Families gather on the eve of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 28, 2006
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Isabel Bayrakdarian in Armenia
Last Thursday evening we decided to do a rare thing and watch TV, specifically CBC's Opening Night which featured A Long Journey Home. This is a beautifully filmed and spiritually moving documentary that follows Armenian-Canadian operatic soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian on... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 22, 2006
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Twelfth Day
Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas (and my true love gave to me...!). A year ago, I learned that the Twelfth Day of Christmas is on the sixth day of January which is Epiphany (or Loppianen in Finnish). Traditionally... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 6, 2006
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Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on 26 December. In many European countries including Finland it is also a holiday, called St Stephen's Day (Tapaninpäivä in Finnish) or the Second Day of Christmas. According... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 26, 2005
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Winter Story 2005
We had a wonderful Christmas Eve in the Finnish tradition with dinner, carols and Santa's visit. Our oldest daughter and her partner surprised us by arriving from out of town and joining us after all. We were nine around... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua
Warmest wishes to all for a Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, Happy Chanukah, Matunda Ya Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays.... and Peace on Earth! Thank you, dear readers, for your support and friendship throughout the year -... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 22, 2005
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happy winter solstice
Detail from Silent Messengers II Those of us in the northern Hemisphere can now breathe a collective sigh of relief that the sun has not disappeared forever and the days will be getting longer! Spring will come and we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2005
Santa or Joulupukki
(A straw moble or "himmeli" - scanned from a clipping in my files, from an old Finnish magazine possibly Kotiliesi) It's now five nights to Christmas Eve and my thoughts are dancing around this rather magical time. I'm really... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 19, 2005
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 14, 2005
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Finland Independence Day
Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää to my Finnish readers! ("Happy Independence Day" in Finnish). Finland is celebrating its 88th Independence Day tomorrow, Tuesday, December 6th. It is a national holiday, an official flag-raising day, and in every home, two candles are normally... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 5, 2005
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first of December
The first day of December already! I just learned that 'the name is from the Latin "decem" for "ten". December was the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February',... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2005
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 26, 2005
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American Thanksgiving
Today's view outside the window at my computer, just before the fog thickened... What a foggy foggy week we are having though the sun is shining on the mountaintops, I'm told! Sometimes one can barely see more than half... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 23, 2005
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remembrance
On Canada's Remembrance Day today, as I struggle to express my conflicting feelings about it, I read this wonderful essay: A Rare Tribute to the Dead: Käthe Kollwitz's Memorial to her Son Artist Käthe Kollwitz grieved the loss of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 11, 2005
Happy Halloween
(photo - EKR) Tonight is Halloween and all the little boys and girls will be out trick-or-treating. Our granddaughter is coming over to visit a few houses, then help answer the door in her "ghost princess" costume and scare... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2005
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 15, 2005
Sibelius...the Last Swan
Images from Jean Sibelius biography site. Canadian Friends of Finland, Vancouver Chapter, presents: SIBELIUS.....THE LAST SWAN A stage play performed by Western Gold Theatre Saturday October 29, 2005, 2 - 3.30 pm Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby, B.C.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 15, 2005
Thanksgiving weekend
As you may have guessed from my absence here for a few days, we took a little four day holiday over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had a lovely drive, enjoying the gorgeous fall colours and scenes of numerous mountains... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 12, 2005
thanksgiving
This weekend Canadians are celebrating Thanksgiving. We'll be busy enjoying family and friends - will post about it later. In the meantime, read my Thanksgiving post of last year. Have a good weekend and Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Canadians!... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 8, 2005
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New Orleans
Like everyone, I've been following the terrible tragedy of New Orleans in news and blogs, feeling deeply but not writing much myself. So many of us who have visited New Orleans have been recalling it, thankful for having had that... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 4, 2005
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World Myths and Legends in Art
Detail of birds, Malagan Pole 19th century Papua New Guinea "Myths are stories that explain why the world is the way it is. All cultures have them. Throughout history, artists have been inspired by myths and legends and have... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 3, 2005
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Holman's Graphic Art
Mary K. Okheena Shaman Dances to Northern Lights 1991 stencil on paper, PWP 1/3 56.3 x 76.1 cm Collection of The Winnipeg Art Gallery I've been exploring this site with much pleasure: Holman: Forty Years of Graphic Art. Holman... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 26, 2005
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Maori Art in America
Kaitaka 1999 (detail) Artist: Te Aue Davis; assisted by Bill Solomon Photo credit: Norman Heke Image copyright: Toi Maori Aotearoa I came across this headline in Google News: "Millions in US tune in to Maori art" (25.08.05 in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 24, 2005
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art & civilization
"..this quote from the guardian article "Civilisations are judged and remembered not by their most successful businessmen but by the art they leave behind." yeah, sounds real nice if you can get over the fact it’s simplistic romanticized pap. perhaps... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 3, 2005
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long weekend
We all like our long weekends, and we are having one now with the first Monday in August being BC Day in British Columbia. I was curious to find out if all our provinces have such a provincially designated holiday... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 31, 2005
Art in Nature
Doesn't this scene look very magical and surreal, with the strange almost man-made looking sculptural forms scattered about in the landscape? Photo from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), via BBC It is the desert floor of Wadi al-Hitan, or Whale... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 20, 2005
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Canada Day
Happy 138th Birthday Canada! In honour of the day, the Canadian and inestimable mirabilis has posted a wonderful link to the origins of "O Canada". Calixa Lavallée composed it in 1880 in Quebec City. It remained a French only... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 1, 2005
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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 30, 2005
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Midsummer nights
Many summers ago my husband, our two little girls and I were traveling by car and ferries through Germany to Denmark, Sweden, Finland and back again to Germany before flying home to Canada. The night we arrived in Denmark we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2005
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Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all Dads everywhere! We enjoyed revisiting last year's wonderful poem/card by our daughters to their Dad. This year's celebration is quiet with only one daughter home, one living several hours drive away, and the third out... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 19, 2005
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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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 14, 2005
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MoOm
Museum of Online Museums "Welcome to the coudal.com Museum of Online Museums. Here, you will find links from our archives to online collections and exhibits covering a vast array of interests and obsessions: Start with a review of classic art... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 10, 2005
mother's day
made by youngest daughter Erika A Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere! Mother's Day Proclamation at wood s lot and at watermark... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 8, 2005
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Vappu and May Day
Ah, it's May Eve, as Helsingin Sanomat reminds me. Almost anywhere else on the planet this would not be so very significant, but in Finland it means "Vappu", a kind of Finnish "Mardi Gras meets the Rite of Spring",... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 30, 2005
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Geist's maps of Canada
Oh, I must share this find from my morning blogstroll! Today, while still in fairy tale mode after yesterday's post perhaps, a link to The Fairy Tale Map of Canada piqued my interest at plep. It turns out to be... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 18, 2005
Art in Greater Vancouver
A common complaint amongst art bloggers in North America is how little coverage the visual arts is given in mainstream newspapers. Here in the Vancouver area, our biggest paper the Vancouver Sun has a weekly listing of some of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 4, 2005
peaceful societies
Last week I made one of my occasional visits to Via Negativa and found a very interesting series of posts that grabbed my own interest in "primitive" cultures. Dave Bonta announces: "Today marks the inauguration of a new website on... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 24, 2005
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ArtsNow for Olympics 2010
The monthly Opus Visual Arts Newsletter (in print and online) provides useful information for artists such as calls for submissions, some arts news and, my favourite part, an always thoughtful and well-written editorial by arts advocate Chris Tyrell. Sometimes this... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 16, 2005
the sixth day
(Six Geese A-Laying, Illustration by Jan Brett on a Christmas card, from the book The Twelve Days of Christmas, published by Dodd, Mead & Co., NY) A little bit of whimsy, forgive me, as some ever so slight relief... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 31, 2004
Christmas Eve
(My 2003 Christmas card of a gingerbread house made by daughter Erika) It's been sunny and cool here and we enjoyed a morning walk around our neighbourhood. I finished the last of the baking this afternoon, so this evening... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 23, 2004
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winter solstice
"The winter solstice is again upon the Northern Hemisphere, and though the year's shortest day heralds the onset of winter it also promises the gradual return of the sun after a prolonged period of darkness. That there are holidays at... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2004
snowflakes & scary santa
Today's blog travels yielded some seasonal treats like this lovely photogallery of snowflakes and some of the science behind these nature's artworks. In case you missed it, also have a look at something a bit related - frost fractals. Thanks... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 20, 2004
Winter Lights
A 43-year Vancouver tradition, the Carol Ships travel the waters around the city in December, with different destinations each night. People gather in waterfront parks and house parties at homes with waterviews to enjoy these seasonal displays. We vividly... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 19, 2004
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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 17, 2004
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about Báiki
Cover of issue 25 of Báiki, with image of sculpture: "NAA", © 2003 Rose-Marie Huuva, reindeer hide and sealskin I recently received a copy of Báiki: the North American Sámi Journal, which 'is a major English-language source of information... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 12, 2004
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Finland's Independence Day
Finland is celebrating its 87th Independence Day (Itsenäisyys Päivä) today, December 6th. Though I'm a proud Canadian, I'm also proud of my birth country. Finland was part of the Swedish realm for some 600 years up to 1809 and then... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 6, 2004
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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 30, 2004
Granville Island
This is neat - Granville Island in Vancouver, BC has been ranked at the top of 20 best neighbourhoods in North America by Project for Public Places. (via Urban Vancouver ) Read my take on the place in this August... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 28, 2004
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Happy American Thanksgiving!
This is an important four-day holiday for the people of the United States. Traditionally it's a time for family get-togethers for a huge turkey dinner and festivities. Like in Canada (where Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October), multicultural... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 24, 2004
Eastside Cultural Crawl
This weekend, November 19 to 21, is the 8th annual Eastside Cultural Crawl in Vancouver, BC. It is western Canada's largest open-studio event, encompassing 33 buildings, 250 artists and some 10,000 attendees. Painters, jewellers, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, weavers, potters,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 18, 2004
Remembrance Day
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the lives lost in the two World Wars, the Korean war and our peacekeeping missions. Learn about Remembrance Day in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 11, 2004
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Halloweeeeen Apples!
That's what we, in our childhood, called out as we rang neighbours' doorbells, dressed in inexpensive home-made costumes. Today it's "Trick or Treat" and often some pretty sophisticated costumes that Mom bought! Treats most desired by the little goblins... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2004
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CBC's opening night
I've been spending far too much time working at the computer with PhotoShop, developing images for a series of prints combining inkjet and collagraph prints in layers. I've been in the printmaking studio printing proofs, and back to the "drawing... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 21, 2004
Canadian Thanksgiving
This is a three-day long weekend in which many families get together for a big dinner centered usually around a big roast turkey, traditionally as a thanks for the harvest, right? Well, I decided to search some of the history... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 11, 2004
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Lord of the Rings musical
Helsingin Sanomat has a story that really tickles my Finnish funnybone as it makes the intriguing connection between Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Finland. The makers of London's West End musical Lord of the Rings (Flash webpage) have gone... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 3, 2004
Vancouver's Art Patrons
In today's Straight, Robin Laurence writes about Vancouver's "Patron Saints" of the arts: painter Joe Plaskett and real-estate developer Michael Audain. Along with the VIVA (Vancouver Institute for the Visual Arts) awards funded by the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 23, 2004
Karen Kain: Chair, Canada Council for Arts
CBC Arts News reports that Karen Kain, one of the most celebrated ballerinas in Canadian history, will be the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. I think she will be a great advocate for artists and the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 17, 2004
new native museum
National Geographic News has some interesting pages about the new National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Native by design, it incorporated suggestions from Native Americans throughout North, Central, and South America. Most people said they wanted the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 16, 2004
Canadian Arts news
CBC Arts News is on my daily blog visit list for Canadian arts news. I have linked to their articles several times in my postings. (If you'd like to see these, search my site for 'CBC'). Besides current news in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 11, 2004
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Bill Reid's art on $20 bill
For the first time ever, the work of an artist is featured on a Canadian currency note. The new twenty-dollar bill with anti-counterfeiting features, still has the Queen on one side, and the other illustrates the art of Bill Reid,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 27, 2004
Printmaking and Granville Island
It's now raining hard in Vancouver at long last after a hot dry summer and instead of outside work, I suddenly have some free time to blog. Malaspina Printmakers is the subject of a review: Freedom Of The Press by... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 21, 2004
Music in Finland
As a lover of opera and all things Finnish, I'm surprised and thrilled by today's post on ionarts "Music in Finland". Charles Downey writes about how active opera is in Finland today as well as its history: "It took the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 20, 2004
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World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples
"Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, will host the Fourth World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples from 15-19 August 2004. The theme of the congress is "The Youth Is Our Future" and it will bring together approximately seven hundred delegates, observers and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 17, 2004
Art Appreciation
An interesting discussion is underway over at Cassandra Pages about art appreciation. Yesterday, (August 11th) Beth wrote about arts support in Canada referring to some past comments I had made. Please read the new comments to that, and then go... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 12, 2004
Vancouver's manhole cover art
I read about the results of this unusual public art competition twice in Zeke's Gallery, a Montreal art blog! He refers to articles in the Globe & Mail and the National Post. So where's Vancouver's own online coverage of arts... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 26, 2004
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more cows!
Another sighting of public art fauna has been made by Charles Downey of Ionarts - in Manchester, where they have cows! He's referred to my post on public art fauna and how that trend has "befouled" cities around the world.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 17, 2004
More Public Art Fauna
More public art fauna, right here in Vancouver and Victoria! A few days ago I wrote about Public ART? in some American cities. I had forgotten about our Orcas in the City until I read Pete McMartin's article "Whale-watching tour... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 13, 2004
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Public ART?
Pandas? Sheep? Pigs? Cows? What is going on? Over the past few weeks I kept reading about pandas in Washington, then ever so humble (no longer archived, sorry) had a post about Sheeptacular Pittsfield in Massachusetts. Yesterday dangerous chunky referred... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 9, 2004
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Happy Canada Day
It is Canada's 137th birthday! Here's a little background history and how Canada got its name. Many communities have celebrations like parades, free concerts and museums entries, street activities, lots of multicultural performances, and fireworks. Look at capital city Ottawa's... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 1, 2004
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Creative Industries Study
In today's ArtForum News: Study Reveals Nation's Most Art-Saturated Cities "The nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts has released its first national Creative Industries Study, which analyzes in detail the locations of arts-related businesses, institutions, and organizations in all fifty... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 30, 2004
Canadian culture
'if' backtracked to my post of yesterday on Art in Canada & CBC, so I made a first visit and browse. A recent and particularly timely entry caught my eye, Wyman speaks linked to an interesting and currently very... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 22, 2004
summer solstice
Depending on where you are in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the longest day of the year. Actual dates of celebrations vary in countries, often a weekend nearest the true solstice for convenience. It is mostly a northern European festival... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2004
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Art in Canada & CBC
Surprise! Google News Canada had linked for a short while, two articles about Art in Canada. Art Matters, by Matthew Teitelbaum, director and CEO of The Art Gallery of Ontario, in the Toronto Star: Teitelbaum makes several interesting and valid... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2004
For Dad
This is a wonderful poem written by my eldest daughter and designed by my youngest for their father on this Father's Day. Click on image to view larger. Poem © Anita Rathje Design © Erika Rathje... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 20, 2004
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Happy Victoria Day
It is the Victoria Day long weekend for Canadians and out here on the Westcoast, if you are not "away", you are working in the garden and around the home. Gardening is what I am doing a lot of in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 24, 2004
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Brian Eno on culture
(a deep-etched copperplate) Scribblingwoman recommended having a look at a post over at wood s lot about Brian Eno and A Big Theory of Culture. This is essentially an interview of Brian Eno about his book, A Year With... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 16, 2004
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May Day or Vappu
One of the most important festivals of the year, the first day of May is a popular celebration in Scandinavia. This originally a worker's holiday has turned into a massive celebratory festival for current and graduated high school students particularly... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 30, 2004
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Modern Icons
The Tyee has posted a link to a rather humorous look at modern day icons written by Mark Kingwell in Arts & Opinion: TEN STEPS TO THE CREATION OF A MODERN MEDIA ICON Here are the ten steps (my summary)... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 5, 2004
Event: Kalevala Runos
Is this synchronicity? I have just received an email notice about an event this weekend called Kalevala Runos. It is presented by the Vancouver Society of Storytelling. Their link is for last year's event and because there is no current... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 24, 2004
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...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 30, 2003
