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acknowledge the past
As most of you know, the Winter Olympics have been underway here in the Vancouver region. I haven't commented much on it for I'm one of the folks that's been against it mostly because of the extreme costs, commercialism... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 26, 2010
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red hearts and lanterns
Red is for hearts and lovers and friends this weekend - Happy Valentine's Day! or Hauskaa Ystävänpäivää and Happy Friendship Day as the Finns celebrate it. Red is for the colour of the maple leaf on the Canadian... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 13, 2010
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complaints
Just over a month ago, I wrote about how western media is taking notice of the phenomenon of complaints choirs. Just now I found another report, in Canada's Globe & Mail, BC edition about the number of choirs in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 16, 2010
Happy New Year 2010
My husband and I will be home tonight with sleeping granddaughters. We'll enjoy a a quiet evening with a late simple supper of turkey soup, then some games or a movie, accompanied by some Christmas baking and chocolates, some... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 31, 2009
hellos and goodbyes
Much greeting and hugging and then goodbyes have been a large part of our holidays as our family swelled from seven for Christmas Eve to nine on the 27th, then twelve for just a day on the 28th and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 30, 2009
lights of the season
enjoying the days of sunlight and frost fires and warm candlelight in foggy nights these last days of the year... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 27, 2009
happy winterfest
Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, God Jul or Blessed Midwinter! Wishing all of you a joyful holiday, full of cheer with those who are dear, as well as some quiet moments for gratitude and peace. Many... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 22, 2009
'Tis the shortest day
and the longest night for us in the northern hemisphere. It's a very dark and rainy day here in Vancouver starting strangely at an unseasonal high of 10C (50 F) and to drop down to 5C (41F) this afternoon. But... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2009
safe arrivals
Our middle daughter and our granddaughters arrived late this afternoon safe, sound and tired from their long flight from London, England with only slight delays but nothing like during last year's snowstorms. How excited we all were to see... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 16, 2009
Lucia and lights
How lovely, on Lucia's Day to have our first real snowfall, light flakes slowly dancing down, the frozen ground now white and an icing-sugar-like dusting on evergreen branches. It set the right mood for finishing up the holiday letters... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 13, 2009
December's here
The sun is shining and I can see the snow on the mountaintops. It's cold and still very wet from the November rains. I think we had some frost last night, not the first for we had a few... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2009
November's end
As usual here on the 'wetcoast', November has been very rainy and often very windy, with above average precipitation but maybe not quite record-breaking except for early snow on the mountains. Some days the darkness has felt a bit... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 30, 2009
Paris: Notre Dame #2
All in a row.... repetition as an artistic device seen in a lot of art, works magnificently around these magestic cathedrals of Europe, I love it! ... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 23, 2009
Paris: Notre Dame
Too tired for words, so it's a good time to post more of our photos of Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is a magestic awe-inspiring beauty, both architecturally and sculpturally. Just across the Seine and short... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 18, 2009
all hallow's
A little bit of spookiness created just for you, dear readers, to put you in the mood for Samhain, All Hallow's or Halloween, All Saints Day, Day of the Dead, Kekri or whatever you celebrate this weekend! If... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 30, 2009
Paris: details #4
Even in Paris, birds of a feather stick together. Even the lady has had a visit from feathery friends. ... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 13, 2009
Paris: details #3
Sculptures everywhere in Paris, an abundance of art in everyday life, feasts for the eyes and the soul...... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 1, 2009
London Eye
A ride on the London Eye with daughter and granddaughters. It's touristy, it's expensive, it's scary for height-phobics like me. An impressive work of engineering and what fantastic views to satisfy the human eye. A hazy cloudy... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 8, 2009
the Greenwich tour
Back to my travel diary and our last few but extra busy days in London.... Our 'Londoner' daughter had once taken one of the walking tours of London and enjoyed it so she suggested we all take the Historic Greenwich... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 2, 2009
Tunbridge Wells, Joe, Heidi
Photos top to bottom: The Pantiles area, Heidi (in green jacket) and I chatting, and Joe. One of the great delights of our trip to England has been the opportunity to meet a few blog friends.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 19, 2009
Ancient Britain: Avebury
Last of our destinations during our day long tour of Ancient Britain was Avebury. Like Stonehenge, Avebury is very well-known and many believe it is the superior stone circle. Certainly it is... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 16, 2009
Ancient Britain: Silbury & West Kennet
Soon after passing the White Horse we could see Silbury Hill, a huge man-made chalk mound near Avebury. It is the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the world's largest. Composed... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 14, 2009
Ancient Britain: White Horses
Leaving Stonehenge, our drive continued on through the lovely Wiltshire countryside towards nearby Avebury, with a few quick highlights along the way. A very quick sighting was of a White Horse, a chalk hill figure. My... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 13, 2009
Ancient Britain: Stonehenge
The high point of our guided tour of some of Britain's ancient sites has to be Stonehenge. It is so well known, researched and written about that I won't even try to touch... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 10, 2009
Ancient Britain: Old Sarum
After visiting Salisbury on the first stop of a guided day tour to several ancient sites of Britain, we moved on to nearby Old Sarum. This hilltop is surrounded by banks and ditches with layers of 5,000 years of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 6, 2009
Ancient Britain: Salisbury
A highlight of our trip to the UK was a guided day tour to the ancient sites of Salisbury, Old Sarum, Stonehenge, West Kennet, Silbury Hill and Avebury. I don't usually link to commercial sites but this tour pleased us... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 29, 2009
Anna, Courtauld, Westminster
The day after our outing to Brighton, husband and I headed into central London and Somerset House (house? it's a palace!). Here we were to meet long-time blog-friend Anna of Self-Winding who was coming in from Norfolk to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 23, 2009
a midsummer fest
I'm up with the early light, though the sun is obscured with cloud, and I remember it is Juhannus and .... the summer solstice, (or properly June solstice for it's winter in the southern hemisphere). Memories of magical midsummer nights... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2009
visiting Brighton
After our weekend in Birmingham, already the next day we were off on another train trip with our daughter's family, this time for a day trip to Brighton. Our son-in-law had accepted a long-standing invitation from a cousin whom he'd... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 17, 2009
visiting Birmingham (UK)
I'm falling behind in reporting on our trip to London and a bit beyond and to Paris. I've been so busy gardening and watering that by the end of each incredibly warm day I'm too tired and hot to think,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 13, 2009
London: Tube, Piccadilly & more
Enough relaxing around Muswell Hill! Later that day, our son-in-law announced that we are all going into central London to the Apple store then dinner to his favourite restaurant in his favourite past of the city. That was our... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 30, 2009
London: Muswell Hill
After a long overseas flight, it's wonderful to have family welcome us into their home and let us gradually acclimate to the new surroundings. As I mentioned before, our middle daughter, British son-in-law and their two little girls... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 28, 2009
travel update
Time for a quick travel update while we're having a much-needed restful pause here in London at our daughter's home. We've seen and experienced so much around here as well as trips to Birmingham, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells and several... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 9, 2009
Easter weekend
spring, rye grass, pussy willows, birch twigs, tissue paper flowers virpovitsa whisking, children with cowbells decorated eggs, egg hunt, dancing sun mämmi porridge, flying witches, begging children All of the above are a curious blend of Eastern and Western... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 10, 2009
April Fool's
I was shocked on waking up to see snow coming down and it just keeps coming, wet yet sticking. What an April Fool's Day joke Mother Nature is playing on us! Rare though it is, we've had snow... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 1, 2009
cultural identity & CBC
This past weekend Vancouver hosted the Juno Awards, which inspired Miro Cernetig to write an interesting and eye-opening article for the Vancouver Sun. It may be tempting to see the Junos -- now this country's most successful entertainment event... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 31, 2009
SAVE the CBC
CBC is Canada's own publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, a part of the very heart of Canada and its culture, connecting us all from coasts to coasts. It's currently being decimated by Harper and his government, after already many... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 27, 2009
spring and birthdays
'Tis the first day of spring and I'm longing for the weather to match! A very cold winter not easing up for spring means this year the garden is unusually late for normally balmy Vancouver. Blame the depressing weather if... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 20, 2009
ice music
On the first full moon of the year, the mountain town of Geilo, Norway hosts the world's only ice music festival and most amazingly, the instruments are made mostly of ice. As short-lived as sandcastles, the ice-sculpted wind,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 19, 2009
epiphany deluge
It's the 12th day of Christmas and Epiphany (or loppiainen, a national holiday in Finland). It's the day we try take down the Christmas tree and decorations and I'm making a slow start on that, leaving some of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 6, 2009
Janus and Tammikuu
Janus - etching, 40 x 37.5 cm. As I crack open new calendars, I think about January and the Roman god Janus and about looking back and looking forward. I wonder about the Finnish name for this month, Tammikuu... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 3, 2009
feast of Stephen
Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even The words to the carol "Good King Wenceslas" were written by John Mason Neale and published in 1853,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 26, 2008
season's best to you
Dear readers, take your pick: Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, God Jul, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate... or not. And please: peace and an end to poverty! Thank you all from the bottom of my... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 24, 2008
countdown to Xmas
It stopped snowing mid-morning yesterday, leaving us with a gloriously beautiful, magical world, especially when the sun comes out. This year we have many amazing huge icicles; I was surprised to see some black-capped chickadees taking a... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 23, 2008
Tapio Wirkkala, Finnish designer
Go fetch yourself a cup of your favourite brew, sit down and watch this gorgeous 16 minute video on Tapio Wirkkala, in English and some Finnish. Virtual Finland presents him as "a father figure of Finnish applied art... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 5, 2008
advent calendars
from Virtual Finland This morning, as I flipped the calendar pages over to the last page, it hit me that it is now December or Joulukuu (Finnish for Christmas month). So much to do and what do I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2008
Eugene Onegin
Painting by Michael Abraham We love opera, as some readers may know from the few times I've written about it here. Most exciting for us is to enjoy the colourful and lively visuals of theatre along with the inspiring... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 25, 2008
Kekri and Samhain
It's the last day of October and Halloween tonight. With our children grown up and the grandchildren in England this year, I have made no effort to celebrate this occasion here at home. Erika, now living at home... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2008
Thanksgiving and Nobel Peace Prize
The elections here in Canada and the US plus the world economy has taken far too much of our attention lately. Canadians vote on Tuesday, October 14th and that night will be an anxious one awaiting results that we... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 12, 2008
Arts funding cuts
UPDATE Oct.7th: Margaret Atwood answers questions on the election at Globe & Mail. Gotta love her!
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 2, 2008
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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....
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 26, 2007
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
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
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....
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2007
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.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 19, 2007
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
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
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
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
frights and feasts
As you are out tonight chasing ghosts and goblins, watch out for what may be underfoot.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2007
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
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
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!
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 30, 2007
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 21, 2006
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 21, 2006
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 January 3, 2004