Home ::: Other artists
one year, ten years
On my reading rounds around the bloghood earlier today, I came across two mentions of the Tate Modern. This made me check my travel diary from a year ago - yes! it was exactly a year ago that we were... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 13, 2010
Leonardo da Vinci Drawings
This is a week late but I cannot let it go by without expressing my excitement, astonishment and feelings of being newly inspired by the greatest Renaissance man. Days before the exhibition was to end, my husband and I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 4, 2010
alone in the Sistine
In the fall of 1993, my husband and I took a very special, very memorable trip to Italy. Seeing so much of the art, architecture and archeology that I'd studied in art school was literally mind-blowing for me. We... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 25, 2010
AfK Alumni exhibition
For a better view of the invitation, please view the PDF version AfK Alumni All Stars April 12th to May 8th, 2010 open 7 days a week Opening: 7:30 PM Thursday April 15, 2010 Artists for Kids Gallery located... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 13, 2010
a special Easter greeting
We received this astonishing Easter greeting this morning from artist friends Loit and Virge Joekalda in Tallinn, Estonia. I'm so in love with it that I asked permission to share it here. Loit wrote that last fall he made... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 4, 2010
Winter Stories 2009
Every Christmas since 2003, our granddaughter Lael, now 9, has told a winter story that her daddy has animated and put on her website as their holiday greeting to their friends and family. And each year since I started... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 25, 2009
sing your complaints
The Helsinki Complaints Choir at the stairs of the Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki. Photo taken from the complaints choirs website The first time I heard of complaints choirs was over three years ago and later blogged about how amusing... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 11, 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
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
Olga Campbell's Graffiti Alphabet
Friend and fellow-artist Olga Campbell has just published her very first book, Graffiti Alphabet. She calls it a visual tour of the graffiti of Vancouver. I just bought a copy from her a few days ago and I've been... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 21, 2009
William and Kate Blake
I have just finished reading a fascinating book about a famous artist-printmaker-poet and his wife. As a printmaker, I found this passage particularly intriguing to find in a historical novel: William and I began to be real partners in Printing.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 3, 2009
exhibition on Bowen
detail: ARKEO 2, Marja-Leena Rathje (may or may not be in exhibition) You are invited to: An exhibition of prints by the Art Institute Printmakers of Capilano University at The Gallery at Artisan Square 589 Artisan Square, Bowen Island,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 14, 2009
this and that
This morning as I sat at my computer next to the window, some movement caught the corner of my eye - six big crows were strutting about the lawn, looking for grubs perhaps? I was too slow... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 25, 2009
visiting Tate Modern
On the morning of our last day in London we went to the Tate Modern to see their collection of modern and contemporary art to balance out the older works seen previously. With us were our daughter and granddaughters who... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 19, 2009
visiting the National Gallery
On our last two days in London, we really packed in the sights and gallery visits. I wrote about the morning of our second-to-last-day's visit to the Annette Messager exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, after a ride... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 17, 2009
Annette Messager
Annette Messager: Casino - image from Art Knowledge News After our London Eye ride, we walked over to the nearby Southbank Centre and left the granddaughters to play with their Opa. Elisa and I went into the Hayward Gallery... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 13, 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
Devonian Fossils
Imagine having ancient fossils in your own backyard. Henry Domke is the lucky person and has captured their variety and beauty in gorgeous photographs in his Devonian Fossils album. Do have a look, I think you will enjoy... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 21, 2009
Michiko Suzuki: Flicker of Life
I've written about my friend and fellow printmaker Michiko Suzuki several times here but I missed telling you about her most recent solo exhibition Flicker of Life ~ Selected Works (1993 – 2008) held at the Penticton Art Gallery... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 6, 2009
a Wm. Kentridge video
This was sent to me by artist friend Dorothy: In "Taking a Line for a Walk" (2007) William Kentridge performs what looks like pantomime until, as it repeats, bare bones animation gives his moves meaning. Delightful! And I... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 11, 2009
Ihaya: Trees and Water
Tomoyo Ihaya, Ladakh Indus I, 2009, mixed media. I haven't posted about any exhibitions in a long while but here's one that I want to share. My friend Tomoyo Ihaya is presenting “DRAWINGS – TREES and WATER”: Trees... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 24, 2009
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
Male Self-Portraits
500 Years of Male Self Portraits in Western Art is another* wonderful video slide show set to music, created by Philip Scott Johnson. I like the provided list of the artists in order of appearance, useful for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 20, 2008
older female geeks
Natalie d'Arbeloff, artist, cartoonist, author of the amazing 'The God Interviews' and blogger with alter-ego Blaugustine continues to inspire me with her colourful career and many talents, her humour and her energy.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 14, 2008
exhibit in Squamish
I'm pleased to announce that my friend Bonnie Jordan and I have a selection of our prints on exhibit in the new Artisan Gallery in the town of Squamish, north of Vancouver. Here's how the space is... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 7, 2008
a letter from Teju
My friend Teju Cole is the author of Every Day is for the Thief, which began life as a temporary blog, and was published in Nigeria last year. He is at work on another book, a novel about a young... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 29, 2008
Robert Rauschenberg 1925-2008
I've just learned that one of my favourite contemporary artists has died at 82: Robert Rauschenberg. The New York Times has a very good obituary on him. In case you cannot get past the registration wall that it may... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 13, 2008
artsy afternoon
Whenever I have to take the car over town somewhere, I usually try to do several things on that journey, to maximize pleasure over pain, for I dislike driving in Vancouver's crazy traffic, and then there's the cost of gas.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 8, 2008
Ihaya and Chang at RAG
Another intriguing exhibition opening this week! Richmond Art Gallery presents two exhibitions that explore what it means to be a citizen in a global world where identities are ever-changing and fluid. Amy Chang: Donated Organ and Tomoyo Ihaya: Water,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 22, 2008
Michiko Suzuki exhibition
An exciting exhibition featuring the printmaking of Michiko Suzuki is coming up this week!
FLOATING WORLD at Bellevue Gallery, West Vancouver
April 24th to May 24th, 2008
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 20, 2008
snow artist
Artist and University of Lapland Professor of Art Education Timo Jokela's medium is snow, which he sculpts, saws, and moulds on the fells of Finland, Sweden, and Norway, Russia and the Austrian Alps.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 18, 2008
sanding disk
Boogie Street's Mr Zip, an artist and blog pal in the UK, wrote this on my previous post called rust circle: Lovely piece of metal, and I can understand why you've kept it for so long. When at university... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 12, 2008
Anne Adams' art
Over the past three days, I've read two fascinating stories about Vancouver artist Anne Adams who died in 2007. First I read Boléro: Beautiful symptom of a terrible disease in the NewScientist. Today, I'm looking at the Vancouver... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 9, 2008
Mohsen's Childhood Dreams
I'm so pleased to learn that my friend Mohsen Khalili is having an exhibition of his Childhood Dreams series of mixed media works on paper. The opening is from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday April 5th, 2008... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 2, 2008
print artists
For a few months now, I've been reading the blog of a printmaker who happens to live in the same part of this world as I do. Amie Roman is based here on the west coast of British Columbia, working mostly in relief techniques, and writes an interesting blog about her processes and inspirations....
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 19, 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
Elaine de Kooning
Recently I discovered Elaine de Kooning and some work she had done at Crown Point over 20 years ago...
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 6, 2008
Theo Jansen's Strandbeests
These are amazing! Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who creates lifelike kinetic sculptures called 'Strandbeests' (Beach Creatures) that move on their own. How come I've never heard of him before? You can hear and see Jansen and his... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 27, 2008
Sagrada Família in danger
I still remember well my art school days and the many hours of Art History classes, viewing thousands of slides of art and architecture, sometimes sleepily but often excited. The courses were taken by students of art, architecture and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2007
Robert Young
Robert Young: Sampler - Enhanced multiple plate intaglio, linocut, woodcut. Printed for Artist's for Kids We had the great pleasure of having Robert Young, one of BC's most respected senior artists, visit as a guest speaker in the Art... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 11, 2007
Robert Jackson exhibition
Friend and fellow artist Robert Jackson will be having an exciting opening of his exhibition called 'Approaching Wholeness' this Thursday, Oct.4th starting at 4 pm
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 2, 2007
Marianna Schmidt
I was very pleased to have seen a large body of Schmidt's mixed media works at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam (a suburb of Vancouver) on its last day and last hour!
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 18, 2007
creative license vs. copyright law
Vancouver artist collides with Olympic and Paralympics copyright act
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 17, 2007
77 Million Paintings
Saturday evening, yesterday, felt like a fall evening, so dark so early with rain thundering on the skylights. Desiring some cocooning, we set up our favourite game of Liverpool Rummy on the table, with hot cups of gen-mai cha... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 22, 2007
colours of music
"Can music have colour? David Hockney thought so, as filmmaker Maryte Kavaliauskas shows in her profile for PBS's American Masters, David Hockney: The Colors of Music".
Read more in the UPDATE.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 18, 2007
Tina Schliessler
Vancouver artist and a friend, Tina Schliessler, has her series Living Portraits on exhibition at the Seymour Art Gallery in North Vancouver. I was very happy to attend her opening the other evening (Tuesday) and see her exciting new... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 12, 2007
my favourite sculpture
First I saw Ossip Zadkine's De Poeet, then Tuumailua's challenge to bloggers to post their favourite sculptures. So here's my choice of current favourite, especially one located in Vancouver: Magdalena Abakanowicz' Vancouver Ancestors, posted a year ago. I'm wondering... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 3, 2007
Power of Art series
This looks to be very exciting: Simon Schama's The Power of Art series is beginning tonight on PBS TV in North America.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 18, 2007
Portraits of Women
A superb collection of women portraits from about 500 years - a video slide show set to music.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 29, 2007
Congrats, Grads!
One of the more splendid events in the merry month of May is graduation. This year we join many proud parents of sons and daughters who are graduating this month from institutes of higher education. Our daughter Erika has... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 2, 2007
a collaboration
Yippee! Our collaborative project In Its Four Voices - Silent Messengers: Connecting with D'Amico #2 has been published on Qarrtsiluni, the online literary and visual art zine! Go see and LISTEN to it! Then come back.... I must tell... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 1, 2007
Ekphrasis 12
I feel very humble and honoured that my new blog-friend Tall Girl felt inspired by a pair of my etchings Nexus IX and X. She wrote mark in response to my work as well as to the challenge of Qarrstsiluni's current theme of ekphrasis, "poetry in dialogue with visual art".
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 13, 2007
ECI Grad Art Auction
Don't miss the opportunity to own work from the next generation of great Canadian artists and designers at the 14th Annual Grad Art Auction at Emily Carr Institute. AUCTION: Saturday, March 31, 2007 TIME: 7:00pm REGISTRATION: 5:30pm to 8:30pm... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 24, 2007
Benjamin Phillips, again
Wow, this artist is busy! Not long ago, I wrote about sculptor Benjamin Phillips and his exhibition at the Access Gallery, which has just finished. Now he's having a show at Capilano College in North Vancouver. If you... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 19, 2007
Tallinn's Print Triennial & Conference
Many printmakers may be aware that there is a call for entries to The 14th Tallinn Print Triennial in Estonia. The exhibition will be held 17 October – 27 November 2007. The deadline for the first stage of jurying... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 2, 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
Benjamin Phillips exhibition
Benjamin Phillips: Chthonian* Dialogue
Opening February 23rd, 2007 at 8 p.m.
Access Artist Run Centre, Vancouver
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 22, 2007
mentors please
We've just spent a pleasant Sunday at the apartment of our daughter, Erika, and her boyfriend. Her father tried to help her with some computer problems, while Erika and I chatted about possible layouts for the artist's website that she... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 4, 2007
Burtynsky interview
"People who are engaged in art are engaged in a process of thinking beyond the present moment, looking both forward and backward, reflecting on how the human story plays itself out. In a way, art is a research and development... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 19, 2007
computer art
Got a little time? Get a cup of your favourite brew and a biscotti and relax with these entertaining though time-consuming links that are all about using the computer to create art. 1. Brian Eno's 77 Million Paintings. "... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 26, 2006
Margaret Witzsche exhibition
Margaret Witzsche has an exhibition of large canvases exploring the natural and inner worlds called 'Claiming the Dream'.
AT: the Seymour Art Gallery, OPENING: tomorrow Tuesday, December 5th, 7-9pm
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 4, 2006
print sale
The Studio Art printmaking department at Capilano College is holding their always popular Annual Print Sale, featuring intaglio, relief, silk screen and digital prints created by first and second year students, by artists in the Art Institute and faculty... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 4, 2006
an artistic savant
Watch this 5 minute video of a brilliant artistic savant who goes for a 45 minute helicopter ride over Rome. He then draws an accurate representation of the city from memory...
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 24, 2006
Peter Frey exhibition
I am very pleased to introduce friend and fellow-printmaker Peter Frey. Peter is presenting Threads and Fissures, an exhibition of his photographs and prints at the Capilano College Studio Art Gallery. Opening reception: Thursday, November 9th, 4pm - 7... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 8, 2006
Goldsworthy: Rivers & Tides
I've just finished viewing the DVD Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides. Wow! It is very beautiful, very inspiring and I want to view it over and over again. I've admired Andy Goldsworthy's work in books, magazines and online but... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 6, 2006
The Relief Print
Gravity by Shinsuke Minegushi, woodcut & wood engraving, 30 cm x 81 cm., 2000 An exhibition of relief prints is now up at the Burnaby Art Gallery. From the website: The Relief Print October 24-November 26 "This exhibition of woodcuts,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 2, 2006
must-see artworks
The new Guardian's Art Blog looks interesting. Critic Jonathan Jones kicks off with his picks of 20 great art works for a definitive list of the 50 works of art to see before you die. Readers' suggestions to add... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 30, 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
Burtynsky in Vancouver
Image on invitation: Edward Burtyntsky: Recycling No.20. Cankun Aluminum. Xaimen City, Fujian Province, China 2005. Chromagenic print, 58" x 68". Courtesy of Charles Cowles Gallery, NY. I'm really looking forward to seeing the photographic works of acclaimed Canadian photographer... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 7, 2006
visiting Interconnection
We were sad to miss the opening last week of Michiko Suzuki and Wayne Eastcott's exhibition Interconnection, also the grand opening of the new Bellevue Gallery. By all accounts the opening was very successful, attended by around 200 people... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 6, 2006
Eastcott/Suzuki at Bellevue
INTERCONNNECTION, Wayne Eastcott and Michiko Suzuki's collaborative printmaking project is opening in Bellevue Gallery next week. This is a recently opened new gallery that is celebrating its grand opening with this exhibition, to be introduced by renowned Canadian artist... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 21, 2006
Jean Detheux
Back in July, I wrote about Belgian-Canadian artist Jean Detheux, who creates wondrous works entirely digitally after giving up painting for health reasons.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 14, 2006
woodblock printmaking
Image of woodblock from wikipedia Some months ago I wrote about a demonstration of Japanese woodblock printing by Tae-Huk Kim. Now I'm pleased to see that Printfreak has posted a video of the process, that looks very similar to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 22, 2006
Kenneth Lochhead
Yesterday I learned from Arts News Canada that Canadian artist Kenneth Lochhead, 80, died in Ottawa on Saturday July 15th, saying to his family at his bedside, "I've gotta go; enjoy every second". I remember him well from my student... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 19, 2006
digital abstract expressionist
Jean Detheux used to be a painter and is now working exclusively digitally due to allergies to paint fumes and solvents.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 12, 2006
Abakanowicz' Vancouver Ancestors
As I mentioned before, last week we ventured out to Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver especially to see the Magdalena Abakanowicz' sculpture installation. I was excited to be seeing her work live for the first time. Created for the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 29, 2006
art, trees & birds
visiting art exhibitions, Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 27, 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
thirteen cent pinball
Our youngest and very talented daughter has caught the blog bug! I am proud to introduce Erika's blog thirteen cent pinball.
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 15, 2006
Cornelia Oberlander
“PICTURING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE” Projects of Cornelia Hahn Oberlander as seen by Etta Gerdes Elliott Louis Gallery, West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver June 6 - June 25, 2006 - Preview: June 6th & 7th Opening Reception: Thurs. June 8, 6:30 -... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 4, 2006
art in fibre
An exhibition by two Vancouver-based Finnish fiber artists is opening tomorrow:
"Between the Hand and the Loom" - Works by Kaija Rautianen & Hanna Haapasalo
Exhibit: June 1- July 2, 2006, Opening Thursday, June 1, 2006, 6-8pm
at Crafthouse Gallery, Vancouver
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 31, 2006
Jungen at Tate Modern
Some readers may recall an article I wrote about Brian Jungen's exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery earlier this year. The artist received a great deal of media attention including a mention that he was going to have his work... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 30, 2006
Abakanowicz here!
Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz will unveil the installation of Vancouver Ancestors, her latest work consisting of twenty iron cast, 9 foot tall headless figures. Created specifically for the 2005/2006 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale...
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 29, 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
art that excites 2
Magdalena Abakanowicz: detail from the Ninety Five Figures from the Crowd of One Thousand Ninety Five Figures Anna L. Conti of San Francisco writes a very focused and intelligent blog about her own art practice and about other artists.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 17, 2006
art that excites
Brad J. Goldberg: Coral Eden When I see art that excites me, that draws a reaction out of me, that makes me really take notice, that stirs my emotions, it becomes a memorable and almost a spiritual experience. And... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 15, 2006
Norman McLaren
This interesting news item about the late great Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914-1987) brings back a lot of wonderful memories for me: 'The films of National Film Board animation pioneer Norman McLaren will be the subject May 22 of the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 12, 2006
online galleries
I think it was about three weeks ago when I was browsing through the Saatchi Gallery site, checking to see what's new and (naturally!) if the link to my site is still there under cultural institutions. I noticed a new... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 2, 2006
Kathan Brown
This is very interesting for printmakers and other artists! Artist-blogger Gregg Chadwick at Speed of Life has written: "Kathan Brown, the founder of San Francisco's Crown Point Press, has a new book out - "Magical Secrets about Thinking Creatively:... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 27, 2006
Brian Jungen
Prototype for New Understanding #16, 2004 Nike athletic footwear, human hair Collection of Joel Wachs, New York Photo: Trevor Mills, Vancouver Art Gallery (taken from Brian Jungen Gallery) I'm very late getting this written - it was 11 days... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 22, 2006
Annabel Carey's batiks
Annabel Carey: Nine Stones - photo by John Talbot-Cooper Some time ago I wrote here about an exhibition of batiks by UK artist Annabel Carey: Spirit of the Stones. I expressed my keen interest in these because of my... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 21, 2006
Artists in Our Midst 2006
Artists on the west side of Vancouver are once again opening their studios to the public: West Point Grey April 21-23 Kitsilano April 28-30 Dunbar/Kerrisdale May 5-7 Each Friday there is a preview night with entertainment in a local centre.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 20, 2006
Takao Tanabe
Takao Tanabe - Malacca Strait: Dawn - Etching & Woodcut (not in this exhibition) Takao Tanabe was born in 1926 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia of Japanese parents. He studied at the Winnipeg School of Art (which later became... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 13, 2006
gallery date night
Vancouver Art Gallery at Robson Square It's a lovely day and I've got a date! I'm picking up husband from work and we are going to visit several exhibitions late this afternoon and into the evening. We really love... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 11, 2006
Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Self-portrait, Dead Horse Point, Utah, 1997, 20" x 24" I first became acquainted with Arno Rafael Minkkinen, an internationally known Finnish-American photographer through Art Daily some months ago. His works affected me deeply, and I bookmarked it for... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 31, 2006
openings tonight
I'm getting ready to go to a couple of art openings this evening: 1. RETURN, prints by Hannamari Jalovaara and Taiga Chiba at Malaspina Printmakers Gallery, opening 7 - 9 pm. 2. IN CONTRAST - ceramic sculpture by Mary Kim... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 23, 2006
RETURN
(left) Hannamari Jalovaara: Identical Witness intaglio 30 x 60 cm. (right) Taiga Chiba: My Return to the Cambrian Sea-16 monotype 52 x 77cm. RETURN is an exhibition of etchings and monotypes by Hannamari Jalovaara and Taiga Chiba at Malaspina... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 21, 2006
Made In India
Another exhibition by the very busy printmakers Tomoyo Ihaya and Taiga Chiba is opening this week at Dundarave Print Work Shop Gallery,1640 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC. The exhibition is on from March 17 to April 9, 2006,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 14, 2006
Steven Dixon: Spare
Steven Dixon: Desert Structure No. 1, 2006 Digital print on Japanese paper mounted on panel The Art Gallery of Alberta, formerly the Edmonton Art Gallery, is featuring an exhibition of prints by Steven Dixon called Spare: "Steven Dixon’s large-scale... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 8, 2006
update on batik show
batik by Annabel Carey, photo by Valeri Following up on a suggestion in the comments to my post about a batik exhibition in Cornwall, UK, I emailed Valeri of dyeing 2 sew, because she lives in Cornwall. I told... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 7, 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
a batik exhibition
This little news item in Stone Pages caught my eye and really piqued my interest: Exhibition: Spirits of the Stones "A touring exhibition by Annabel Carey of batiks featuring stone circles in England, Scotland and Wales, which began at the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 27, 2006
Olga Campbell's opening
We made it this evening to Olga Campbell's opening at Diskin Galleries. Olga presented quite a large number of her digital prints, some based on her travels in Asia and some of her personal family history, and all very... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 24, 2006
Olga Campbell at Diskin
Art Institute Printmaking member and friend Olga Campbell is having an exhibition of new mixed media works under the theme of "Triumph of the Human Spirit" at Diskin Galleries from February 24th to April 27th, 2006. The opening reception... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 23, 2006
Japanese woodblock printing
A few days ago, Tae-Huk Kim, our artist-in-residence from Korea, gave us an excellent demonstration of traditional Japanese woodblock printing. This is the technique he uses for making his contemporary woodcuts. Several woodblocks are made, usually one for each... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 16, 2006
Bill Laing's Silkscreens
Bill Laing - "Terrain of the Domestic Landscape #2" - Silkscreen Yesterday we spent a few enjoyable hours poking around the always lively Granville Island. Amongst other pleasures, we stopped in to view Bill Laing's exhibition PARIS: Recent Silkscreen... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 12, 2006
Tae-Huk Kim exhibition
Regular readers may recall my post about our print studio's artist-in-residence Tae-Huk Kim. Since his arrival in November, Kim has been busy making new woodcut prints using traditional Japanese water-based woodblock techniques. Next week he will be giving a... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 6, 2006
Mohsen's opening
Last night we attended the opening of Mohsen Kahlili's exhibition at Gallery Jones, here in Vancouver. It is an impressive body of work! The 61 sculptures were laid out on three long tables beautifully custom built by a friend,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 3, 2006
Mohsen Khalili exhibition
(scan of the front of the invitation showing Mohsen Khalili's unique bronzes) Art Institute member and everyone's friend Mohsen Khalili is having an exhibition called DYSFUNCTIONED TOOLS at Gallery Jones. Featured will be his numerous small bronze sculptures and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 26, 2006
Picasso at VAG
'Minotauromachie' - Etching, 1935 - Pablo Picasso (Scanned from my copy of Picasso, by Pierre Descargues, translated by Roland Balay, publisher Felicie, NY 1974) "It would be very interesting to preserve photographically, not the stages, but the metamorphoses of... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 3, 2006
Tae-Huk Kim
Tae-Huk Kim - Photo by Robert Jackson The Art Institute Printmaking studio at Capilano College is very fortunate to have Tae-Huk Kim as artist-in-residence for six months. Kim, as we call him, is a native of Korea who has... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 9, 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
Pnina Granirer's Floating Dancers
Busy artist Pnina Granirer is having another exhibition! Floating Dancers will be at the Seymour Art Gallery, 4360 Gallant Ave. in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, from November 8th - Dec.4th, 2005, with the opening reception on Tuesday, November 15th,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 5, 2005
Interconnection: Eastcott / Suzuki
Interconnection 6 (Interior 3) Michiko Suzuki & Wayne Eastcott inkjet, toner etching and Japanese paint on torinoko paper In August 2004, I wrote about a fascinating collaboration between printmakers Michiko Suzuki of Tokyo and Wayne Eastcott of Vancouver. They... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 31, 2005
Tomoyo Ihaya & Helen Gerritzen
R E C E N T WO R K S by Tomoyo Ihaya & Helen Gerritzen November 1 – 27, 2005 Opening reception: Thursday, November 3, 7 - 9 pm at Malaspina Printmakers Gallery 1555 Duranleau Street, Granville Island,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 29, 2005
Prior Editions:10 Years
Jardin Noir IV (detail), Jack Shadbolt lithograph on paper 88.9 x 68.6cm, 1994, private collection Prior Editions:10 Years of Canadian Printmaking, curated by Darrin Martins, is still on until October 30, 2005 at the Burnaby Art Gallery, in the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 27, 2005
Picasso and grandson
Protean Picasso: Drawings and Prints from the National Gallery of Canada and Selected Paintings from International Collections, an exhibition that brings together the full scope of the artist’s career through drawings, prints and paintings, opened at the Vancouver Art... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 18, 2005
NIFCA
If you are an artist looking for opportunities such as residencies in the Nordic countries, NIFCA, the Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art, will be of interest to you. Located in Helsinki, NIFCA is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 13, 2005
John Mawurndjul
John Mawurndjul, Milmilngkan, September 2004 © Foto Erika Koch. From Museum Tinguely Synchronicity strikes again! Just two days ago I wrote about rock art in Northern Australia. Now I've just finished looking at Art Daily's post about an exhibition... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 20, 2005
Fred Brown's woodcuts
Fred Brown: Share the Shelter Woodcut 36" x 72" I had heard that printmaker Fred Brown was going to be having an exhibition this month in Vancouver. Imagine my surprise when I read Art Daily's posting "Power Tools, Plywood,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 19, 2005
Dan Steeves
Dan Steeves is presenting a series of printworks 'The House as Fortress, the dichotomy of symbolic structure' at The Lookout Gallery, Regent College, at UBC, Vancouver until October 14th. Yesterday we were pleased to have artist Dan Steeves visit... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 16, 2005
Matisse in Louisiana
Henri Matisse: Thème E, variation 8, 1941 Album "Thèmes et variations" © Succession H. Matisse / CopyDan, 2005. "You sure know Henri Matisse. And you sure know Louisiana. But it is not that Louisiana I think of. In Denmark... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 14, 2005
Artscape Nordland
Seven Magical Points - Martti Aiha, Finland Reader and commenter extraordinaire Bill really livened up the virtual conversation at my post about a book on Quadra petroglyphs Spirit in the Stone. If readers missed it, do go read the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 11, 2005
Rodin in Vancouver
Auguste Rodin. Monument to Balzac. 1898 (cast 1954). Bronze, 9' 3" x 48 1/4" x 41" (282 x 122.5 x 104.2 cm). from MOMA. "The sculptor must learn to reproduce the surface, which means all that vibrates on the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 9, 2005
blogs and shows
1. Thanks to blog friend Anna of Self-Winding for pointing out that The Padacia has posted a couple of my Nexus prints. Thanks also to this mystery blogger from Oslo - it's nice to find another beautiful blog. Curiosity sent... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 6, 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
Jutai Toonoo's silent stones
New and Improved, 2000 serpentinite 12.5" high x 8" wide x 6" deep Inscription: "New and Improved Fertility God." Jutai Toonoo of Cape Dorset currently has a solo exhibition "Life Forms" at the Marion Scott Gallery at 308 Water... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 25, 2005
Marlene Dumas in Helsinki
Marlene Dumas Female, 1992-93 from the series Female 211 tusche and charcoal drawings Sammlung Garnatz, Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe "Kunsthalle Helsinki will offer a unique opportunity to see works by one of the hottest names in contemporary art, Marlene Dumas.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 23, 2005
artist-blogger interviewed
Roberta of roberta fallon and libby rosof's artblog recently visited artist-blogger Anna L. Conti in San Francisco, then wrote a long, warm and fascinating interview of Anna, with plenty of photos of her in her studio. I've been looking out... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 17, 2005
Kiki Smith revisited
Kiki Smith Jewel (#2), 2004 etching 14 x 17 inches (from Barbara Krakow Gallery) I love Kiki Smith's work and have mentioned her several times in my blog, most importantly the MOMA video presentation on her printmaking. Today, thanks... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 11, 2005
Art of the Hibakusha
Like so many others, we have been following the marking of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, then Nagasaki tomorrow. This made us recall the stories once told us by two Japanese-Canadian friends now in their seventies... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 8, 2005
Evolution: 80 Years of Emily Carr Institute
"An unexpectedly nostalgic event is occurring at Emily Carr Institute. Formerly Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design. Formerly Emily Carr College of Art and Design. Formerly the Vancouver School of Art. Originally the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 4, 2005
A.R. Menne's art
VVOI at New Art introduces new-to-me artist A.R. Menne. I was immediately struck by the compelling images that are beautifully drawn, sometimes etched, sometimes with watercolour and the compelling writing, with some excellent quotes by others. From entry 03-27: "(From... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 17, 2005
good links
Here's a small collections of links I've been saving to share for your reading pleasure: 1. More about Smithson at Print Australia and Modern Art Notes 2. As a lover of rock art and earth art, I was excited to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 15, 2005
Graphica Creativa
Graphica Creativa is the second oldest international printmaking exhibition in the Nordic countries. It is arranged in Jyväskylä, Finland every third year. Thanks to Graphica Creativa, Jyväskylä has become a centre of printmaking. A few days ago its 30 Years... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 12, 2005
Vancouver artist-blogger
Welcome to another new artist-blogger, Eric Deis, who is an emerging interdisciplinary artist from Vancouver. Eric is a graduate of Emily Carr Institute in Vancouver and the University of California, San Diego and has produced works in video, installation, digital... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 5, 2005
more printmaking blogs
Wow, this is why I love blogging! It is fascinating hearing from people around the world, that I'd never meet otherwise, whether they send an email through this blog or post a comment directly. And I'm particularly excited to meet... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 2, 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
visual music
Wassily Kandinsky: Painting with White Border 1913 This description in Thursday's Arts Journal really captured my imagination: Art in Musical Terms - There is a relationship, but does one describe the other? "The notion was to take the novelty... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 25, 2005
new printmaking blogs
A warm welcome to new printmaker blogger Printfreak, a graduate student in the US. Amongst other things, she has been writing about well-known printmakers Mauricio Lasansky, Stanley Hayter, Kiki Smith and some interesting artists new to me. Printfreak also has... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 23, 2005
visiting Sacral Spaces
Another exhibition that we went to see on our Friday jaunt about town was Sacral Spaces at the Emily Carr Institute. The main attraction for me was, of course, that this featured Finnish architecture (did I ever mention that... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 19, 2005
visiting Champuru
I wrote a while ago about Champuru, an exhibition of contemporary Okinawan art in Vancouver that I've been eager to see. Yesterday afternoon, I picked up my husband from work for an evening on the town. We headed over... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 18, 2005
artist blogger in Georgia
Welcome, Willkommen! to another artist blogger, Berlin born artist Hans Heiner Buhr, who lives in Tbilisi, Georgia. He has recently joined the blogosphere with New Images where he posts some of his work, talks about art, his family and life... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 4, 2005
Edward Burtynsky revisited
Edward Burtynsky: Nickel Tailings No. 32 Sudbury, Ontario 1996 About a year ago I wrote a bit about the achievements of Canadian photo-artist Edward Burtynsky (unfortunately the link to the news article has since expired). This year he has... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 26, 2005
Lalla Essaydi
Lalla Essaydi Converging Territories # 30, 2004 47 x 57 1/2" chromogenic print I've just been looking at and getting excited by Moroccan-born artist Lalla Essaydi's Converging Territories, a series of large-format colour portraits of women and children in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 19, 2005
Dinny Lansdowne
Has a painting exhibition May 6th – 15th Opening: Friday, May 6th, 7 – 10 p.m. At Marilyn Mylrea Art Studio and Gallery, 2341 Granville Street, Vancouver Visit Dinny's website for more details and images. Dinny was one of the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 3, 2005
Olga Campbell exhibition
(Images copyright of the artist, used here with her permission) WHISPERS ACROSS TIME, paintings, prints and sculpture by Olga Campbell Opening reception on Thursday, April 21, 2005, from 7 to 9 p.m. Gertrude and Zack Gallery, 950 West 41st... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 19, 2005
Artists in Our Midst
"Artists in Our Midst" is Vancouver's West Side Annual Art Studio Tour. Sorry I'm late posting this, having missed the first weekend opens in Kitsilano. This coming weekend April 15 - 17th Dunbar/Kerrisdale area artists have a preview exhibition and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 14, 2005
Stolen Art
You may recall my posts last month about Pnina Granirer's exhibition and my visit to her studio. Some time ago, I was horrified to learn that two of her works have been stolen. This is a terrible thing for an... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 8, 2005
Lesley Dill at Equinox
Lesley Dill: I See Visions Lithograph on Muslin, Silk Organza with Hand-Sewn Elements 28 x 20 in. 2004 New York artist Lesley Dill's work is showing at the Equinox Gallery in Vancouver (ending March 31st). An artist friend and... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 24, 2005
Tomoyo Ihaya at SNAP
This email recently came from Tomoyo, who just finished an exhibition in Vancouver: "hello, everyone. Spring in vancouver and semi-spring in Edmonton.. I came to edmonton hopefully to see beavers, buffalos and water.. Please come by to see the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 18, 2005
Bonnie Jordan
Another artist-friend of mine, Bonnie Jordan, has been doing exciting, yet very thoughtful and very leading edge digital printmaking for several years. Here are some of her latest works. Images are copyright Bonnie Jordan, used here with her permission. Please... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 15, 2005
An Art Full Week
What a busy week this has been, making art, seeing art and meeting artists! I finally completed editioning a group of prints that took me several months to develop and print many trial proofs. I'm testing another hanging method (not... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 11, 2005
Pnina Granirer's Synchronicity
Installation photo of a section of Pnina Granirer's exhibition "Synchronicity", at Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery For some time now I have been working on several larger works incorporating a layer of inket-printed clear mylar over prints on paper.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 7, 2005
Duet: Taiga Chiba & Eunjin Kim
DUET, an exhibition of collaborative prints by Taiga Chiba and Eunjin Kim will be presented at Dundarave Print Workshop March 10 to April 3, 2005. The opening is from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm on March 10th. If you... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 5, 2005
Janet Strayer
Perishable Goods Janet Strayer, a friend and past member of the Art Institute, Printmaking at Capilano College has a large solo exhibition of her paintings, etchings, and mixed media works on display at the Enigma Restaurant in Vancouver during... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 3, 2005
Douglas Curran and Nyau
Douglas Curran, Ndapita ku Maliro (Nkhuku Mutsekele) I'm going to the Funeral, Lock up the Chicken (scanned from invitation) Another very interesting and very worthwhile exhibition we went to see on Sunday afternoon (yesterday) after the visit to the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 21, 2005
Prints from St. Michael's Printshop
Today we finally made it out to see the touring exhibition 'The Power of Place - 30 Years of Printmaking in Newfoundland' at the Burnaby Art Gallery. Some weeks ago I wrote about this in some detail - if... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 20, 2005
Rock Garden of Chandigarh
Here's a new kind of rock art! wood s lot has pointed to Carl Lindquist's excellent photographs and essay on Nek Chand's Rock Garden of Chandigarh. These are captivating, go look! "One day over 40 years ago, Nek Chand,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 17, 2005
Finnish artists' blogs
A few days when browsing through language hat I found coloria. It's a unique site (in Finnish) all about colours: history, cultural meanings, chemistry, pigments and so forth, plus a discussion forum, by Finnish artist Päivi Hintsanen. She says (in... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 12, 2005
anniversary & rocks
Well, today is this blog's first anniversary and what a wonderful ride it has been. Many thanks to all you faithful readers and commentors and the still growing numbers of visitors who have been and are still making this new... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 1, 2005
Ethno-Techno photos & review
James K-M, curator of the Ethno-Techno exhibition of last October in which I participated, sent a note today that the installation photos of that show are now up on the Digitalis site. Please have a look. If you are new... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 15, 2005
Prints from Newfoundland
Guide and Protector of All the Children (detail), Jerry Evans, lithograph, 2000 (scanned from Burnaby Art Gallery invitation) The Burnaby Art Gallery has been featuring quite a few print exhibitions this past year and this one sounds the most... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 9, 2005
Tomoyo Ihaya
Art Beatus is presenting Fountain, a special collection of prints and mixed media works by Tomoyo Ihaya from January 14 to March 11, 2005. The opening reception is on Friday, January 14th from 3 to 6 pm. in the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on January 7, 2005
a winter story
I am so thrilled and proud that I must share this! My four-year old grandaughter sent this lovely story she created (with a little help from her mommy and daddy): Lael's Winter Story* Don't miss clicking on the circles to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 24, 2004
some art reading
Holiday preparations have sidetracked me lately from the more serious business of art. Trying to keep up with reading some art blogs, I found this to be so good that I'd like to point you towards Zeke's Gallery in Montréal.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 22, 2004
a printmaker's blog
This is why I don't want to shut off the comments against nasty spammers. Recently Linden Langdon, a new visitor to my blog, wrote in a comment. I am excited because she is also a printmaker who has a blog.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 10, 2004
Elisa Rathje
still image from untitled (left side/right side) © Elisa Rathje I am proud to introduce my daughter Elisa, a 1998 graduate of the Emily Carr Institute (of Art, Design and Media) who works with computer-generated images and digital video.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 7, 2004
William Blake
William Blake (1757-1827) "was an artisan in the truest sense: his craftsmanship played a role in every creative aspect of his poetic and prose works. William Blake thought, wrote, prepared, designed, engraved, and printed all pieces his name would grace."... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 4, 2004
Taiga Chiba at Baker Lake
Mark your calendars. Master printmaker Taiga Chiba will discuss his experiences teaching printing techniques to Inuit artists in the Canadian North. A slide presentation will be followed by a guided tour of the exhibition Experimental Prints from Baker Lake. This... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 2, 2004
Steven Dixon
Steven Dixon: Mine Site No. 17 photogravure 58 x 70 cm Master printer, teacher and friend Steven Dixon just let me know that some of his photogravure prints are on exhibition at Lando Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta until December... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on December 1, 2004
Setsuko Piroche
Setsuko Piroche is another good friend and printmaking colleague who works in the Art Institute printmaking studio. Before coming to printmaking, Setsuko worked in a wide variety of media - paintings, ceramics, textile art and woven sculptures. She has had... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 29, 2004
Taiga Chiba
Yesterday we attended another opening, this time "Tis the Season!" at Art Beatus, featuring the works of four artists, including friend and printmaker Taiga Chiba. Taiga's works are part of a series using the traditional Japanese Sumi-e painting technique... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 20, 2004
monotypes and monoprints
Some of my work in the Veils Suite, such as Child's Play II, Child's Play III & Child's Play IV are made using a printmaking technique called monotype. The monotype is a singular and unique print that takes its image... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 16, 2004
Jean Morrison & Setsuko Piroche
Artists Jean Morrison and Setsuko Piroche invite you to their exhibition of print media and objects entitled "the diverse earth". The opening reception is on Wednesday, November 17th, 2004 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. The exhibition runs from Nov.15... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 15, 2004
Betty Goodwin exhibition
Chris posts a long list of reviews at Zeke's Gallery, including two in the Globe & Mail about the current exhibition of works by Montreal artist Betty Goodwin at the Sable-Castelli Gallery in Toronto. Sarah Milroy writes that this "may... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 5, 2004
Burnaby Art Gallery exhibitions
Diagram Lambda, Wayne Eastcott, serigraph. City of Burnaby Permanent Art Collection. The Burnaby Art Gallery features two interesting exhibitions. 1. A Survey of British Columbia Printmaking - November 9, 2004-January 2, 2005 From the invitation (links added by me):... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on November 4, 2004
Jean C. Morrison
Jean Morrison and I have been friends and printmaking colleagues for a long time, working together in the Art Institute printmaking studio. Jean has worked in a wide variety of printmaking media, even venturing recently into digital inkjet printing, yet... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 19, 2004
Andrew Wyeth's Helga
I've always been fascinated by Helga, the subject of numerous paintings and drawings by Andrew Wyeth. Now we can see 70 of the more than 240 works he did of his neighbour Helga Testorf, on exhibition at the Mint Museums... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 17, 2004
Biliana Velkova's exhibition
Another exhibition coming up is the recent work of Biliana Velkova, a recent member of the Art Institute, Printmaking at Capilano College. Here is her show statement: "Paris Hilton wearing a stretch cotton pantsuit by Dolce and Gabana, Kirsten... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 10, 2004
Wayne Eastcott exhibition
Wayne Eastcott: Generation#3 1983 silkscreen As I wrote earlier, October is a busy month for art shows here! The Lookout Gallery, Regent College is presenting "Wayne Eastcott: Selected Works" - a survey of his printworks from 1965 to... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 8, 2004
Michiko Suzuki's exhibition
Michiko sent this link about her newly opened exhibition in Tokyo's Gallery 219. Have a look at her series of archival inkjet prints. You may remember Michiko from my article about her collaboration with Wayne Eastcott.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 6, 2004
Richard Avedon 1923-2004
Famous photographer Richard Avedon died today in Texas at the age of 81. News at Reuters, CBC and ABCNews Avedon's homepage is blacked out today Avedon Portraits at Metropolitan Museum of Art (2003)... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on October 1, 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
experiencing art
Lenny writes an interesting art blog at Washington, DC Art News. Today he writes about how he came to chosen to be the curator for the upcoming "Homage to Frida Kahlo" exhibition. (The call for artists will be announced soon... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on September 5, 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
more Spiral Jetty photos
Last week I wrote about Smithson's Spiral Jetty re-emerging and about Todd Gibson's visits there. Hope you have had a look at his series of articles and photos at From the Floor. Today he came across some photos at While... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 25, 2004
Wayne Eastcott & Michiko Suzuki
A fascinating collaboration between two internationally well-known printmakers has been happening in the printmaking studios at Capilano College, North Vancouver. Japanese artist, Michiko Suzuki of Tokyo, Japan became the College's first artist-in-residence in the fall of 2003 and also began... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 23, 2004
Smithson's Spiral Jetty
My daily newspaper The Vancouver Sun's weekend edition has an Arts & Life section (subscription needed for archives) that I often enjoy reading over lazy weekend breakfasts. The August 14th paper featured a fascinating article "Land art rises as lake... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 16, 2004
Warhol at VAG
Lenin by Andy Warhol ( silkscreen - from Artchive) Another destination visit with our European visitors was to the Vancouver Art Gallery and its main summer exhibition Andy Warhol: Prints and Drawings from the Warhol Museum. Warhol's work continues... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 11, 2004
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
(detail of totem in Great Hall - I love the circles of figures wrapped around the pole) For the past few days we have been showing off our lovely city to some family visiting from Europe. One of the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 10, 2004
My Top Ten
Tyler Green started something here by posting his top ten favourite artists and asking other bloggers to post their lists. Then today he posted those! I'm late to the party, having such a very busy week, but have been inspired... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 6, 2004
Phonecam photo art
This is very interesting! Pinseri (in Finnish, from the land of Nokia!) writes (my translation): "If you belong to the group always dreaming of a more expensive and superior digital camera, take an example from Henry Reichhold. He snaps piles... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on August 2, 2004
Print Exhibition in Philadelphia
Libby of Roberta & Libby's artblog raves about an unusual print exhibition at the Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia: "Several Steps Removed" is so terrrific and I have to share it. It's all prints and plates or other matrixes used... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 20, 2004
Kathe Kollwitz
Several weeks ago I wrote about women in prints and Kathe Kollwitz. As I said, I'm a great admirer of Kollwitz' work, so I am excited today to see her featured at wood s lot. There are lots of images... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on July 8, 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
Edward Burtynsky
"Toronto photographer Edward Burtynsky, who has made a specialty of capturing the terrible beauty of destruction, was declared the fourth and last winner of the Roloff Beny award at a reception last night at the Royal Ontario Museum. His book,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 17, 2004
Kiki Smith & Giuseppe Penone
Doing my daily blogstroll, I stopped at Modern Art Notes where Tyler Green writes that unlike in the past, "this month's ArtForum is pretty much a must-read". There, my eye was caught by Kiki Smith's name and because I'd written... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 16, 2004
Sokolovski the sculptor
Just found this very interesting item on online: CBC Radio 3 asks Valeri Sokolovski, a Socialist Realist sculptor from Odessa living in Surrey, BC, Canada to come out of retirement to portray some of today's leaders. This is a full-screen... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 9, 2004
Drawing, Hockney and Eyre
David Hockney has talked to BBC News Online about drawing: "Drawing should be regarded as a major art form, artist David Hockney said as he launched the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London...Drawing has been neglected for the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 6, 2004
Michelangelo
Found at that rabbit girl: "The artist Michelangelo may have had the condition Asperger's Syndrome, according to researchers. Two experts in Asperger's, a milder form of autism, say the artist had many of the traits linked with the condition which... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on June 1, 2004
women in prints
The Bayly Art Museum, at the University of Virginia, has published online a wonderful exhibition called "The Power of Woe, The Power of Life" - " Images of Women in Prints from the Renaissance to the Present". It takes an... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 26, 2004
The Big Print Show
A quick update: Carolyn at studio notebook (May 21, 2004 entry) visited the Big Print Show at the Greg Kucera Gallery in Seattle, about which I posted recently. She comments on her favourites and has good links including the gallery's... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 21, 2004
Nature Art
The work of Finnish visual artist Anni Rapinoja was recently brought to my attention by Irma H. of Finland, who initiated an interesting correspondence since finding my blog. Rapinoja uses collected plant materials to create her unusual sculptures and earth... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 13, 2004
circles
a tree stump on Vancouver Island
[Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 11, 2004
print show in Seattle
SUPER-SIZED: the BIG print show featuring works by Chuck Close, Helen Frankenthaler, Graham Gillmore (from BC, Canada), Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Motherwell, William Kentridge, Ed Ruscha, Richard Serra, Kiki Smith and others, will be at the Greg Kucera Gallery in Seattle,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 7, 2004
Krakow Triennial winners
Speaking of award-winning printmakers, here are some more that I'd like to tell you about. As I have written before, the Krakow Print Triennial in Poland is one of the world's largest and most prestigious international print competitions. They publish... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 4, 2004
Award-winning Estonian printmakers
In some recent correspondence with friends Virge and Loit Joekalda in Tallinn, Estonia, I learned that Virge has won her country's prestigious Eduard Wiiralti Young Artist's Award for 2004. They sent a large format PDF catalogue of the Awards, which... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on May 4, 2004
Life as an Artist
I have just found an artist's blog that has really piqued my interest. Ivan Pope in the UK does multimedia installation work that is very different from my printmaking, but his clear descriptions of his life as an artist who... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 13, 2004
Why Make Art?
Anna Conti in her Working Artist's Journal ( April 7/04 entry) brings up this perennial question that we artists are always asking of ourselves: "Why make art? What is it good for?" She writes: "I don't think we'll ever know.... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 7, 2004
Hockney again
Over at studio notebook, on April 5/04 Carolyn wrote about her reaction to David Hockney's book Secret Knowledge. The book is about Hockney's research into how the Old Masters utilized optics as a tool to create their works. "The thesis... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 6, 2004
The Ainu
Feeding my fascination for ancient as well as the indigenous cultures of the world, I was excited to find at the rich Mysterium a post about the Ainu: "A beautiful audio-visual presentation on Japan's Indigenous Ainu people, their origins, art... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on April 3, 2004
Snow Show Architect wins Prize
Recently I wrote about the unusual Snow Show in Finland. Today I found a link at studio notebook (March 31st post) to artdish and the following article: "Zaha Hadid selected for architecture prize; Her recent sculptural work on the rocks... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 31, 2004
Jim Dine
Found this on Art Daily: First Survey of Jim Dine at National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC Leading American artist Jim Dine's groundbreaking achievements as a draftsman beginning around 1970 are featured in Drawings of Jim Dine at the National... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 27, 2004
Kiki Smith at MoMA
In my blogstrolls, I discovered this treasure on MoMA's site: Kiki Smith: Prints, Books, and Things. Take a look at the neat website with the videos displaying the actual printing process! "Kiki Smith (American, born Germany, 1954) is among the... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 24, 2004
Mohsen Khalili's monoprints
Today I happened to meet Mohsen at the studio and we showed each other our websites. I have seen him at work on his monoprints but he also does paintings and sculpture.To me, his monoprints are very moving, sometimes deeply... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 4, 2004
Horkay's digital collages
mr.h at Giornale Nuovo writes a fascinating blog with numerous entries about unusual art. Recently he wrote about Istvan Horkay's work and posted several of his images. Lee Spiro was quoted as saying:"[his work] combines original drawn and painted images,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 2, 2004
Toni Onley
Toni Onley, the famed flying artist of BC, died on February 29, 2004 when his plane crashed into the Fraser River near Maple Ridge, east of Vancouver. At the age of 75, he had achieved international recognition mostly for his... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on March 2, 2004
Exhibition: Bob Steele - 50 years of Printmaking
Burnaby Art Gallery has an exhibition of prints by Bob Steele, a major Canadian printmaker. He is Professor Emeritus in Art Education in the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia. Steele's work has won awards and been exhibited both... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 24, 2004
A photogravure exhibition: Steven Dixon
Steven Dixon, one of the three artists in the Traces exhibition in Finland, is having an exhibition of his photogravures opening at the SNAP Gallery. This is a gallery run by the Society of North Alberta Print-Artists in Edmonton, Alberta,... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 9, 2004
Tallinn
A fast ferry ride across the Gulf of Finland took us to Tallinn, Estonia with its fascinating medieval walled old town, surrounded by a busy city rapidly catching up with the west after the Soviet collapse. We met award-winning printmakers... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 3, 2004
Helsinki
After Vaasa and Turku, came the beautiful capital city Helsinki, full of interesting things to see. As arranged, we met printmaker Vappu Johansson, who had been a visiting artist at Vancouver's Malaspina Printmakers Society. She kindly gave us an interesting... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 3, 2004
"Traces" Exhibition in Finland
In May & June 2002, I had the great pleasure of having an exhibition called "Traces" with friends and colleagues Bonnie Jordan and Steven Dixon at the Pohjanmaan Museum's Taidehalli in Vaasa, Finland. Please look at: TRACES, my site specifically... [Continue Reading...]
Posted by Marja-Leena on February 2, 2004