We flipped to June this week, so it’s time for at least one first: First Saturday in Vancouver, followed by preparing for First Thursday in Seattle. Here we go!

Viewing

Vancouver’s First Saturday open studios were the highlight of my week — wow! I spent the previous two weeks on call for any updates to the website, subbing in for the regular editor, who was on a glorious residency in France, so I felt primed to participate.

At Eastside Atelier, I met Milanka Bunard, who had this beautifully minimal piece that needed to come home with me. Did I remember to bring a shopping bag? Why yes, I did! The bag came in handy again at Parker St Studios where I was happy to pick up this collage from Lisa Farrell. All part of the plan to have art around me in my new digs, and to continue art conversations at every turn.

My last stop, Paneficio Gallery, had work from Yuri Arajs of Outsiders and Others. I didn’t catch him at the show, as I ducked home to try and evade the rain, but he’s been so helpful each time we’ve talked. He’s an excellent gallery curator, and his work is beautifully simple and sharp, as well.

I’m starting to feel like I recognize a few people, and some of them maybe recognize me! I reconnected with Karen Marki at my first stop, and bumped into Mary Lang at my second stop, both from last week’s art walk. And of course, caught up with Valerie Arntzen and Dana Cromie at Paneficio — what a great sense of a building community.

Reading

I’ve been staring at Art From Your Core for weeks, and I finally started it! The author, Kate Kretz, makes strong, stunning art, and I’ve been wanting to read her take ever since she started talking about this book.

Now the book that was blocking me, mentally, had multiple art prompts on each page. I’ve set that one aside as a long-term project. This one, thankfully, is only a few questions per chapter. So far, I’m thinking about:

• How did I arrive at my current work?
• What is art for?

You know, just… little questions! I do love having these queries running around in my subconscious.

Meetings & Making

During my Wednesday evening studio time with the Arizona Collage Collective, I managed to call in from my hands-on workspace, and use some of the wonderful fodder Suzanne, the AZCC lead, sent me.

These are NOT my usual compositions, but they were fun. And that first layer needs to start somewhere, after all. Yes, I’ll probably cover them up!

I also took a pass by the spelling book pages: I have 23 now, out of 64.

I’m having fun making the two sides different from each other, but also connected somehow.

During my studio call Monday, I shared my group of Aerials compositions, the ones in current favour, and got some feedback on commonalities. One I didn’t spot: teal!

And then it was time to hustle down to Seattle, via Air Canada, bookended by light rail, and visit the square sketchbook waiting for me there.

I don’t know how this fits into anything, but I guess that’s what sketches are for. How do you corral too many ideas? I feel like I ask that every week — that’s about right! Let me know if any clues have emerged on that longstanding question!

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