Art

Beneath the Surface: The Art of Tattoos

Beneath the Surface: The Art of Tattoos

Tattoos are a personal form of art, often containing meanings that go deep beneath the surface.

My story starts at the young age of sixteen, when I got the first of what would eventually be four tattoos. I had known by around the age of twelve that I wanted a tattoo one day, maybe because of seeing my father’s forearm tattoo daily, my love of art, or the beauty in the ink. Whatever the influence or reason, I knew that I wanted one, which led to getting four before my nineteenth birthday. The reasons behind my tattoo choices ranged from wanting a daily reminder of ‘balance’, to a tribute for the passing of a dear friend.

Everyone has their own reasons for deciding to get inked, and sometimes, as we grow and change with time, our reasons can shift as well.

This leads me to my current tattoo journey – getting them removed.


Blog for Bleeding Heart!

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"Pressing for Progress" by Filling in the Gaps of the Historical Record

"Pressing for Progress" by Filling in the Gaps of the Historical Record

On this International Women’s Day we’re gearing up for Regarding Mary, a brand new exhibit by Marlena Wyman that is scheduled to open March 10th.

Marlena has served on the board of the Women’s Art Museum Society of Canada and worked as the Audio/Visual Archivist at the Provincial Archives of Alberta for 28 years. She has always created art, even when she was a single mom and working full-time.


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Be Original | Buy Original : Thoughts on the Value of Original Art

Have you ever come across a painting, sculpture, piece of jewelry, or other original piece of art that just spoke to you? Was it as if you were being lured in by an invisible force, calling your name, begging you to make a place in your life for this magical creation? This has happened to me before, and I’m pretty sure this scenario has happened to you as well. But what does it all mean?

Perhaps the best way to explain this “invisible force” is through an experience that I had last spring while attending a local hand-made exhibition. It happened when I walked past a jewelry booth displaying necklaces, nothing like I had seen before. The depth and richness in the colours of the hand-made clay pieces drew me in, begging me to come for a closer look. After browsing the collection of necklaces, I noticed that there was a small assortment of stud earrings. Simple yet unique, each set containing just 2 colours. One pair in blue and black immediately spoke to me, asking me to take them home and make them a part of my life. I knew there was no going back now. If I didn’t buy these earrings, I would be thinking about them after I left, and then I may not have the opportunity to buy them at another time. So, I asked the artisan for the price (not that it mattered because I knew they were mine at that point), and at just $20, I felt like I had won the lottery.

I wear these earrings at some point every week, and they have become an accessory that I work into my regular wardrobe. The best part is that I continue to be drawn in by their invisible force, like the first day I spotted them at the exhibition. These earrings have a way of making me feel like my unique self, and I always feel great when I wear them. These are feelings of great value that never diminish, and all it took was that single purchase. Art like this will keep you looking at it and will leave you in wonder. When you buy original art that speaks to you, you are not just exchanging money for a finished product, but also for the artists’ process, time and energy that went into creating something unique. Ultimately, you receive a piece of the artist themselves. Art of this nature will hold its value, because YOU see the value in it – and truthfully, isn’t that really all that matters?

Art is personal and speaks to people in different ways, so why not surround yourself with art that is as unique to you as you are to the world? The next time a piece of art speaks to you, remember this:  buy original art that reflects your original self, and its value will never diminish.

Stay creative!

 


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Blair Brennan: Get It Down on Paper, The Talk

Blair Brennan: Get It Down on Paper, The Talk

Blair Brennan gave his Get It Down On Paper artist talk to a packed house in November 2017. If you weren't one of the lucky ones to get a spot (sitting or standing), or if you just want to revisit his excellent thoughts on artmaking, you're in luck. Blair has graciously provided his talk for our blog.

Enjoy! 


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This is Our Manifesto

This is Our Manifesto

Before we ever opened a gallery, we were a movement. We still are, and this is our Manifesto. Our reason for existing. Our map. 

Thanks to all who read the Manifesto for this video, and to every artist who has shared their beautiful work in our space(s) over the years. 


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How to get your art into Open Walls

How to get your art into Open Walls

Open Walls 3 starts this Saturday, and I encourage you to show a piece of work. It has to be ready to hang, and it has to be something most families would feel comfortable viewing together (we often have kids at this show), but otherwise, anything goes. One piece for every artist who wants to submit one. 
 


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Beauty in a Time of Dryness

Beauty in a Time of Dryness

These are dry times. Summer slips away faster than you can catch it – a dime down the drain. The sky hangs damp and icy today. Across the globe, powerful little men toy with the world’s future like it’s a game of chicken. Hurricanes have ravaged large parts of our earth. Families will suffer the effects for years to come. Terrorists won’t let London sleep. 

This planet can get so ugly. So broken. So disordered. So many of our mirrors are shattered.

There is order in beauty. A divine order, I believe, but whatever your theology you can feel it. The affirmation of disparate parts falling into place. 

Jennifer Berkenbosch’s Cultivar matters because the world needs beauty today. We need to be reminded that there is goodness. There is a solid bed beneath this wild river. 


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Grab Your Scissors, Glue and Imagination For Our Latest Workshop

Grab Your Scissors, Glue and Imagination For Our Latest Workshop

Last year I sat in a room with a dozen or so others and learned how to set my imagination free with nothing but a pair of scissors and some glue, thanks the the guidance of Edmonton artist Hannah Gelderman. I'm so glad she's returning, armed with her collection of excellent magazines and images, to do it all over again.


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Kenton Jeske In Conversation (Audio Interview)

Kenton Jeske In Conversation (Audio Interview)

Kenton Jeske's Ceremony is open now at the Alberta Craft Council, with a reception this Saturday, April 22 at . I had a virtual 'sit down' with Kenton, in the midst of minding children and barking dogs, respectively. His hand-made furniture is beautiful and considered–the product of hundreds of hours of care.  


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A Poem for Easter Sunday, by Tania Runyan

A Poem for Easter Sunday, by Tania Runyan

Tania Runyan is leading our poetry workshop at Small, Slow & Beautiful this summer, and I encourage you to join her. She is a fantastic writer, and this Easter poem proves it.

While Christmas is for greeting cards, Easter is for poets. May these words enrich your own experience of Easter's Holy mysteries. 


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