Lately I've been thinking a lot about this city I'll be departing from soon, and how wonderfully it has treated me.  One aspect of Montreal that has left an impression on me from day one is the metro system.  Each metro station has artwork either incorporated into the architecture or placed within the space (depending on when it was built.  Newer stations incorporated the artwork into the design).  I love how every station has a personality of it's own, unlike some other cities where the designs are streamlined to be almost identical at each stop (ahem - Vancouver).

When I first moved here for art school, my first Fibres project was an homage to marginalized populations in the city with the use of a metro station as my main tool.  It was actually my first time using the rubbing technique that I became so fond of.  Sadly I never photographed the project, partly because it is actually illegal to photograph Montreal's metro system.  This is unfortunate because not only was I unable to complete my art piece, but it means that I cannot take the time to take meaningful photos of this great space before I move away.  I tried once and got stopped by metro police.  I also had a metro operator jump out of the car and scold me while I was making this stop-motion video (which meant I could complete my vision of it - arg!).

This brings me to a new project which I'm calling Interdit, which translates to Forbidden or Prohibited.  The photos (and perhaps video and audio) I'll share are not necessarily finished artworks.  As per usual I just want to share the process.

PS here is a detail photo of one metro station over at CDR

My mom has been visiting from BC for the past week which means I've been actually getting sleep and eating marvelously.  Mom's cooking is the best: think italian meals daily, fresh baked goods and an excuse to visit all the necessary Montreal food stops; poutine, smoked meat, chocolatines, bagels etc...

We've also been doing some gallery hopping.  Concordia's Fibres Student Association's yearly show at Galerie Diagonale was a treat...and I'm allowed to take photos, which is a plus.

Juried by Emily Jan, Emily Hermant and Susan Surette, Monstrocities includes ten fibres students' work, all which speak to the connection between materials and the body.  I've included photos of some of my faves.

Today we also visited DHC ART where Thomas Demand is currently exhibiting his show, Animations.  He uses paper, photography and animation to recreate real scenes that he has witnessed in person or in video, and are often politically charged.  It is eery how real they look.  If you are not in Montreal and unable to see this show I highly recommend watching this video about his work.

Introducing my lovely little man, Samuel David Vallee, born March 1st, 7lbs 4oz, 19.25 inches long.  Danny and I are happier than we ever imagined we could be

I've been teaching an after-school program to grade 3's and 4's since last October and it has been so much fun.  We see each other every Thursday and they have only one hour to to learn a technique and make a project.  The things they make in that time are really impressive.  I'll be sad to be saying good-bye to these girls when I go on maternity leave soon.

These photos are from the embroidery class and the felting classes.  Some other techniques we've covered are natural dyeing, shibori, eco-printing, finger knitting, weaving, basketry and block printing.