0 Comments
Here are some shots of the fabric I've been working into this month. There will be a lot more added to this falling sweater, including some subtle leaf prints and maybe even some goldleaf. The falling sweater was printed with brazilwood and logwood and the full falling series is 5 vertical prints on 136 inches of silk This finished piece will be shown at Eastern Bloc starting March 30th, 2012 photos by Riley Sparks Update March 23rd: Shortly after this post I accidentally ruined this fabric in a contaminated pot. I was pretty sad at first, but the more I look at the photos the more I think the piece had already been resolved at this point. So now I'm just glad I have these great photos. For the show on the 30th I'll be showing the second part of this series which will be a lot different and feature a sound element.
More printing with natural dyes. These photos aren't out of focus, the prints have just transferred that way, which I love.
I'm teaching a beginner paper weaving class at Au Papier Japonais on February 2nd. Today I wove some samples using the shop's wonderful hand-made washi (japanese paper). Sadly the fine quality of the above brown kozo isn't captured in these photos - it looks more like paper bag :( when it's actually a special washi made with the inner bark of mulberry.
I got my Walter Helena print in the mail this week and it is so gorgeous. Nadine's photography style mimics watercolour and her paper and print choice really supports that quality. I actually like the way it looks on the cardboard it came in (which I think is more to keep it from bending in the mail).
I'm pretty sure this winter in Montreal has been even milder than last year. We only got a huge dump of snow for the first time yesterday, and it feels like its been no colder than -10 for a while now. Yes, its been snowy and slushy, but not how I remember it being last year around this time. I haven't even seen the snow-plow parade yet.
Yesterday I was going to do a photo shoot of the Anchor/Cradle at school, but the the new snow fall was so ideal (this was the beginning of what was 3.5" by the end of the day). So I carried it over to Parc Jarry in the morning before class and found the perfect tree in the perfect spot. It was easier than I expected to get it tied up on that branch. I would have really liked to leave it there for a day or so, but I was afraid it might get stolen or taken down by the city and I need it for an upcoming show, so..... it was a temporary installation; long enough to get some good (higher quality) shots with the new camera. I just got home from waiting for the bus in the snow for a full hour. It would have been wretched if the snow hadn't been so mesmerizing. Until now I've never actually seen snowflakes shaped like....snowflakes - the kind you'd make with scissors and paper. They just make me smile. AND because each flake is so flat they create a faceted blanket on the ground which sparkles like diamonds. Amazing. When I walked in the door I told Danny that was going back out to take pictures and he asked me, with serious conviction, what I had been smoking. Haha. He'll understand once he sees it for himself. Come to the Interfold launch party, featuring this piece of mine in the mag and this piece at the launch party.
Interfold Magazine is a " fine arts publication at Concordia University that acts as an exhibition within a magazine curated around a theme". Their premiere theme is 'confines'. I haven't see it yet, but the front cover looks promising :) There will be beer, mixed drinks and grilled cheese! Yum. January 14th @ 9pm 1175 Rue St. Marc, Montréal www.interfoldmagazine.com
_ Nancy's Shortbread 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup butter Cream butter and sugar. Sift in flour. Knead well. Roll into logs and cover with wax paper. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Cut cookie from roll (1/4" - 1/2" thick). The recipe says bake @325 for 15-20 min, but mine took about 30 min before I saw a little bit of browning which is how I like it. For these I also added raspberry jam by pressing the ball of a teaspoon into the tops of the cookie dough and placing a small dollop of jam on top before putting them in the oven. This Christmas season I've received a number of cards in the mail from my mom containing family holiday recipes; pretty special. One of them was my great aunt Nancy's shortbread. I tend to assume that anything as good aunt Nancy's shortbread is probably really hard to make well, but this recipe is quite possibly the simplest recipe ever with only three ingredients: butter, sugar and flour. And so delicious; Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside (with or without jam on top). With that said butter is the main ingredient, so since I don't have any will-power when it comes to treats there has been a lot of tummy aches and heartburn around the house lately ;) Also a lot of scenes that look like this: Me, as I walk into the room to present Danny with my first ever batch of fresh baked shortbread: (in a sing-song voice) "I know how to make shortbread!" Danny: (echoing my tune) "I hope you like man-boobs" Happy Holidays, xoJanna
|