Respect For Earth's Last Week

Hey everyone

I just wanted to show you some shots from the awesome group exhibition

I was lucky to be included in recently called "Respect For Earth" at the Novah Gallery.

It was a showing of almost 20 local artists and over 50 pieces of artwork

all pertaining to our own unique viewpoint on this one precious home we call Earth. 

This is one of five pieces I had hung in the show "She Took Care Of Her Kindred Spirits"

The gallery space at Novah is pretty cool, two long nicely lighted hallways

and a really cozy common area to show the artwork, a really nice space for an art show.

It was an honor to be included.  North Bay may be small but we have amazing talent aplenty.

And first time curator Sarah Carlin-Ball did a really amazing job at putting it all together.

Sarah made these gorgeous weaved baskets and we were supposed to set an intention or make a wish

on an object or on a piece of paper which we than put into the baskets...all were welcome to do so.

My wish was that more people make the connection and choose to go vegan for the Earth's sake.

My other wish was that I am able to keep being a voice for the voiceless & a home for the wayward.

And I set an intention to start using less plastic when grocery shopping (more on that later).

This was one of my all-time favorite pieces in the whole show,

there's an honesty to this piece that touched me.

Here is another of my pieces in the show called "She Was Nourished By Green Living"/

This is my friend, mentor, high-school teacher and one of my very first supports and reasons why I became an artist, David Carlin.  How cool it feels to be in the same show with him.

The exhibition has a multitude of mediums, including pottery in the outdoor space,

like this outdoor piece by local potter Pat Stamp.

And multimedia metal pieces by one of my favorite local artists Carol Davidson.

The opening was a crowded, lovely, uplifting afternoon with beautiful company.

Here's another of my pieces called "She Wished On Every Star To Always Be A Safe Haven",
this one is a self-portrait (it's for sale but I am more than okay if this particular piece never sells!).

(Pottery by Pat Stamp)

I truly think there's something for everyone in the show.

On the big poster my bio says "...(Mandy) firmly believes that the best & biggest way to respect our one Earth is to go Vegan" and I know that will 'annoy' some people but it's an opinion I feel very strongly about and here exactly why...meat agriculture is irrefutably the main leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, dead ocean zones, mind boggling rates of species extinction and mind boggling mass deforestation...the simple act of adopting a vegan lifestyle is one of the biggest and best ways a person can actively not participate in all the things that are killing our world! 

So if you are in the North Bay area and are local to me (I know the majority of you are not however)

hop on by and check out the show at the Novah Gallery located at 176 Lakeshore Drive

This Saturday June 15 is the very last day...
however there is a possibility that the show just might be made into a book, wooowww, so exciting.

Adopted Grandpas & Great Watercolours

I don't work out of my studio often because I am just happiest working solo with the buns near me.

But now and than I seek out my friend who've I've shared studio space with before,

my super talented adopted grandpa, Arlie Hoffman, one of North Bay's cherished jewels...

He has a studio space downtown in our little city and I love to set up next to him & work & chat.

He works on huge beautifully amazing watercolours, I on miniature coloured pencils & it's so great.

A Studio Visit

One of the most precious and inspirational people in my life

is my old high school art teacher David Carlin, who is now a dear and cherished friend.

 

 

Now and than we have a date for coffee which is usually followed up by some time

in his studio, which we affectionately call 'The Hobbit Hole".  He's beyond talented, imaginative,

intelligent, nurturing & caring & I feel so very lucky to have him in my life XO.

Today

Today is calling loud and clear for advil and codeine, hot water bottles and loads herbal tea... 



 

And a stubborn attitude to fight the pain as I spend time with my sketchbook as jazz floats about me.

The Art Of Living Fundraiser

I was asked to donate some work in support of The W.K.P Kennedy Gallery

North Bay's only public art gallery

for their Biggest Arts Gala of the season called "The Art of Living"

 So I donated two prints of my most favorite lino-cuts

 

 I went in yesterday to check out the preview and was so pleased at what I saw.

 

 

Such a variety going on...

 

 

There are quite a few artist-created Muskoka chairs...

 

There's quite a lot of original artwork...

 



 

The selection is pretty large and I am sure there will be something for every ones taste.

 

 

Super great birdhouses...

 

 

 

Paddles and furniture...

 

 

More Muskoka chairs (they are the main event after all)

 

It'll be a great evening with live music, food, drink, auctions, raffles.
Tickets are $150 for 1 artist-created chair plus all the evenings events, food & entertainment
or a $25 ticket gives you access to all the evenings events like raffles & auctions, food & fun.

It all goes down tonight, June 26th at 7pm at 150 Main Street East, North Bay for anyone near by!

Birds Of A Feather Invite

This is what we conjured up for my exhibition's invite...



What do you think???

XO Bijou, Soon To Be Having Her 3rd Solo Show XO 

DownTown Christmas Walk & New Lino Cuts For Our Show

Tonight is our small city's Annual Downtown Christmas Walk...the whole street is closed, there is music, cider, hot chocolate and treats, the big tree is lite up & all the shops are open to welcome in visitors & shoppers...and I'll be one of the artists welcoming people into our beautiful art collective 'Art On Main'.

The evening also marks the opening night for our Member's Christmas Show/Fundraiser...all new works and all for either $50 or $100...

Want to see the pieces I have in the show???....

I did 3 hand-burnished & hand-coloured lino-cut prints on Stonehenge paper & put them in silver metal frames, the prints themselves measure 8 x 8inch and priced at only $50.00 each...

I am at the 12th Annual City Streets Sale/Show tomorrow...I wish all of you lovely blogging peeps were able to magically transport yourselves here because I know so many of you would come out to visit me in support...

...I just hope I don't have a sore head like the past couple days!

P.S.  You only have a couple more days to enter your name for my November Giveaway...the winner is announced on Tuesday...Good Luck.

XO M & The Dill & Bean Munching Bunnies

This Years Artists Garden

A Few weekends ago we went out to see some friends selling their lovely wares at an event called "The Artists Garden" hosted by Potter/Sculptor of Ash Creek Pottery, Pat Stamp...

(....I took part in this wonderful sale last year, click here to view shots of my display/experience, it was a wonderful day and my favourite sale to participate in so far, even though I opted out of this years...)

...This is the entrance to Pat's Pottery Studio, isn't it fab...

Here she is at work in front of her adorable and inviting studio...

...my friend Rachael, a great jewelry designer was there as well and it's always a hoot to spend time with her...

Rachael pointed out Pats little frog pond which Jon had a hard time dragging me away from because it was a great photo spot...

We than decided to grab a tea, piece of pie and sandwich set up in the makeshift/temporary 'teahouse' which Pat set up in the upper part of her house...

...where we also waited out a huge rain/thunderstorm...it was cozy and exciting for us but we felt bad for the rained out artists trying to protect their wares below us...(everyone kept on the smiles and positive attitude though and just pulled everything back out once the storm passed)...

...Than, Jon and I decided to take the long roundabout way back home, which was about 4 hours, ha ha...like I mentioned before sometimes there is nothing better than just hopping in the car and driving to no where in particular and just seeing whatever you see...

...and we saw beautiful scenery which filled our hearts with happy mojo and gratitude for the beautiful, safe and clean country we live in...VIVA CANADA:D  ha ha....

....so, that was one day of a recent past weekend...just had to share:D...Have a good one everyone, see you Monday....and than Wednesday for a giveaway...XO M & The Bunnies.