Published Work in A New Publication - World Religions Today, Canadian Edition

This is a new book, "World Religions Today", Canadian Edition, by John L. Esposito, Darrell J. Fasching, Todd Lewis and Paul Bowlby published by the Oxford University Press, 2009 

Recently I was approached to have this work published in this new academic textbook.  This piece is called, "5 a.m. Offering Rtu" 2008.  This work is based on my travels in 1992 to Nepal, Kathmandu, the photo is of the Swayambhunath temple.  It is an honour for me to be published in this fine academic text on World Religions.

New Artist Friends - Check out their great work

Recently, I met two fantastic artists, Karoline Varin-Jarkowski and Ulf Konig at the Globe Studios Spring show.  We were sharing space together in the gallery at the May Spring Globe Studios show,  as guest artists.

Karoline was exhibiting these delightful, vintaged altered books with delicate layers upon layers of story telling embedded within the pages.  However, as a viewer you got only glimpses of the story, and were able to imagine the rest...it was a lovely exhibit.

Ulf, visiting all the way from Germany, came to visit Canada, the galleries in Toronto and to participate in the Globe Spring show.  His work and concept are intriguing...as an engineer you can see his passion for structure and appreciation for urban landscape.  His work is delivered with enthusiasm, passion and great skill.  He is a delightful soul.

It was lovely to meet both of them and spend a weekend with them.

Check out their lovely work on their individual websites... Karoline Varin-Jarkowski and Ulf Konig  

The Winner is ......Outcomes from the Women's Play Day hosted by the Women's Growth Network

Recently I attended and facilitated a fun play session for the Women's Growth Network, 2nd Annual Women's Play Day.   It was a great deal of fun, and a perfect way to rejuvenate the soul, refill your vessel, meet other great like minded women, play to your heart's content...and be with nature...too bad about the massive HAIL we had and the down pour of rain...I almost got swallowed by the quicksand puddles that formed in a short time.

Other than that the food was great, the green setting delightful, the women were fantastic and the sessions were so reviving, my soul felt uplifted and joyous.  The sun even peaked out for a while and I got a chance to bask in the sun before I facilitated my session on the Inner Diva Art Collage.

As part of the day, I put out an offer to enter a ballot for a free workshop with Supria's Designs...and the winner is......drum roll......  Paula Mould.

Paula please connect with me and we will coordinate a date when you might take a workshop....

Some Summer Connections to Spot me at....

Art09 is happening June 12, 13, and 14th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre...there will be over 200 local and international artists, entertainment and some of the proceeds are going to support the SickKids Foundation.  My brother, Soumen Karmakar, Photographer and I, an encaustic mixed media artist are collaborating together at this event.  Our booth number is #110, "Waxscapes"...come meet us at our booth.  We will be doing a draw prize give away during this weekend, come enter a ballot.  

I will also be at Art in The Yard 2009 again this year, I have been at this show for a few years now and the crowd of artists and artist lovers gets bigger each year.  I would love to see you there too and will be doing another draw prize ballot at this show.  Art in the Yard will be taking place July 11 & 12th Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Elora Centre for the Arts.

Teaching an Altered Books 5-Week Program - Come Join in

I am teaching a 5 week altered books program starting Tuesday June 2nd, 10 - 2 p.m. until June 30th at the Globe Studios in Kitchener.  If you are interested to learn more, click here!  I have some extra glimpses on the topic here!

Also, I had a great time teaching kids with this same medium last year and will be offering this summer day camp a few times over the course of the summer again this year.  I call the summer day camp series,  "The Power of Me" Altered Book Adventure.

I have truly been enjoying this medium in both the solo time I have been creating altered books and with the Inner Works Collaborative Project.   

Just as thrilling is the latest work I have done on books using the encaustic medium, two of which works will be exhibited at the Third Annual Encaustic Painting Conference in Mass. US. this June, the exhibit is called, "Wax Libris". 

An ending of a period ......

When I was in university, living in a one bedroom apartment in Hamilton, Ontario...I adopted these two lovely black and white, long haired Norwegian forest cats, named Roger and Randy from Bruxy Cavey.....they were beautiful compassionate, affectionate cats...they were about 5 years old then...in 1995.  They were great companions for a young single woman living on her own and they grew to find a place in my heart, that will always be there for them.

After Maya was born, she soon adopted these two little guys as her brothers and playmates...and renamed them "Kiddio" and "Twoie", each of them had their own distinct personality...and favourite items to ingest...Kiddio loved licking banana skins and the outside of black garbage bags...go figure..he was the more affectionate of the two and also the braver..stood up to other cats and dogs..did not run, stood his ground....Twoie was a bit more of the softer, frightened easier cat...He loved cat milk and salty chips, fish ...like most cats did...

Three years ago we lost Kiddio and just a few days ago we have now lost his brother, Twoie...they were old cats who really thoroughly enjoyed the change of scenery when we moved out to Fergus..loved the garden and the space.  Somehow this loss of Twoie is affecting me deeply, as it signifies so many things....in short 'loss'....another chapter in my 'young' adult life closing...and for Maya her brothers and her playmates gone..that empty feeling in the house has set.  I know within these feelings of grief I have a brewing feeling of embracing change..knowing I need to do this courageously, as 2009 has been all about that for me...Big changes and embracing it all, and keeping the faith and trusting at the other end of this tumultuous time that there will be peace.

Disintegration Project Part 1 - Global Preview May 1st

Before shot above, after several months outside in the snow, rain and wind after shots below....

Seth Apter, of the Altered Page has begun a collaborative called the Disintegration Project..it has taken off globally, with many artist's participation in the project.  May 1st is the posting of the Part One, check out all the artist's interpretation of the concept "Disintegration".  Part two is coming on August 1st, where the artist's will turn their part one into another altered art form...it will be wonderful to see what magic appears in the second part.

Disintegration for me, is an interesting concept to work with...from disintegration comes perhaps an opportunity to regenerate, revive, rejuvenate out of the disintegration...sometimes the decomposition reveals a gem, something richer, better, fuller...a wonderful thought...my piece here is called, "Sex, Lies, Lust and Love".  My piece didn't really change with the snow, wind, rain and air elements..other than some great rust markings and wrinkled paper...

Check out the other disintegration pieces, here and make sure you check back in August specifically to see what comes out of the disintegration....what is reborn, reworked, rejuvenated....