{ kass } an artistic journey

more about the show

some more about the show - maybe you dont want to read this so much but it's for my benefit so I dont forget :)

So there are three themes in the show, themes that resonate through Anne. They are COLOUR, SHAPE and TEXTURE. These elements were all very important to LMM and are very clearly themes which run through her novels, especially in Anne's personality.

One of the really cool parts of the show is a video performance of what is called the RAINBOW DANCE. First invented and performed by Loie Fuller in the late 1800s. It was filmed at the time by Thomas Edison in this first film. In 2003 it was recreated by Jessica Lindberg as part of her Masters thesis, and it is this video which we are showing in the exhibition. We're showing it because LMM saw the rainbow dance performed and absolutely loved it, and it is a great way of expressing LMM's love of colour. I think I watched it through about 5 times just today and it's so beautiful and reminds me of why I love colour and everything associated with it.

Some of the other items I love best are more tangible and I have been lucky enough to be able to touch and feel some of them which members of the public cannot do. One is a dress which has been recreated in the image of one which LMM had in her scrapbook. It was made by a local Islander, Arnold Smith, and I swear it is so stunning....I have photos which I will post at some stage but it is incredible - the detail and workmanship on it is breathtaking. There is also a knitted quilt that Lucy Maud made herself, in an apple leaf pattern, which she gave to Anita Webb and which now belongs to the LMM Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island. It is an antique white colour and absolutely gorgeous, I want to wrap myself up in it!  There is also a dress which was formerly a costume in the Anne musical (the opening night of which I am attending on Saturday night) which is adorable (and tiny - those girls sure were little!).

There is just so much to look at and take in. It's hard to describe it all and remember all the details that are included - there is well over a year's work that Betsy Epperly has put into this (as well as others at teh Confederation Centre and elsewhere) and it shows - nothing is missed and it truly is so comprehensive. I am continuing to document the process but it really does not convey the true amount of work that has gone in over an extended period of time, and really doesn't give a true indication of Betsy's incredible knowledge base on LMM and Anne.

Today I bought 2 of Betsy's books - Imagining Anne is the book which is a launch pad to this exhibition and looks at LMM's scrapbooks and how that crept into Anne's story. The other is Through Lover's Lane which explores LMM's photography (she developed more than 3000 photos...this was back in the day before digital folks!) and her visual imagination, so much of which she "gave" to Anne. These are both great books and I am looking forward to having Betsy sign them for me and reading them through properly and showing friends when I get home (well if anyone wants to of course!). I also bought Anne of Green Gables - yes I know I already have 5 copies! - but this is a replica of the first edition from 1908, typos and all, especially for the centenary and I wanted it for my collection.

Hmmm....OK I am tired now but I wanted to get all this down so I have it to recall on later.

a big catch up post

I did actually post the other night but the wireless internet dropped out and i lost it so here goes...

Well I have been away from home two weeks now and it has passed by all too quickly in many respects. On arrival I spent 4 days in bed sick with a head cold and then launched into work here at the gallery, so it's been mostly work and sleep but I have some exciting moments coming up.

I'm working at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Art Gallery here in Charlottetown and it is fantastic. The gallery here is much larger than I anticipated but it is a terrific space. The gallery is a non profit one. There is currently a Photography 101 exhibition on with some great photos, and a drawing show upstairs which I absolutely love.

The exhibition I am working on, Imagining Anne: Celebrating the Creation and Centenary of L.M. Montgomery's Classic, Anne of Green Gables is being installed as we speak and is going to be sensational. Some of the items have never been displayed before and are quite incredible, including the handwritten manuscript for Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. There are many wonderful photos of LMM and taken by her, as well as items from her lifetime and her personal belongings. The show is very special and unique and being part of it is really a priviledge. Opening night is this Thursday night and I am looking forward to that very much, not only because it means much of the hard work is done, but also to celebrate with the staff here and the curator, Dr Elizabeth Rollins Epperly (Betsy).

Betsy was the first person I contacted about doing this internship and her enthusiasm for the work but also for my being here is fantastic. She has, at every stage, included me in what's happening, expliained things to me that I didn't know, and ensured that I was across the information I needed. This has been done with such kindness as well, it has been great and I am so pleased and honoured to be working with her. She is personally a really lovely woman too so it has been such a worthwhile experience for me.

The staff at the gallery are also so welcoming and inclusive. The Director here, Jon Tupper, is a really great guy and I swear is the single most best dressed man I have met EVER - his clothes choices are inspired. All the staff here are cool and I am sure I have made some great friends through this experience.

It's funny that last year, when here, I wondered if maybe I had outgrown Anne of Green Gables a bit, but this exhibition has really imprinted in me that she is part of my life and very important. This book really is a classic and the impact of it on my life is hard to describe. So many turns of fate brought me to this Island, to this book, to this place in life. And there is so much to be grateful for.

I'm staying in Cornwall with our dear family, the Smiths. In truth, I could probably do without Sid's insatiable zest for life at 6am each morning (!!) but spending time with these wonderful people - family we chose - is always a treat and helps ease the homesickness. I do miss Michael, Elvis and Sunny something shameful though, and look forward to big hugs and kisses when I get home. But I also know that this special time will pass by all too quickly and I will back at home, back at Uni, wishing I were back on my Island. So I am trying to relish the moment!!

I stopped over on the way over in Honolulu. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go to Pearl Harbour as I'd hoped because I had my suitcases with me (not allowed there - it's still a military base) so I went to Waikiki in search of Elvis Presley. I didn't find him unfortunately but I have watched enough Elvis movies to have hope that he might stroll along the beach with his guitar - you just never know, right? I did some shopping (though Honolulu is no shopping mecca!) and then hung out on Waikiki beach. I took some photos which i will try to upload at some stage, and I rolled my jeans up and put my feet in the water - the bluest water I've seen in a long time. It was just as I had pictured and I think I'd like to go back to Hawaii some day for a better look.

That's all I can think of at the moment, I've had Cows icecream twice and I bought a hoodie from Roots so I am happy. I'm looking forward to the opening this week, the book launch by Don Harron on Saturday and opening night of Anne this Saturday night!! Busy times but I wouldn't swap them for quids!

I promsie to update again SOON!!

hello from PEI

 I am indeed alive!! I arrived last Wednesday night with a headcold that basically had be out of action til Monday, when I started work at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. Hence why I haven't posted - I've been unwell!! I am feeling a bit better though and work is going GREAT - I absolutely love it and the people are SO nice!!

I have been taking photos and I will try to upload some on the weekend.

I hope everyone is well and thanks for the messages I've had, I appreciate it!

Back soon!!

I should be packing

but I am not....but I should be. It's less than 48 hours from departure and I haven't started packing. I guess I have all of tomorrow....

so I handed in all my Uni work and now I wait. I dont get results til July I think so I need to be cool with putting it out of my mind. But I want good marks. Killer marks actually. Because I worked so hard.

I can't believe it is really only 2 days til I go to PEI now. It has come around so fast!! They have broadband internet where I am staying now so I hope to be able to update regularly. It will be a busy time but I am excited now! 

Last night we had my sister's engagement party. She looked lovely and my nephew, J-Man, said a little speech and then sang us the A-B-C song, Bob the Builder (twice) and Hi-5 theme. Who knew they were engagement party anthems?!?!?! It was a lovely night and it was good to catch up with people.

So yeah - watch for updates form Canada and everyone stay well while I am gone!

plus size?

This is Whitney Thompson. She just won the latest series of America's Next Top Model. I saw a story about her on E! today and almost choked on my own breath.

You see, the selling factor for young Whitney here is that she is a size 10 (US - that's a size 12 here in Australia). And apparently this makes her a PLUS SIZE MODEL.

Are.You.Fucking.Kidding.Me?

Size 10 is PLUS size???? Now I know the standard US model is a 2-4 these days (insane...) but really, do we really want to label women who are a standard, healthy size - the same or even thinner than me (and I don't pretend I am thin here either folks) PLUS size? To me, a plus size model is, these days, probably a 16+. Is that unreasonable?

I refuse to be party to something like this - making young women think they are FAT because they are a size 10?? It's insane. And "plus size" is just the PC term for fat, we all know that. And size 10 IS NOT FAT.

I really urge you to let magazines an advertisers know that this kind of bullying - yes it IS bullying - is not OK and that we are not going to raise our daughters to be anorexic crack heads in order for them to think they are beautiful. This kind of stuff really pisses me off. It's up to us. Let's reclaim our right to be recognised as beautiful and healthy.

meet my new friend

This is Viv. She's named after Vivienne Westwood.

I bought Viv today at Lincraft for $120, which I was pretty happy about as most I had seen were significantly more expensive. Now the real fun begins!!

lots of photos

lots of photos of what I have been making...

Tartan cushion

Made from tartan, black painted canvas, a zipper, button-up lace and I added a kilt pin after I took the photo.

Brat Bag

I saw a painted illustration recently of black on black and I loved the effect so I reproduced it on this bag, and I am so happy with the results. It has black painted canvas, black denim sides/gusset and black "liquid" vinyl strap. Here's a detail shot:

Mini Bag
Again using the liquid vinyl and tartan material (can you tell I like those?!), this bag is 6x4 inches.

Then I added a wooden skull thing which I painted and covered with dimensional adhesive and beads. I can't remember where I got the wooden thing, I think at a scrapbooking thing maybe? I attached it with Liquid Nails!

post coming soon

...hopefully with some photos and news....

mother's day

mother's day is this sunday and is always stressful for me. My mum is the world's hardest person to buy for - she says don't buy her something, but if you don't buy something, you just know she is shitty. What's worse is that she has everything - knick knacks, perfume, she's had enough Bunnings vouchers to last forever. It's hard to buy something.

So this year I have made her a gift - a handbag. She has seen what I have been doing for Uni and has been impressed so I thought I'd make something specially. Here it is...

Materials: Canvas, muslin, vintage inspired lace and ricrac, thread, cotton fat squares (brown fabric inside), zipper.

The bag

The back

Inside

I now just HOPE she likes it!!

you cannot understand how much

I want to attend THIS....

Art Fiber Fest

*praying to the Tattslotto gods*