 The Alberta Legislative Assembly Office operates a beautiful retail store called Alberta Branded. Each year they have a juried showcase around a specific theme and I have the honour of being one of ten Albertan artists who will create new works for this year's exhibition. The theme is Façonner, which means to shape, fashion or mould. New works will be created all year long and I'm eager to continue to explore the theme, allowing it to unfold and adapt over these next months. I'm also quite intrigued to see the works of the other artists and how they have approached the theme from their own medium and point of view! Façonner: We shape to adapt a form, thereby directing a course. We fashion to reflect personal style and the current nature of the world. We mould to influence, creating a matrix. - Alberta Branded The artwork I have created (and will continue to create this year) for Façonner is rooted in natural elements. Each piece is formed in response to the unfolding story I see revealed to us through Creation. Extracting basic lines and shapes from the intricate natural world, I explore an elemental approach to my experiences. Observing light, colours, shapes and lines, the subjects are deconstructed then fashioned into layered mixed media artworks. Natural materials (like birch bark and wildflowers collected to dye fabric and paper) are incorporated into each piece along with conventional materials (like acrylic, watercolour, paper and clay). The process of gathering and preparing materials allows me to infuse more of what I encounter into each work. My story reflects the observations and reflections within the beauty of the Province of Alberta, including our five National Parks and my home in the Northern boreal forest. As I continue to witness the unfolding story around me, I am left with a peaceful clarity that has shaped my life. Reflecting these experiences and this clarity are integral parts of these works.   Before Beaverville, Liana and I had planned on collaborating for a dual exhibition filled with mixed media works on a smaller scale. Giving each other creative freedom we decided that we would focus on the natural surroundings of the boreal forest where we live, create small mixed media pieces and the rest was up to our own creative process and interpretation. We created our works individually, only allowing ourselves to bring the works together for the final exhibition. I found myself drawn to the challenge of creating things on a miniature scale, exploring a variety of techniques and finding new ways to use natural and recycled materials. Here are the works I created along with my personal interpretation of Little by Little: Maybe it's the little things that matter most... Perhaps we get so caught up in the big picture we lose sight of the purpose in each day - in each stage - of life. And what if, like the boreal forest around us, we too are meant to live in seasons? Is it possible that the smaller steps (even when they feel like steps backward) are part of our growth too? This collection of 'little' pieces (using gathered and recycled natural elements) are reflections on the natural world in its seasonal acts of obedience. I may desire summer with the fullness of green and its long, warm days, but each period of growth has a beautiful purpose that leads into the next. The slowness of the cycle of life, from winter dormancy to fall harvest, is an integral piece of our story. Back in May I became enamoured with this photo that popped up in my twitter feed, created by Paul Zizka. (View the full image here!) The colours, the lines, the composition... they spoke to me in a special way. I see a lot of amazing photographs in my social media feeds but they don't often stop me in my tracks like this one did. And what made it extra special is that I immediately saw this image in other visual expressions. My brain automatically transferred the photographic image into acrylic paint and watercolour and paper versions. I contacted Paul to inquire if he licenses his photographs to artists for reference usage and I was in luck - he does just that. So, you can imagine how excited I was that he was willing to license his image to me to explore in different mediums! (Thanks, Paul!) I decided to give myself a goal of 5 pieces for this image study. The first step was a digital drawing, extracting the lines and forms that I felt were necessary to tell the story of this image. I worked and reworked it to find a balance between detail and minimalism - and I chose to keep the image as a square, since that is how I first viewed it.  The next step was to explore these same lines and shapes using acrylic on wood panel. After producing such clean and crisp lines in the digital painting, the acrylic version felt much looser, the texture of brush strokes creating a different feel for this second piece.   The third piece required a loom and yarn. I discovered that weaving is extremely addicting - I ended up binging in two sessions and 14 hours later the weaving was complete! In this version I chose to make the iceberg larger so it wouldn't get lost in the other yarn textures, as well as eliminating some sections to give the weaving more lines that extended from edge to edge.
 Then I got lost in a sea of paper, using layers that were painted with watercolour techniques and cutting others from solid cardstock. Each piece was cut and placed in various heights, venturing away from the simplified design I started with and adding more lines and colours for increased movement.   And the fifth study was a return to the original lines, with the iceberg enlarged and sculpted out of clay. The mountains were also sculpted with the remaining sections left two-dimensional. This series proved to be a wonderful study that, as an unexpected side bonus, gave me increased clarity on a number of elements within my art practice. No matter the medium there's always a need to let go, trust the process and get to work!   Beyond these shores Into the darkness Beyond these shores This boat may sail And if this is the way Then there will be A path across this sea And if I sail beyond The farthest ocean Or lose myself in depths below Wherever I may go Your love surrounds me For you have been before Beyond these shores Iona  "The birds they sang at the break of day Start again I heard them say Don't dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be. Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. You can add up the parts but you won't have the sum You can strike up the march, there is no drum Every heart, every heart to love will come but like a refugee." Leonard Cohen "Anthem" (excerpts)  I've spent the last months working on a special commission for the Scarlett family. Constance and I met for lunch one day last summer as we savoured being back in the city and oozed with gratitude for a million little things. Between bites of sandwich we talked about loss, heartache, hope, faith and healing. Her family had lost their home to the Horse River wildfire and I was being invited to create an artwork for them, using the precious few items that had been recovered. We were united in the desire to find beauty among the ashes. I wanted to know what had been on her and her husband's heart and mind throughout the evacuation - if there were any quotes or recurring thoughts that resonated with them in everything they had been through. That's where "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen came in. And then, as she shared with me the broken and charred pieces, each having it's own story to tell, I found my imagination running wild with how they could tell a new story that rang louder of renewal than tragedy. The first piece I began to work on was the nest. Each length of uncoated wire creating a growing foundation, representing the fragility and temporary nature of "home". Knitted into the wires was one half of a silver compact mirror given to Constance by her brothers, her Mom's baby spoon that had been given to her daughter, her baby bracelet, a coin, a ring, two more bracelets and the spring from her husband's firearm. I thought of how birds carefully select each piece, finding the best place to intertwine what they bring home to create a place of shelter and safety. The birds, sculpted and finished in layers of black leaf became symbols of faith, hope and the courage to leave the nest to start anew. The birds represent their family unit, all having been refined through their experiences.   The next piece to be completed was the lantern. A pre-existing frame was deconstructed, stripped and re-fabricated with many custom adaptations made. Layers of plaster and paint were built up to ensure that this lantern had been through the journey too. The desire to create a lamp/lantern was the first image that came to mind in this project, representing the light required to lead them out of the darkness. It was a symbol of hope and faith, of God's faithfulness, knowing that their experiences and circumstances all work together to tell a bigger story. It was the longing for direction in how to move forward in healing. The lantern also sparked the name for the piece: Lead Us Home. Four mosaic sections were assembled, with the first positioned on the inside ceiling of the lantern. This section was created with her daughter's baby Bunnykins bowl as well as the other half of the silver compact mirror. I thought of the resiliency of her young daughter and the joy that she brings to their family - I thought of how hope rises and leads to healing. The other three mosaics, placed along the outer sides, were assembled from two beautiful dishes: a Greek coffee cup given to Constance by her Yiayia (Grandmother) and a tea cup saucer from her Baba (her Ukrainian Grandmother). The ornamental top of the lantern was part of a teapot, one that had been given to Constance by her Yiayia as a Grad school graduation gift. The handle is a bracelet and tucked inside is a tiny teacup bottom and a ring, both gifts from her Baba. A plaque from her daughter's baby spoon, as well as a number of coins adorned the next section. A beautiful lock from her husband's firearm became a feature on the front and inspired the colour of the lantern. Once the nest and birds were laid inside, the final element was a key from her Yiayia's house in New York. The individual pieces each came with its own memory of who it belonged to, who had given it, how it had been used and where it had its place in their home. And now they come together to remind the Scarlett family what they've been through but that all is not lost. The gathered pieces are proof of their resilience and that faith is stronger than despair on the long road of healing. Thank you Constance, Mike and Kassia for giving me the honour and privilege of creating this work for you. "Our sorrows are all, like ourselves, mortal. There are no immortal sorrows for immortal souls. They come, but blessed be God, they also go. Like birds of the air, they fly over our heads. But they cannot make their abode in our souls. We suffer today, but we shall rejoice tomorrow.” Charles Spurgeon
It is difficult to watch the news. There is so much death, destruction, devastation, hatred and evil in the reports we hear - the images are too much to bear. We shake our heads in bewilderment - How...? Why...? Our questions ring out louder at Christmastime, when choirs sing of "peace on earth, goodwill to men". Every day we see the struggle between good and evil - and we wrestle with how the two can co-exist. Our hearts are fertile ground and whatever seeds we allow to grow will take over. Seeds of envy, bitterness, hatred, entitlement, and the like, will root themselves deep into our hearts - if we allow them. BUT, the same goes for seeds of peace, joy, hope and love. If those are the things we plant, water, and nurture, they will prevail. I choose these latter things: peace, joy, hope and love. The reality is that my human condition requires a daily tending to the garden of my heart, digging up the roots of darkness and turning to God to transplant His light instead. And at Christmastime I think about Jesus, the Light of the World, coming down into darkness - coming into the middle of the evil in this world. Evil threatens to command our attention and show that it has won the day, but it is on its last legs. Goodness and Light will prevail. So, even in the midst of darkness, I will join the chorus to sing of "peace on earth, goodwill to men".  "The Wrong Will Fail, The Right Prevail" Graphic Art/Photography Erin Stinson 2014 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men. I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said, "For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men." Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men." Till, ringing singing, on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
My favourite album of the moment is "Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong." by the amazing group, "For King and Country". And the title track, "Run Wild" is on repeat these days wherever I go - definitely speaking loudly to me. The power of music is undeniable in my life and I love to take the auditory art and interpret it in a visual way. Quite often as I listen to music I will also "see" it in images and I am becoming more intentional in carving out the time to create the works that come to mind - even if it's simply a quick sketch. The more I surrender to these ideas the more freedom I feel - it's one way for me run wildly in the direction of the person God created me to be.  "Run Wild" Mixed Media Erin Stinson 2014 "Run Wild"
(For King and Country feat. Andy Mineo) Are the walls to lock you in or to keep others away And if the doors were to be opened would you leave or would you stay The comfort of your misery you cherish dearly, you cherish dearly And you haven't started dreaming ‘cause you’re still fast asleep, you’re fast asleep But don't you want to Run wild, live free Love strong, you and me You’re a lion full of power who forgot how to roar You’re an eagle full of beauty but you can’t seem to soar Will you return to the garden where we were first made whole Will you turn to the one who can liberate your soul But don't you want to Run wild, live free Love strong, you and me Run wild, live free Love strong To every soul locked in a cage In the prison of your past mistakes No, there's no time left to waste Yeah, you can make your great escape We’re made to run wild, run wild, run wild We’re made to run wild, run wild, run wild Run forest, all depends what direction Some people run from fear, some from their own reflection Some people run their mouth, some people run their house Ruling with the heart of a tyrant Some people run their block, bust shot with a 4-4-5 and That’s the environment, how we were raised Living like lions but trapped in a cage Back to a mine gold day with the blood of a king but the heart of a slave Don’t you wanna run We’re made to run wild, run wild, run wild We’re made to run wild, run wild, run wild If your soul’s locked in a cage You can make a great escape We’re made to run wild, live free Love strong, you and me I love when the MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery hosts open calls for local artists. It gives me a goal, a theme and project to take risks with - a safe place to keep pushing my limits. The current exhibition is "Il Ritratto", an exploration of the human portrait. I play with ideas, drawing rough outlines in my sketchbook as I let the theme percolate. And very often I will allow lessons I am learning in my life to influence the direction of my pieces. When this call came out I had been thinking a lot about how connected we all are - even though we work hard to be independent. Although it is rather counter to our culture, we would be much better off if we relied on one another, working together as many individuals, united together. As I explored how I wanted to approach the human portrait, I ended up focusing in on this concept of many individuals working as one unit. I chose to deconstruct the portrait with each part representing an entire person, exploring this concept of interdependence. If the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:16-26) 
I am thankful and blessed to have my work included in this exhibition. The fantastically eclectic show is on now at the gallery until August 22nd. Be sure to check it out the next time you're at Mac Island!
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