Life and Times of Artist in Residence

I send u greetings from Harrison Hot Springs;
here i is and its been almost a month since i last wrote here..tell me is it an age thing or does time truly have wings..i believe so especially when it comes to keeping this blog up to date. The residency continues to be a creative learning curve that i am enjoying as there appears to always be something ahead..

I've been here three months the end of November..I still am enjoying all that this experience is as its diverse each day....the peace,tranquil laid back life is growing on me which is evident in so many ways that i approach my life. There are pros and cons to anything and small towns are no exception. What has been a saving grace is all of u and my commitment to my art..The awesome news that i would like to share is my solo show will be in July 2010!!! OK for those of u unfamiliar with my new hood,its a resort village yep...and during July there is a festival of the arts that has been ongoing for 30 plus years the festival consists of art market,kids day,art exhibit,concerts(world music) and some of these concerts take place on the beach..it really is an awesome time for me to show.

My community outreach for my residency here has consisted of working in the alternative school facilitating some art workshops with the teens and i got to say that i am thoroughly enjoying this experience,mostly teen males but they are adding a whole different dimension to my creative life and the fact is they are loving what we are doing. I also have been facilitating workshops in my studio,Life Drawing just finished on Friday.Artist Trading Cards will begin mid January.

The residency has kept my day timer full of this and that appointment. Which brings me to yes i am creating many different pieces for my show,its alot of work with so many details to each piece. As of November 30th/2009 i will have three months off from some of my residency commitments. I know your thinking it will be time for me to kickback.....aww no rest for this creative one as i will be laying out my timeline for studio work and tighten up the pieces i will be creating.

Recently i had the pleasure of hosting a very dear friend of mine we've known each other for 27 years..Garry is not only a friend but my art mentor,when i was much younger i was his student.
It was great having him here to witness my creative transformation and to hear his feedback,insight of my work.

The other thing i did was bring other old friends together in my Sanctuary,it was a good time had by all.

The next entry will be on a piece that i entered into the miniature show here at the gallery,i surprised myself at the outcome of this piece.

Well dear readers its almost time for me to close the gallery and head up to the Sanctuary to prepare for another full week.. Thanx so much for stopping in.

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda

Pictures

1. Party at the Sanctuary........

2.My dear Garry and moi

3,4,5 Mosaic Making at (ACE School)

6.Graffiti T-Shirts (ACE School)

7.My creative centre(The studio)

8.My gal pal Nancy came to visit and hang from Powell River

9.Eagle Watching(this is the time of the year that the eagles return to this area)

10.Garry

Witch Way...................

Well readers its that time of year as Hallow eve,Samhain(Witches New Year),Day of the dead,All Saints Day is upon us....I send u blessings from my hood here in the outback of small town Canada.

The Art Residency continues to fill my days in and out of the studio...just when I thought things would slow.nope another creative event,project,proposal has my name on in large letters. This is not about complaining but more about counting my blessings each and every day for this new experience.

Studio time and the daily commitment is truly paying off in some big ways,I have approx 10 pieces in some part of evolving. This past Thursday I began volunteering at the alternative high school in the next small town about 10 minutes from me.Yep teenagers the kewl thing is its all about the creativity baby...Next week we are doing Graffiti on T-shirts..Let me give u all some history of this community..its all about the farming, a factoid is its the corn capital of BC..Mostly Dutch and German is a large makeup of the community.

Now I am going to throw this out which will give u more insight....Have u seen the movie "Pleasantville" if not may I make a suggestion to take a viewing for those of u that haven't experience small town living this movie sums it up in so many ways..ok so I digress moving along I feel at times like I'm of the set of this movie...lets see a combo of some ignorance and stagnation to change wraps it up here although I can laugh about it cause I've had many living experiences in small towns I grin and nod then take myself into my studio to work it out..

On Friday it was a full day of thrifting..Thanx to Tina K who so kindly took me about Chilliwack to show me where many treasures are hidden and I hit pay dirt which helps me bring my pieces into full being.

The next show here at Ranger Station Art Gallery is the Annual Miniature Show

November 4th- November 29th.

yours truly will have a small piece in this show which has limits on the size of piece hence the name..stay tuned for a peek at this show...

The Studio Happenings are as follows:

Friday Nights...Drop in Life Drawing 7-9:30pm All levels welcome

October 16- December

Artist Trading Cards....November 30th 12:30-2:30 pm

Hope Art Gallery

Snow Moon...... November 2 is the Full Moon

Plan for a ritual to work on ridding yourself of negative thoughts and vibrations.

Well All thanx for stopping in,let me know u popped in give a big shout out leave a comment or two....

In Artistic Solidarity;

Rhonda


Pics:
1. Samhain Altar in Living Room

2.Preparing walls for next show

3. Studio Piece in progress!!

4.Hang about Studio Skeleton

In my home i have several altars;

1.Bathtub Altar
2.living room corner altar
3.bedroom altar
4.bedroom 2 altar
5.primary living room altar

Country Roads

Hola my Dear readers;

Yep here i am as usual these days time got way ahead of me,i haven't forgotten u as u pop in looking for an update on my residency. Its been almost two months that I've been here living and working in Harrison Hot Springs and i gotta say that i continue to love it here for so many reasons. The solitude is a wonderful thing,many of u have asked if I'm beginning to lose it with nothing to do in a very small town and that i must miss the city.In reply to that no,if anything i have settled in to the point that i go into angst over going past Maple Ridge and when i do visit Mission,Chilliwack i am anxious to scurry back to my sanctuary in front of my electric fireplace and put on the quiet that surrounds me here.

What i feel that after being away from the familiar with my work and travels for a year that Harrison has allowed me to integrate all those diverse experiences in a peaceful way inside and out,which was such a struggle for me when i was living in the city,i finally surrendered to the city and was on autopilot until i left there.

My time is pretty committed here in all things art and its a steep learning curve as most things i jump in flying by the seat of my pants.The studio is such a blessing in my life and its all mine!!! my creativity is just a sparking with ideas coming from my dreams,morning walks and morning pages that i write daily. There are times that i have so doubted my process and belief in myself as an artist,Thank you to those that have allowed me to talk it through.

They say be careful what u wish for writing that i am very grateful for this latest experience as it continues to unfold every minute of everyday before my very eyes.Blessed Be.The song "Country roads take me home to the place i belong" by John Denver thus far has been my life here as i speed down one country road after another and being the directionally challenged person that i am,i find such comfort in the country roads ,this comes from my growing up years in the country in New Brunswick...i felt so found on those roads as i do today.

The morning walks are morning wake up rain or shine that i stroll.Whether its a raincoat or a heavy sweater half asleep i begin the walk with my headphones and my head swirling with nothing but lots of thoughts..around me is the landscape that is becoming a part of me and the quiet!!

Visitors have been part of the blessing here for me,i love when my friends come to visit to witness my life here some thinking that i am totally out of my element others feeling I've come home.The studio is a very sacred space that allows everything from my mind,heart and soul to spill out into a creation of some kind or another,what i am learning is to be led by my instinct which is easier said than done as my will gets in the way.

So my dear readers thus far i am living a beautiful creative life out here in the middle of nowhere with some things making sense while some its a work in progress. Thanx so much for the calls,emails and visits they are appreciated. Its time to say see ya as i turn off to go down another country road to my place for today that i belong..

Bright Blessings;
xoxo
Rhonda

Pics:

1.First workshop at the sanctuary

2.pick up of driftwood at Rainbow Falls

3.I went sailing for the very first time with Ernie a local Harrison resident...

4.My creativity..Bingo Shadowbox

5. Sailing trip we docked at Rainbow Falls accessible by boat only

6.This piece I'm submitting to the miniature show here at the gallery its still a work in progress

7.New Show for October being hung

Happenings from Casa De Sanctuary.....

Hello;
Thanx for stopping in at the Casa,the weather is getting a tad cooler in these parts come sit and i will turn my fireplace to warm you and maybe a cup of Chai to warm your inner self.

Today Sunday September 27th is a month that i have been here with the residency. I continue to believe that time does fly... I am settled in home and studio loving every inch inside and out. The creativity is flowing for which i am so grateful for. Being surrounded by creatives is like breathing fresh air but in my case ideas,thoughts and insights.

My space has been blessed with the diverse presence of friends and blessings of friends,the culinary side of me has spilled out and so i cook for a couple of reasons one being i enjoy cooking/baking and 2. one does not have the ethnic food choices in this neck of the woods which in many ways ends up being a blessing on the pocket book.

I am trying to keep most of my dollars in my community by supporting local businesses,farmers etc and its been interesting thus far with the variety from a cheese farm to a coffee roaster,fresh produce etc..

Thank you for supporting my creative work schedule,upcoming October becomes more about outreach and workshops and the ongoing evolution of my body of work. I will share what that looks like as each piece is being born and document the growth of it.

The Artists Way still receives my daily attention and already i see some creative differences. I am working my way towards my house blessing when my hopes is too see many of u before i go more underground with my body of work and residency responsibilities.

Pics Above:

1.My quiet corner with the view of the water,i write my morning pages from here and just sit and be early on in my day...

2. Goddess to go....Miss Lisa is holding one of my creations that is going to her mother in Edmonton Alberta as a birthday present. Lisa's mom saw a similar piece at Debbie and Lisa's space in Maple Ridge she fell in love with this piece and told me so...now this was a number of years back and lo and behold Lisa's mom will become the proud owner of a goddess to go!!!

3. Ranger Station Art Gallery Reception.....Lindsay Craig standing by one of her funky vases.Lindsay's work was quite enjoyable i enjoyed every day that its been here.

4. My dear dear Cal and Eve visiting from Ontario( Cal is my art mentor)

5&6. Two pieces in progress( the black and white piece will be a shadow box,the door found in an alley will be a light box)

7. sample piece of silk painting made by yours truly

8. OH the joy of creative friends and me having a studio what an awesome mix!!! Cindy teaching me the steps in Silk painting it was a blast!!!

9. Camp Juice a sandcastle workshop for the youth....Unfortunately this year there was to be no major sand sculpture competition.However we had a little tease that would appear people visiting Harrison have enjoyed.

Its a work day today for me in the gallery from 1-5 pm, a fall cool day but the sun is shining with the flow of art seekers steady throughout the gallery doors..I'm a bit worn out with a womyns workshop that i co-facilitated on Saturday...and more workshops to begin in the weeks to come but i gotta tell ya at the time of this writing there's a satisfied grin on my face and a full heart.

Hey let that sun shine in anyway it can.....

Till we meet again;
Rhonda

Settling Inside and Out..............

Hola;
How are you??? I am alive and kicking here at Casa De Sanctuary!!! that's my name for my new space. why name it u ask...well in my travels last year about Mexico it was something that i noticed, is people would name their places. One of the reasons i observed was some of the places were off the beaten path especially in the jungle and naming it made it easier to ask for directions and the other thing is its personal and a great way to claim your space.

I've been focused on settling into my inside and outside space...its such a pleasure to have more space and truly be able to spread out and to have my very own studio..Those of u just joining me here i lived in Vancouver in a studio apt of 400 sq feet,so doubling my space is like winning the housing lottery.

A frequent question that keeps being asked is aren't u lonely??? hmmm lonely for what and who has time as I've literally been thrown into the residency with deadlines galore plus the beginning process of creating my body of work,i fall into bed most nights at 10pm from exhaustion.

My days begin at 7-730 am with a hour walk around the lake..i roll out of bed throw on my clothes and out the door sleepwalking with my eyes wide open but fuzzy brain.not sure what that will look like when the frequent rains come(groan)

Upon arrival home..tea kettle goes on..computer turned on..tea is ready i sit in my chair by the window looking at the view of the lake..a couple of sips of tea then reach for my notebook as i am doing the Artists Way.one of the components is morning pages(3 pages written about anything)

That's done..tidy up..call my daughter and then tackle computer tasks....Then its Studio Time,which brings me to my work schedule..

In order to gain and create the most from this residency year i have had to implement a focused work schedule. So i am unavailable from 10 am -2 pm Monday-Friday as i create away..

Saturday and Sundays i am at the Gallery from 1 pm-5 pm

Its early into it but i am committed to bringing my creativity forward into reality. Thus far Shadow(the cat) and I are enjoying our beautiful casa.

Please take a look at the above pics and i think they speak for themselves...Thanx so much for reading along as i create....

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda


Pics:

1-3 This is my walk in the mornings as u can see the landscape is breathtaking

4. My bathroom with a clawfoot tub and a goddess blessing the space.(the view from the window, the lake)

5. My beloved studio

6.My office nook and spare bedroom

7.Living room

8.My bedroom

9.Living room with shadow hanging out

10. Kitchen

The Residency Begins................

Hey there......
Thanx so much for popping in,its good to see you. I am now full time in Harrison Hot Springs,gotta tell ya I'm liking it. Yesterday i finished up the loose ends in Vancouver and was i glad to get back to my new quiet hood!!!

Due to the fact that i have many deadlines upon me i will take this week off to organize home and studio spaces. My bed faces the window on the water,what a beauty view. The first night here one would think i would sleep through from a moving day from hell,nope i awoke thinking that something was wrong as it was very quiet!!!

There has been company and more coming despite the fact that I've been here 5 days only,i received much needed help with moving heavier items,the lowering of my daybed etc..thanx gals!

My gallery work schedule is Saturday and Sundays 1-5 pm and soon a studio work schedule stay tuned....The purpose of this blog is to document my artists residency throughout the year it may be helpful for anyone who is interested in applying , also for the non artists as to what a residency is about and how they can be supported.

I shall return as each creative day unfolds,for those of u not close by this is a window into my artists world and i welcome your input and feedback.

Pictures:

1. This way folks to the gallery come on down!!

2.Harrison Hot Springs Banner

3 & 4. My morning walk(nice surroundings and i don't wear my headphones as no noise has to be blocked out)

5. Working it on my drum

6. The lowering of the daybed(Jody and terry)

7.My fave little girly pink hammer Jody bent(what were u thinking?) not a useful tool for the job

8. Jody and a very useful tool for the daybed

9. The first gathering and blessings of good friends and food

10. Flowers from Cindy E. given to me at the welcome reception at the gallery August 16/09


Well that's all i write for today i am off to make some sense of the studio as i will be having a play art date on Thursday...

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda