patchwork

second last project of the year.

*takes a deep breath*



I ended up changing my plan at the last minute, because my previous idea was not working at all. This idea actually terrified me for a while. To make a work that deals this much with my own personal history is to be naked and vulnurable more than anything else I've done in my practice so far. That is probably what makes this seem like such a powerful work.

Anyways, here's some pictures and my artist statement.

Stories, and storytelling, are an important part of life. Stories connect us to other people, they help us understand the world in which we live. This work explores the changing relationship I have had with my body throughout my life, and the long road that led to acceptance of my body and my gender. Because being transgendered is not something commonly understood, this is a story I've had to retell many times to many people. Indeed, being transgendered sometimes means becoming a storyteller of ones gender history: to oneself, to friends and family, to the doctors and psychiatrists in charge of approving transition. Using found materials – including some that were used in my clothing as a child – I embroidered and embellished fragments of my past and then stitched them together to create a coherent whole. The quilt motif refers to the comforting and protective roles that textiles play in our lives, as well as the use as quilts in history as a way of telling stories.

This project has been an intense process for me, because it forced me to relive the past and face the embodied memories caught in the cloth I worked. I found cloth from a dress my mother made me when I was very young – one that she treasures still, each stitch sewn with love for the girl I was supposed to be – and I was able to transform it into something new and meaningful for the person that I have become. In reworking my past I learned to have compassion for it, and I hope that in sharing my past with others I can help spread understanding.

best final project ever: cookies

So, instead of a final exam, or essay, one of my instructors decided we'd do a "Textile Bake-off" instead. We have to make food, and justify it as being textile related. Any kind of food whatsoever. We're meeting up today to talk about the food we made, have tea, and eat it all.


I made cookies shaped like drop spindles, and spun sugar.



I love it when homework doesn't feel like homework.

Current Projects: Research and Tapestries

My life has been overtaken with research projects. I currently have two on-going, one for my textiles-based art history course, and another for surface design. I'm loving both classes, although they're both challenging for different reasons.

All of the research I've been doing this term has me almost starting to enjoy the process, which is rather frightening! I've never been the kind of person to find research interesting and enjoyable, unless it's for something completely unrelated to school. (Like my obsession with Sailor Moon as a teen, which shall never be mentioned again.) But I'm realising how much I'm learning through all of this, and I do love to learn. And apparently ancient Chinese silk trade can actually be rather fascinating. Did you know they used to use it as currency? To the point where the government would forbid the use of metal coin so that people would be forced to use silk.

I am now full of (even more) useless information.



In other news, I've finished two tapestries in my tapestry class. It's a very labour-intensive process, taking sometimes up to an hour to do an inch of weaving. It also takes a lot of focus; you have to keep making decisions as to colour or problem-solving all of the technical issues that invariable pop up. I find it to be really meditative and soothing. I can't think or worry about anything else when I sit down at my loom. There is just me and my tapestry and the wonderful process of creation.


The first two projects for this class are technical experiments. Trying out different ways of working and seeing what works best for us. It was fun to play around with the technique before settling down and deciding on a more committed and serious project. I've decided to work on a piece based on one of my favourite fairy stories, the Six Swans (also sometimes the Thirteen Swans or the Three Ravens). It goes along with my current theme of transformation, and those stuck between worlds. I don't have any image of what it looks like just now - I've barely started - but I'll certainly snap some photos as I continue to work on it. I'm really excited to see what it'll be like when it's finished.

*happy dance*

Wicked news!

I'm super excited to announce that I'm a part of a show currently running at the Marion Nichol Gallery. It's called 'Debunking the Binary Myth' and it's a collection of gender-related pieces done by the trans* students and alumni of my school. It's running for three weeks, from the first to the twentieth - which is also the Trans Day of Remembrance. It's an amazing series of work, and I highly encourage all of my friends in the city to check it out.

midterms are eating my brains

Third year is exponentially harder than second year. Just FYI. I won't burden (all four) of my readers by complaining more than I already have about my midterms and my lack of sleep. Here are some links to shiny things instead.

Jan Durina - Beautiful photography.

del lagrace volcano - I believe I discovered this artist doing research into body/identity/gender issues. He's also an amazing photographer. Plus he takes pictures of drag kings. What's not to like?

John Kenn - He makes the most amazing monster drawings on post-it notes. I kid you not. The intricacy and eeriness of his works is astounding.

Kent Monkman - I was actually lucky enough to see some of his work at the Glenbow Museum. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in a museum before. His pieces are technically strong (I hate him so much for being a better painter than I'll ever be), and humourous and yet still contain potent social messages. I also have a signed art book of his. *glee*

Visioluxus - lots of photographers. Beautiful, crazy photographs. Potentially not safe for work, if your work is the kind of place that gets uptight about boobies.

Vintage Blog - A French blog, they post pictures from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Lots of Art Nouveau and other awesome images.

stuff and things

Autumn is arrived at last, bringing with it a warmth that we didn't have all summer. The sun shines, the birds sing, the trees slowly (or not-so-slowly, it seems) turn the colour of flames.

October is just around the corner, and brings with it the threat of imminent mid-terms. I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone. I feel like last week it was August.


My business cards arrived the other day! I got them from here, and they're wondrous. The card-stock is nice and thick, and the images are clear. And - better yet! - they're all image of my own work.

Here's some pics of stuff I've been working on. I feel sort of like I should be doing more stuff, like I'm not being productive enough, but I think that's my brain telling me stupid things.



I love that I get to make pretty things at school. I love that it's what I'm planning on doing for the rest of my life.

beginning of school

The first week of school is over. It's always interesting going back to school - things change, and stay the same. I'm taking different courses, but I know most of the instructors and most of the students around me. I'm fortunate to be in a small college where I can say that. I couldn't imagine being in a large university or somewhere where I'd only recognize a handful of the people I see each day. My school is my community, and my department more so.

The most exciting part of going back to school is I get my own studio space. It's not much: a desk and a cupboard, pretty much. But it's a large step up from a locker. Plus I'm surrounded by other fibre students, which is always fun. We're all a little crazy, which you have to be in fibre. Still, I find being surrounded by artists is one of the most inspiring things ever.


Note the inspirational calendar. ;) I'm sure in a few weeks I won't be able to see the top of my desk under the piles of fabrics, books, and other random stuff I seem to pile onto every horizontal surface when I work.

Now, I'm sure there's some homework somewhere that I have to do...