Let All Tension Go

I've felt myself change pace many times during this past week. Happily coming to terms with life as a non-student, wasting hours watching movies and reading, rushing from job to job, happy surprises, fights with neighbours, endless cups of tea with sequined ladies... I've been both extraordinarily busy and incredibly lazy, and it feels spectacular. My days alternate between working, trying to make my schedule work, and placidity, but there's consistently been something fabulous happen every day since I graduated. 


Someone asked me how big my pile of projects was this summer, and they seemed shocked when I said it doesn't exist. After birthing the Reverence Project installation and finishing up all of the things that lead to graduation, I need a break of indeterminate length. In all likelihood I'll get super bored and get to work on something in a week or two, but for now, I'm relishing every shining minute of post-graduate freedom. 

Freedom!

Apologies for the lack of photos in this post. I will try to keep it brief. 


As of Saturday afternoon, I am now alumni of the NB College of Craft and Design.


WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Damn right I graduated!

I hope you have known the spectacular high of finishing four years of backbreaking labour and personal discovery. This time around I feel like I've truly earned it and life as an adult (meaning: non-student) looks FABULOUS. 

Endless congratulations to Rachel, Leigh, Michelle, Fay, ReBecca, and Monica too. 

La Fin du Semestre

It's the official end of the semester and the end of my time in the Advanced Studies program. Today I'll be presenting my grad piece and business plan to outside evaluators (gulp!) and then I'll graduate this Saturday. 

Our grad exhibition opens this Friday though, 4:30-7pm. It's going to be good, and it'll be up all summer if you can't make it to the vernissage. 

It's nice to have everything all wrapped up. I guess the next step is cleaning out my lockers at school (there is no room in my studio for all of that stuff) and preparing for the big move at the end of the summer. 

Wrap-Up

Here's a quick synopsis of what I've been up to all year. I'll try not to talk too much. 

Semester 1

Production weaving wool yardage. After weaving it, I take it off the loom, felt it in the washing machine, and cut it into scarves.

Hello, Toronto! The BMO 1st Art! competition completely changed my perspective on life, art, and my career. It was incredible. Returning from that wonderland was not. 

Semester 2

Having endured near ruination, I made a clean break from all toxic environments and influences. I decided to do the work I wanted to do, and thus, the Reverence Project (see the tab at the top of my blog!) began. 

It was amazing and exhausting and so very rewarding. And it's not finished! 


I spent a lot of time this year trying out a whole lot of things. I wanted to be involved in my community, in my practice, and I wanted to see just what I enjoyed doing. 

I worked on a project with a fellow artist. I started exorcising the demons of last semester, and I learned about effective communication with creative partners. 

I taught kid's workshops via Fredericton Arts & Learning. 

I got involved in my community as the chair of the Education Committee and a board member at Gallery Connexion. 

I illustrated Nonymous magazine. It's full of teeth. 

I made a whole new product line for the summer in the Barracks shops. 

I made a ton of paper. 

And I worked my arse off. I went into the program thinking I'd weave and build up a huge body of work for exhibition, but it didn't happen like that. 


I came out of it with a backbone and a loud voice, confidence in my creative vision, a body of work that'll take me a year to make, a solid career plan, and a deeper understanding of why I do what I do. If you want to hear more of this, you'll have to buy me a beer.   

End Times

After two days of unmitigated disaster and stress, I can say, with some trepidation as it isn't quite dry yet, that my grad piece is finished. Yes. Finished.  

You should come to our graduation exhibition! All of my clever problem solving will be on display for the summer.

Checking Off the Boxes

Last weekend the barracks shop opened! Here's a glimpse of my display:

Cast-iron trellises + a coffee table + a folding patio table = DONE.

I'm pleased by the end result. Had I more time and cash, the display would be a bit smoother, but heck, for under $70, it looks pretty good! The shop is open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm (you should check it out).