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.

Art Party

On Saturday night, artist WhiteFeather hosted a vernissage in her apartment. Thirteen artists (including myself!) presented everything from interactive art installations, to music, to video, to paintings, poetry, and photography, to our peers and friends.

It was totally awesome. 

Jackie seated at my installation, typing away. Photo credit Biff Mitchell.

You Speak With Such Reverence

A massive portion of this semester is dedicated to this project, You Speak With Such Reverence. I'm collecting stories from anyone (hey, you've got stories, right?) that deal with the marks love leaves on us, whether it be physical or emotional, positive or negative.