Woodland Wool: 23 Skidoo

4/29/10

23 Skidoo

My oh my, do I have a lot of work ahead of me! The last few weeks have been a blur... Hants County Arts council meetings and workshops, prepping to launch "Pretty Things Merch"on Etsy, finishing up my contract at Family SOS, Halifax Crafters Spring Fling and then as a final reward - Jamaica!

Not to worry, I captured everything on film and will share shortly.

Meanwhile I've been trying to catch up on everything I put off for "when we get back from the trip" - and that's a mighty hefty list!

Thanks to April showers my garden is a mess of weeds I've just barely gotten to. After much Etsy posting and sometime spent on a custom critter, I've started my attack on the garage... A.K.A "studio."

Sadly the garage may never be the work space I envisioned, but at least now it resembles a place you might actually want to spend time in.

While organizing this morning I found my journal from when I had my epiphany for an Arts Centre. It was quite fitting to find that now, 10 years later, as I lay my roots hoping to play an important part in the creation of a new Arts Centre here in Windsor.

I'm so excited by all the opportunities coming my way, and all I had to do was beg, work hard and have faith.

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Working in the arts has always been in the cards for me. After a childhood filled with time spent creating using what ever materials available, it was no surprise that by the age of seven I was firmly committed to living the life of an artist as I grew up.

After attending specialized art classes as a teen, I began my post secondary education studying photography and digital imaging, before shifting my focus towards graphic design, printmaking and film studies, eventually receiving a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2003.

Upon graduation I began teaching art to elementary students, and for over two decades I have continued to work as a freelance photographer and designer, collaborating with many musicians, entrepreneurs and not-for-profit organizations.

Since relocating to the tiny community of Ellershouse over a decade ago, my artistic practice has grown to include the creation of tactile fine artworks and products that make use of natural and recycled materials. These days I primarily create using wool from local British milking sheep raised in Avondale, which I carefully hand dye prior to transforming the fibre into vibrant felted wall hangings and functional items like hats and purses.

After taking on the role of facility manager for the Avon River Heritage Society Museum in 2013, the tidal river that surrounds the historic waterfront park became an ongoing source of inspiration for my artwork, especially evident in my 2019 felted series ADAPT, my graphic print Year of the Salmon, and the corresponding installation Ghost Salmon, which was placed along Simpson's Creek in Newport Landing in June of 2019.

When I'm not working or creating I continue to pass along my skills and knowledge by leading fibre art workshops and demonstrations, and by actively volunteering with groups like the Avon River Arts Society and the Full Circle Festival, organizing cultural events and activities.