Archives for category: Art

Our dear friend Dame Mailarta has organized another wonderful show for the International Mail Art Exhibition: Mailmania 5. This year’s exhibit took place at the Slide Room Gallery at the Vancouver Island School of Art in September. Art was mailed to Studio J from all around the world. Check out the Mailarta blog here, and send some art along!

The Dame in cardboard with a wall of art stamps.

The Dame in cardboard with a wall of art stamps.

We were moved to see this peice by our beloved Rachel Berman who passed away this last spring. Rachel sent a lot of art through the post to so many people; we are honoured to have known her.

We were moved to see this peice by our beloved Rachel Berman who passed away this last spring. Rachel sent a lot of art through the post to so many people; we are honoured to have known her.

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This floor-to-ceiling piece came from the UK.

This floor-to-ceiling piece came from the UK.

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The 4th Annual Victoria Tweed Ride was held last sunday, and what a lovely day it was! The ride itself was quite long this year, beginning at the St Ann’s Academy grounds downtown and finishing at a perfect picnic spot at Esquimalt Gorge Park. More than 200 riders enjoyed an ideal day out.

Waiting to take off! GJ built an amazing wind-powered flying machine for the front of his Raleigh. It worked so well, spinning propellers and flapping wings! Video coming soon.

Waiting to take off! GJ built an amazing wind-powered flying machine for the front of his Raleigh. It worked so well, spinning propellers and flapping wings! Video coming soon.

One of my favourite bicycles: a vintage Sparta tandem ridden by a lovely couple.

One of my favourite bicycles: a vintage Sparta tandem ridden by a lovely couple.

My picnic: tea sandwiches, cream scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, lemon cake and plums.

My picnic: tea sandwiches, cream scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, lemon cake and plums.

This bicycles and trailer are a mobile library! Well done!

This bicycles and trailer are a mobile library! Well done!

Our friend Francis took this pic of me and the picnic I prepared. Thank you Francis!

Our friend Francis took this pic of me and the picnic I prepared. Thank you Francis!

David's Tea, one of many sponsors, provided the tea service this year.

David’s Tea, one of many sponsors, provided the tea service this year.

So many beautiful bicycles!

So many beautiful bicycles!

Many large trees provided welcome shade to the picnickers.

Many large trees provided welcome shade to the picnickers.

GJ on the left, looking so divine, handing out a prize from Fairfield Bike Shop, where he works, to the always dapper, always a gentleman, Simon. Simon was one of the organizers of the first three Tweed Rides and gave much support this year to the new team.

GJ on the left, looking so divine, handing out one of the prizes from Fairfield Bike Shop, where he works, to the always dapper, always a gentleman, Simon. Simon was one of the organizers of the first three Tweed Rides and gave much support this year to the new team.

The lovely Marion always creating. I wish I had gotten a better shot of her dress which she sewed herself from vintage fabric.

The lovely Marion always creating. I wish I had gotten a better shot of her dress which she sewed herself from vintage fabric.

Our friend Riley having a post-picnic snooze. His fabulous mustache won him a prize again this year!

Our friend Riley having a post-picnic snooze. His fabulous mustache won him a prize again this year!

Such a beautiful spot, right on the Gorge Waterway, and a perfect sunny day.

Such a beautiful spot, right on the Gorge Waterway, and a perfect sunny day.

One of my favourite bikes.

One of my favourite bikes.

One of the especially nice picnics, gramophone and tweedy teddy included.

One of the especially nice picnics, gramophone and tweedy teddy included.

Beautiful bicycles, picnic hampers and trailers.

Beautiful bicycles, picnic hampers and trailers.

We’re having a little jewellery sale. Find the shop, Avant Crossing Guard, here. The shop facebook page is here. The shop tumblr blog is here.

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The late summer morning light was so lovely the other day, I was inspired to take these shots of some of our heritage architecture.

The Janion Hotel, 1891, has been derelict for decades and is now being converted into micro loft condos; Victoria BC Canada.

The Janion Hotel, 1891, has been derelict for decades and is now being converted into micro loft condos; Victoria BC Canada.

Customs House, circa 1875; Victoria BC Canada.

Customs House, circa 1875; Victoria BC Canada.

The Parliament Buildings, home to the BC legislative assembly, was designed by Francis Rattenbury in 1893 and built between 1893–1898; Victoria BC Canada.

The Parliament Buildings, home to the BC legislative assembly, was designed by Francis Rattenbury in 1893 and built between 1893–1898; Victoria BC Canada.

Detail of the Steamship Terminal building, designed by Francis Rattenbury and built in 1924; Victoria BC Canada.

Detail of the CPR Steamship Terminal building, built 1924, was also designed by Francis Rattenbury; Victoria BC Canada.

Beginnings of autumn colour at The Gatsby Mansion, built originally as a home for the Pendray family, circa 1890; Victoria BC Canada.

Beginnings of autumn colour at The Gatsby Mansion, built originally as a home for the Pendray family, circa 1890; Victoria BC Canada.

Bank of British Columbia building, 1862; Victoria BC Canada.

Bank of British Columbia building, 1862; Victoria BC Canada.

Two new necklaces recently completed:

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We had a peaceful, lovely day working in the studio yesterday. Here are a few shots I took of the studio while taking some pics of GJ working for his Patreon site.

GJ making a wing for a new sculpture.

GJ making a wing for a new sculpture.

Behind GJ's workspace; new art on the left, an old piece above the cabinet, and lots of materials, books and ephemera.

Behind GJ’s workspace; new art on the left, an old piece above the cabinet, and lots of materials, books and ephemera.

Bikes and art and storage…

Bikes and art and storage…

Sleepy kitty.

Sleepy kitty.

GJ's skeleton candlesticks stand guard over the herb pots.

GJ’s skeleton candlesticks stand guard over the herb pots.

I went a little crazy making art cards last week in anticipation of our upcoming open studio this saturday. I still have a few more ideas, but should probably turn my attention to Holiday themes for the next few months.

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The City of Victoria is presenting a series of lunchtime concerts at Centennial Square, right beside City Hall. They are every tuesday, wednesday and thursday from noon until 1 pm until September 11. Yesterday we were lucky to catch the Damian Graham Trio, who are awesome. There are also two concerts remaining for the Eventide Music Series. If you are going to be in Victoria, you can find out more info here.

The Damian Graham Trio performing a lunchtime concert as part of the Summer in the Square series. On piano, the wonderful Karel Roessing; the excellent Joey Smith on stand-up bass; and the delightful Damian Graham on drums and vocals: jazz standards, jazzy adaptations and original compositions.

The Damian Graham Trio performing a lunchtime concert as part of the Summer in the Square series. On piano, the wonderful Karel Roessing; the excellent Joey Smith on stand-up bass; and the delightful Damian Graham on drums and vocals: jazz standards, jazzy adaptations and original compositions.

Mr. Damian Graham transports his gorgeous drum kit by bicycle!

Mr. Damian Graham transports his gorgeous drum kit by bicycle!

Our friend Annie is extraordinary and lovely. She’s a painter, fabric artist and wonderful chef. Many of my posts have already included her home and amazing cooking. When last we were there, the light was so gorgeous that I had to take many photos inside her home. We have some of Annie’s art in our on-line store, and if you are in Victoria BC, visit Eclectic Gallery who carry her art cards and fabric creations.

Beautiful Annie

Beautiful Annie

Sunlight and shadow magic with Annie's paintings and peacock feathers.

Sunlight and shadow magic with Annie’s paintings and peacock feathers.

Annie's House

Annie’s House

Annie's House

Annie’s House

Annie has a way with fabric, even if it's just draped for curtains.

Annie has a way with fabric, even if it’s just draped for curtains.

Sunlight and shadow magic.

More magic with sunlight and shadow.

Sweet Carlos takes a break from his crazy friend Zelda, who was moving too fast to be part of this photo series.

Sweet Carlos takes a break from his crazy friend Zelda, who was moving too fast to be part of this photo series. He is surrounded by his mamma’s incredible fabric art.

One of GJ's copper bud vases and a colourful plate rest on a small embroidered piece by Annie.

One of GJ’s copper bud vases and a colourful plate rest on a small embroidered piece by Annie.

Annie's Kitchen

Annie’s Kitchen

Annie's Kitchen

Annie’s Kitchen

Annie's House

Annie’s House

Clockwise from top left: curry dip for veggies, lentil samosas with tamarind chutney and potato samosas with tomato chutney. Yum.

Clockwise from top left: curry dip for veggies, lentil samosas with tamarind chutney, and potato samosas with tomato chutney. Yum.

It’s been a busy few months. In June, we worked with our friends artist Gareth Gaudin and Alison at Dales Gallery to create a show of Gareth’s original drawings from the graphic novel Silence Is A Song I Know All The Words To, which is a collaboration with spoken-word poet Shane Koyczan. The original drawings are now available for purchase here. I’ve been making a lot of new jewellery; some goes up on the online store, some to Eclectic Gallery in Oak Bay, and some we keep around for our open studios which we’ve been having about once a month. GJ’s been very prolific making sculpture. He’s working on a figurative piece today and has two new kinetic pieces, one of which you can see in action here. GJ also submitted recently to Dug North: The Automata Blog and had one of his kinetic pieces featured; very exciting!

A new figurative piece in progress, by GJ Pearson

A new figurative piece in progress, by GJ Pearson.

Beast on a Biscuit Tin, kinetic sculpture by GJ Pearson.

Beast on a Biscuit Tin, kinetic sculpture by GJ Pearson.

Jumping Machine, video to come soon.

Jumping Machine by GJ Pearson; video to come soon.

Pearls, glass and silver.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Pearls, glass and silver.

Black stones, grey pearls and glass.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Black stones, grey pearls and glass.

Pink pearls, rose quartz and Italian glass.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Pink pearls, rose quartz and Italian glass.

Various jades and pearls in shades of green.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Various jades and pearls in shades of green.

Mother of pearl, gold-coloured fresh-water pearls and glass.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Mother of pearl, gold-coloured fresh-water pearls and glass.

Carnelian, brown jade and silver.

Firehorse Designs new necklace: Carnelian, brown jade and silver.