Marja-Leena Rathje

by Marja-Leena

another hand

Some readers may remember some of the collagraphs of my hands that I made earlier this year for an edition of one of the pieces in the series Silent Messengers: Writing-on-Stone.

I’m now working on some new pieces and I’m thinking of using images of hands again. I’ve been looking at some of the proofs I printed from the several collagraphs I made back then. This one shown above is a trial print of one of the first experiments in taking an impression of my hands. I rather like its ambiguity for the new work.

But I can’t find the collagraph! I’ve looked everywhere at home and in the print studio. It’s small and light and may have been accidentally chucked out with waste paper. So, I’ve scanned this one and only print of it and maybe, just maybe I will use it as a digital image in combination with the other pieces I’m working on. I still want to have some kind of hand printed image as well so we’ll see how this develops. I usually have an ephmeral idea in my head as to what I want, but when I actually work with the piece, I like to be able to respond to what it says to me, to make it ‘sing’.

October 17, 2007 in Being an Artist, Printmaking 15 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

the artist and the environment

I’ve been thinking about what I could contribute to the world wide discussion raised today with Blog Action Day. I decided to talk about my behaviour as an artist as well as a homemaker.

As an artist concerned for my own health and for the health of the environment, I stopped etching several years ago. I used to do a lot of deep etching, which meant using very strong acid baths because I wanted to imitate the weathering effects of nature in the process and the resulting images (in the Meta-morphosis series and many of the Nexus pieces). The etching facilities in the studio are very good, with powerful ventilation and special tanks to collect the wastes. That’s why I don’t do this at home! In spite of that I’ve been long concerned about residual absorption into my body as well as into the environment over my many years of printmaking.

I’ve been pleased to be able to use more and more digital processes in my printmaking though I haven’t been able to give up hand printed plates entirely. Collagraphs have been satisfying that need and I’m thinking of drypoints again, or possibly even linocuts and woodblocks. There’s still the issue of the solvents used to clean up the printing inks and I wish our shop would use some of the safer alternatives in the market even if they are costlier and a bit less efficient.

Some testing that was done on me a couple of years ago revealed a lot of toxins in my body. Learning this increased my resolve to eliminate as much exposure as possible, even to what I use in my home – the cleaning products, soaps, shampoo and the cosmetics I put on my skin. I’ve been switching to more organic produce and to antibiotic and chemical free naturally raised and fed chicken, beef and bison meat. Eschewing farmed fish, we’re lucky to find good wild salmon and other fish here but I’m concerned by the dwindling supplies in the world. I don’t use any pharmaceuticals, only naturopathic/homeopathic products when needed. I must give a lot of credit to my daughter Elisa for inspiring and teaching me by her example.

These are just a few of the ways I try to reduce my impact on the environment as well as to improve and guard my own health. I know that I could be making a lot more changes, like getting rid of my car, though I don’t drive it more than necessary.

Further reading:
on artists’ health
toxic-free artists

ADDENDUM: Wednesday, Oct.17th. Several people have expressed interest and some frustration in finding safe cosmetics, so I thought I’d add some of the links that I use that may help you in your search.
Skin Deep is a great resource where you can search products by brand name or ingredients. I use this one a lot.
The Dirty Dozen Chemicals in Cosmetics offers a handy check list of what to avoid.
My daughter Erika bought this book and recommends it highly: Ecoholic by Adria Vasil. I have to get my own copy!

October 15, 2007 in Being an Artist, Blogging, Environment 17 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

spider’s web

On this glorious sunny Sunday morning, all the more precious when sunshine has been so scarce this fall, I spotted a very delicate, very perfect silky spider’s web outside one window. I asked my husband, a much better photographer than I am, to try and capture this ephemeral creation, so barely noticeable and quickly disappearing with the sun’s southward movement. The photos disappointed but some photoshopping gave some interesting results, though still rather too delicate to show well on this other web.

I am quite envious of Dave’s photos of spider webs.

And that reminds me, I’m pleased and proud that one of my favourite images, Footprints in the Sand has been published on Qarrtsiluni. It’s a reworking of one that I posted here quite some time ago. If you are interested in submitting something for the current issue of this superb online literary and art magazine, the deadline is tomorrow.

October 14, 2007 in Being an Artist, Nature, Photoworks 11 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

Robert Young

Robert Young: Sampler – Enhanced multiple plate intaglio, linocut, woodcut
Printed for Artist’s for Kids

We had the great pleasure of having Robert Young, one of BC’s most respected senior artists, visit as a guest speaker in the Art Institute, Printmaking*** at Capilano University yesterday. He spoke first about his early years with dry humour, occasionally making various literary references to reveal the yearning, a desire “to run away” as he kept saying, which eventually led him to become an artist. He proudly wore his 40-year-old ink-stained printmaker’s apron and displayed his custom-made set of engraving tools and a few prints, one of them shown above. A slide presentation of his works followed. Very stunning and inspiring. Most of these works can be viewed at the site of the Atelier Gallery** in Vancouver, which represents him.

I can’t begin to find the right words to summarize Young’s life and work but thankfully, others have written about his work eloquently. For Artist’s for Kids, Robin Laurence wrote in part:

Although Robert Young is best known as a painter, his early art training was in printmaking, and it is a discipline he revisits periodically. In 1962, after completing a bachelor’s degree in art history at the University of British Columbia, Young left his native Vancouver, taking himself off to England, to the City and Guilds of London School of Art, where he studied etching, engraving and drypoint. He returned to Vancouver in 1964, studied graphic arts at the Vancouver School of Art, then set off again for London in 1966. It was during this second sojourn there, lasting a full decade (he returned permanently to Vancouver in 1976), that he began to paint, finding inspiration in a number of sources, including art history, photography, and the mass media.

and…

Known for his intricate drawing, painting and printmaking, his work has a strong intellectual appeal and an impeccable sense of craft. For more than 45 years he has pursued a bold personal image synthesizing the environment with his strong philosophical and spiritual beliefs. He also shared his love of art and art history with students at U.B.C. for 16 years as Associate Professor in the faculty of Fine Arts.

In an excellent article in the Straight, Christopher Brayshaw wrote:

Between these extremes of illusionism and blunt facticity lies the work of Vancouver artist Robert Young, whose inventive paintings, drawings, and mixed-media collages defy easy categorization. Though he taught for years at UBC, Young is the antithesis of an academic artist, and is now, at almost 70, in the happy position of not really having any followers.

This is something that Young spoke about, the desire to not follow current movements or schools, or the call of curators or critics, but to follow his own path.

UPDATE Feb.28th, 2013: **The Atelier Gallery link no longer works and has been removed. This long time gallery has closed. Meanwhile, some of Robert Young’s work may be viewed at the Winchester Galleries.

***UPDATE Jan.3, 2014: In May 2013 this program (along with others) was eliminated. Link removed. To read about the Art Institute as it used to be, please visit this older post about it.

October 11, 2007 in Art Institute (Printmaking), Other artists 8 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

still life

Now that the hard work (cooking, cleaning and tree pruning) and the pleasures of much good food and family time of the Thanksgiving weekend are over, I’m trying to re-immerse myself in my new work. It’s still too soon to say or show anything, though regular readers have seen some of my photos that I may be incorporating.

Today’s blog readings has been rewarding with a timely inspiration and reminder from Keri Smith about getting lost which I think you will enjoy too.

October 9, 2007 in Being an Artist 3 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

Seven years and Thanksgiving

The amazing wood s lot is 7 years old, and that’s a lot in blog years! In addition to his ever rich cornucopia, for the past few months Mark has been posting his own beautiful photos of his home region in Ontario which I’ve admired. With my obsession with rocks and petroglyphs, I was most intrigued by his post of Sept.25th, 2007 with his photos of Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park. He wrote:

This 1.5-kilometre sheer rock face rises 100 metres above Mazinaw Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Ontario, and features over 260 native pictographs – the largest visible collection in Canada. It also is home to some Eastern White Cedars upwards of 1000 years old.

Congratulations and thank you, Mark! That’s a great photo of you.

And, it’s the Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada. We’ll have our family dinner on Sunday (tomorrow) with eight of us around the table – two daughters, two partners and two granddaughters. One out-of-town daughter and her partner will be missed but not forgotten, especially on her birthday on Monday! We are thankful for the blessings of a lovely family and a good life in this beautiful part of the world. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

October 6, 2007 in Blogging, Canada and BC, Rock Art & Archaeology 8 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

a letter to a friend

Recently Beth wrote about e-mail being the death of letters, resulting in a loss of permanent records for posterity. It came to mind this morning while I was emailing a friend in a more than usual chatty fashion. I started thinking about how it might have turned out if I’d written it by hand. Terrible handwriting and unedited incoherent thoughts for sure (though the latter still happens in emails, heh). Yet the pleasure of opening a real hand written letter is very rare indeed, and I’m guilty. Anyway, I thought I’d share that ‘letter’, slightly edited for privacy and the addition of some links.

Good morning to you, R!

The sun is shining here after days of heavy cold rains. It seemed like November already. And this white stuff you are talking about in Calgary – frost? or snow? Yikes. Whistler has had snow and there are reports that our highest peaks around here would be dusted as well. In the dark last night we started bringing in yet more of my potted plants (yes, I have a LOT) after I read that it’s going to 5C tonight. Strange how cold the west has been while the east has been very warm, the opposite of normal, though it’s cooling now in the east. I have to get outside today and gather a few more plants. F tells me I have to cut back on having so many plants!

I should be at the studio today, but I got distracted by the weekend trip, and feelings of sadness and pain at seeing the downhill spiral of aging and illness in my favourite uncle and aunt. I’m having trouble focusing on this new work I’m doing – needing to feel and think about what it is I want to do to make this say what I think I want it to say. Before you start worrying about me, let me say that this is normal behaviour for me (and many artists) when starting new work, especially after a break of not working. Yesterday, at the studio, I had a helpful chat with another artist who offered some good suggestions on how to approach this. Now I just need to discipline myself and make time to focus on it. I know it will all fall into place soon. So, I will work on that for a while, then do a few chores.

Late this afternoon is the opening of a friend’s show. F will be cycling as usual and will meet me there after work. The bike stand/carrier is inside the back of the van as well as a change of clothes. When he’s cycled up the big hill to the college, he’ll load his bike in there, change and come find me in the gallery. Afterwards we can drive home together. It’s a pattern we’ve developed whenever we want to meet somewhere after his work.

I’m rambling here… Now to your news.. How wonderful that C has found work! Where and what? I hope it will be a happier experience than the last position – please give her my warmest best wishes!

Thank you, R, for sharing your latest news about your research on your project. Amazing how much you have to deal with people and politics even when writing about a dead person. I suppose that is true more or less in many endeavours. It takes a lot of energy, but you are very skilled at that, R! Good luck, as always. You do sound like you are feeling better.

It’s the Thanksgiving weekend coming up, will you be seeing your family? I think our family will be here on Sunday. Yes, I do hope we’ll have a chance to chat on the phone soon.
Hugs,
Marja-Leena

October 4, 2007 in Being an Artist, Tools and technology 6 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

Robert Jackson exhibition

Approaching Wholeness

I’m so pleased to announce that friend and fellow artist Robert Jackson will be having what sounds like an exciting opening of his exhibition called ‘Approaching Wholeness’. Here’s his invitation in his own words:

The show opens with an introduction by my wife Neslihan this Thursday October 4th, 2007 with the reception starting around 4:00 pm until 8 pm. The show runs until October 18th, at the Capilano College Studio Art Gallery in North Vancouver. Easy to find, just take exit 22 near the Second Narrows Bridge. (Download campus map, pdf)

There will be canvas prints of images taken of what happens when some very accomplished and serious artists just play for there own amusement in a sandbox with toys.

Another series of images of various artists wearing masks that they chose from many that I have made.

There will be some gorgeous toy images from a magical private toy museum, taken on our recent trip to Turkey. We had “a big fat Turkish wedding” in September there.

Really the show is about me learning to unmask myself and learn to play again and mostly about finding love, inside and out. I am always surprised that this finding the inner playful true self isn’t usually taught at art school. So many miracles have happened to me, 10 times more love from Neslihan and her family than I ever dreamed was possible.

Please come and share this unbearable lightness of being with us on Thursday at 4pm.

Untitled

RJLadyofTheLamp
Lady of the Lamp

Tractor Boy

Robert’s Artist’s Statement (pdf) is well worth a read!
All works shown here are mixed media digital prints on canvas.
Sizes about 22 x 34 inches.
Copyright Robert Jackson, used with his permission.
Note: Gallery hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

October 2, 2007 in Art Exhibitions, Digital printmaking, Other artists 9 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

away and back

We’ve been away for a few days’ trip to the beautiful Saanich and Victoria areas of Vancouver Island, visiting friends and family. Most important for us was to spend some time with my elderly uncle and aunt. Because of his Alzheimer’s, they recently had to move out of their own home into a seniors’ residence. It’s been nine months since we’ve seen them, so it was painful to notice the changes and how my aunt was missing her home, sigh. But I think they were cheered by our visit and all the family photos we showed them. We said to ourselves that we must go and see them more often.

As always, we had a great visit with our dearest friends who are now in the midst of a major renovation on their old waterfront cottage. We compared notes with our own experiences over 20 years ago and shared much advice and laughter! And of course, we always enjoy staying with my energetic and fascinating sister-in-law. We had many wonderful meals in and out.

The greater predominance of decidious trees and the drier climate on the Island meant that the fall colours are beautiful there now, more noticeable than around our home. The weather was mixed, mostly cloudy with some rain, but one night saw fierce wind and rain storms here and there. Today, the sun was out more.

While waiting in the ferry lineup to head back home, we went for a walk and to our surprise found a very charming stone faced pub, rather like a hobbit house tucked in the forest. We enjoyed a nice lunch there, much better than what’s available on the ferry. We love being on boats and it was most pleasant as we were able to sit on the deck for awhile and drink in the sea, sky, islands and watch other ferries going by. (The photo below shows the smaller Gulf Island ferries).

All’s well at home. We heard that here in Vancouver, there was more rain in one day than there’d been in any day the past 11 months. The only damage that I noticed was that one of my clematis plants on a fan trellis was knocked down by the wind. And Whistler had its first snowfall of the season – winter is coming early! Good be to home again, catch up with emails and a few blogs….and to sleep in our own bed.

October 1, 2007 in Canada and BC, Home 6 Comments »

by Marja-Leena