by Marja-Leena 
found in studio ‘junk’
wound up and tied
remembering a frayed basket edge
unwound and free
captured and filed
for future use
then a revisit of jute, more jute and twine(d)
Added 19th March:
My dear friend Susan, in the comments below, has challenged me to do a re-scan with my hand holding the twine. Behold:
by Marja-Leena 
mild with very heavy rains
a swamp in the yard
buds burst forth
March is named for Mars, the Roman god of war who was also regarded as a guardian of agriculture and an ancestor of the Roman people… In Finnish, the month is called maaliskuu, which is believed to originate from maallinen kuu, meaning earthy month, because during maaliskuu, earth finally becomes visible under the snow….
(with thanks to wikipedia)
by Marja-Leena 
found on the floor of my studio
like another on the windowsill
and in my office window
Not really related but sometimes rather winglike, mythical and mysterious:
Eyes as Big as Plates, an ongoing collaborative venture between Riitta Ikonen (Finland) and Karoline Hjorth (Norway). I love how their photographs are set in the natural environment and seem to reference ancient Nordic folk stories. The link above goes to a blog about their photo projects and exhibitions in each of their birth countries and now developing in New York City. Their models are volunteer seniors. Here’s the first post. Enjoy!
(Many thanks to Leslee of Third House Party for sending this to me – she knows me well!)
Added March 15th: I keep going back to look at this amazing photo of a moth at Jude Hill’s Spirit Cloth. Be sure to click to view larger. The wing edges look like frayed edges of cloth, just like the pieces of worn cloth she stitches. Her work is just lovely and meditative as is her site – a place of peace and calm.
Added March 26th: Writer and poet Marly Youmans has written a marvellous post about ‘Eyes as Big as Plates’, referencing her own book The Foliate Head and Andy Goldsworthy. I was stunned to open her blog this morning and see the image of one of the “Eyes”, this time on the cover of Kiasma magazine. Kiasma is the modern art museum in Helsinki. Go look!
by Marja-Leena 
In the corner of our backyard is an area that I call our woodland garden with its tree-sized rhododendrons, camellia and other shrubs. It’s a delight for children to hide and run under. A few days ago as we worked outside, our younger granddaughter was in there and called me over with great excitement. She spotted these amazing shell-like fungi marching up one upright branch of a shrub. I was excited too! Being in the shade as it is, I had to wait patiently for a brighter day to try to capture some photos, and that was this morning. The images still needed much adjusting but I’m quite pleased with these ones. Aren’t they beautiful creations? Now it really is a woodland garden.
They reminded me of these somewhat similar frilly ones on a fallen tree branch.
by Marja-Leena Over five years ago I wrote about BC artist Robert Young and his visit to the printmaking studio at Capilano University. Please read that article then come back here.
Last week by an odd chance, Robert and I had a lovely email conversation. He had not seen that early post I wrote about him and had some nice things to say including this:
You may be interested to know that the print reproduced in your article contains a black and white landscape image which I made at art school in England and which is partly derived/inspired by Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
This certainly surprised and delighted me as I had researched and written a major portion of my written thesis for my BFA Honours on this famous Finnish artist.
I’ve seen and admired Robert Young’s work here and there over the years and most recently in 2009 at the Burnaby Art Gallery. In researching for this post, I came across an excellent and insightful review by Robin Laurence of that BAG exhibition.
So I was sad to learn from him that I had missed his major retrospective in 2011. He has kindly given me permission to use his images and exhibition information to update us on some of his recent work.
This is from the Evergreen Cultural Centre’s website:
Mystique Povera, 2008-09, egg tempera, acrylic and oil on linen. 48 x 59 inches. Collection of the Artist
Robert Young: Lacunarian Picturing
June 18 – September 3, 2011
The Art Gallery at Evergreen, in partnership with the Simon Fraser University Gallery, is pleased to present Lacunarian Picturing, a Robert Young retrospective exhibition. The Vancouver artist, born in 1938, has produced art for most of his adult life and continues to work from his home studio.
The Art Gallery at Evergreen will focus on a chronological exploration of Young’s paintings while the SFU Gallery will focus on Young’s depictions of architecture and interior spaces. On display will be works ranging from the 1970’s, to his much-debated Tart, 1993 from the Vancouver Art Gallery Permanent Collection, to his most recent painting from this year titled, Lacunarian Picture, 2011. (more…)
Then a year later came his Unveiling of Axis Mundi:
LEFT: Lacunarian Picture, 2011. RIGHT: Axis Mundi, 2012, acrylic, egg tempera and oil on linen, 152.4 x 121.9 cm. Collection of the Artist
[At last year’s exhibition] the signature work showcased at the Art Gallery at Evergreen was Lacunarian Picture, a work in progress that Young began specifically for the exhibition in Coquitlam. Now, over one year later, the work is completed and it gives us great pleasure to unveil it here at Evergreen Cultural Centre.
I understand the title changed from Lacunarian Picture to Axis Mundi and you can see both versions above. I wish we could view the work larger in order to see all the details full of stories, so typical of his work. Also, do read Robert Young’s statement (pdf) found on that page. I think it gives fascinating insight into his artistic and thematic process. It is something I can identify with in some of my work where I do not always know what it will be about until it is done. I’m sure some other artists experience that too.
Last but not least, when I asked if he was still painting, he wrote: Oh yes, still painting and doing my best work…. He still follows his own path, true to himself, and is an inspiration for all artists, especially for those of us ‘getting on in years’.
Added MARCH 4th morning: Robert Young has just told me that his work can be seen at the Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art Database. His page is here. Excellent, I had forgotten about this site! (But why did a general internet search of the artist’s name not come up with this site?)
More later in the day: I have just spent an hour browsing through Robert’s work on this site – wow! The images can all be viewed larger. Do especially have another look at Axis Mundi, the very last one! I also love his famous Tart. Enjoy!
by Marja-Leena 
a happy accident of a photo captured by our waitress
another birthday lunch in another seaside place, this time for my love
a break in the rain, a look over Deep Cove
mountains with snowy peaks shrouded in clouds
a Pineapple Express is here
March is coming in like a lion
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Milkweed Pod
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
As with some of the other objects in the Hands series, this too was the subject of a very early scan.
by Marja-Leena 
“Opa” took the granddaughters up to the mountain for some sledding and captured some striking photographs which he’s allowing me to share here. I love that clean bright snow, those moody skies and that beady-eyed raven hoping for a snack.
You may remember my photos from a visit up there in 2011.
by Marja-Leena 
Hand with Kelp
archival inkjet print
45.5 x 38.5 cm (18″ x 15.25″)
Another recently completed edition for the Hands series.
Some readers may recall seeing this image before here. Who knew then that these would become a print series?
Added Feb.24th: While searching for something else deep in the archives, I found the first scan of this object! Do have a look at the surprise inside.
