by Marja-Leena 
Yesterday’s surprise when the clouds lifted: the mountain tops dressed in white. Beautiful – the first of this fall.
The weather report warned of a chance of frost overnight: I scrambled to take cuttings of some of my pelargoniums and bring in a few pots. No frost here last night. Today I potted up the cuttings, but have much more to do yet. Such a procrastinator am I, though I partially blame some uninvited guests (the rainy weather and this cold bug that is overstaying).
by Marja-Leena
I’m taking it easy this week nursing a cold. With tissues and tea beside me, I am really enjoying the guilty pleasure of more reading time with a timely receipt of a library book I’d placed on hold: P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley. More than half way through and loving it, the only one of this grand dame’s books I’ve ever read. A dear friend is a keen fan of James so I’d given her a copy of this for her birthday last year. As a Jane Austen fan, it was high time to read this for myself and what a pleasure!
As you know, I love textures and stone, and this scan I once did of marble seems just right today, an illustration of the condition of my brain cells this week?
by Marja-Leena … it’s pouring, thundering on skylights, roofs and decks,
gardens become sated with drink after a long drought,
three days of rain after months of scarcely a drop,
still more watery days to continue
remembering one magical sight of white branches
glowing in a forest of reds, yellows and greens in brilliant sunshine
now I watch water flowing down skylights, distorting views
yellow leaves fly about and stick onto wet glass
this is fall on the west coast of BC
by Marja-Leena 
left to right: Ritsuko Takeda, Haruko Cho, Sachiko Kawamura, Prof. Hiroshi Maruyama, Haruki Sakuraba
by Hiroshi Maruyama
by Yusaku Fujiwara
by Isao Kobayashi
Here are a few photos from last week’s opening of the exchange exhibition of works by Japanese printmakers in the Studio Art Gallery at Capilano University. Five of the 17 artists came to Vancouver for this event. It was very well attended, with a gracious welcoming speech from Capilano University President Dr. Kris Bulcroft, who highlighted the benefits of this kind of international art exchange. I was not able to capture all of the artists’ works but I hope these few give some idea of how exciting the exhibition is, well worth a visit while it is up until October 20th.
The works that had been exhibited by the Art Insitute members at the B-Gallery in Japan are displayed downstairs in the studio space. Interestingly, Haruko Cho, one of the artists from Japan, is also the director of the B-Gallery. Ritsuko Takeda, another of the artists, compiled the catalogue for this exchange exhibition.
by Marja-Leena 
Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. I first wrote about it in 2004, for myself as I researched its roots, and for readers unfamiliar with the Canadian custom that is held much earlier than its American version. In our home we celebrated yesterday with a delicious harvest dinner with family that is near us, while missing family not able to be here. Farmers are reaping bounteous harvests thanks to our continuing record breaking sunny and warm weather even as the drought is causing problems in many areas.
Here is an unusual Thanksgiving grace full of delightful humour written by the mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson – enjoy! Some of the local references may elude you so just look him up if you wish.
In the meantime, I’m still alternately too busy then too tired to download the photos and write the promised posts about last week’s events centered around the Japanese art exhibition. Hope to do so very soon.
We are particularly missing our eldest daughter whose birthday is today – happy birthday!***
Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers!
UPDATE October 9th: *** Pardon the little white lie, in case daughter might have been reading this. We did see our daughter on her birthday yesterday – her partner had organized a surprise party for her. It was a success, with many friends and family in attendance!
by Marja-Leena 
1. Garden: We had a record dry August and September here, and still no rain. I have trouble keeping up with watering. With cooling nights now, the last of the tomatoes were harvested, with the green ones ripening in a basket indoors. The pepper plants came in too. I’m trying to repot houseplants before bringing them inside after a summer outdoors and it is time to take cuttings of tender annuals. I need to find and plant some small trees, shrubs and spring bulbs for a new garden area next to the new neighbour’s wall. The fall is as busy as the spring, mostly in reverse mode.
2. Art: Working hard on a series of prints at home and in the studio. Saw a wonderful exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery which I must tell you about when I have time. And tomorrow evening is the opening of the exhibition by Japanese artists.
3. Letters: Busy with correspondence with a cousin in Finland whose brother P. has been very ill. This morning I learned that P. had passed away. Went looking through photo albums from the 70’s when he’d visited us in Canada. I scanned some of those old photos along with a little story and sent it to the family over there. All the older generation in those photos are no longer with us. Sigh.
by Marja-Leena 
You may recall that our Art Institute printmakers had a wonderful exhibition in Tokyo, Japan in May/June of this year. As an exchange, we are hosting an exhibition of works by Japanese printmakers in the Studio Art Gallery at Capilano University, North Vancouver. Several artists are traveling here and will be at the opening on Thursday, October 4th, 2012, 7 to 9 pm. Everyone is welcome. The exhibition continues to October 20th, open Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.
Also, one of the artists, Professor Hiroshi Maruyama of Tama Art University, Japan will give a lecture on Friday, October 5th at 12 noon in the gallery. I understand he will be giving a demonstration of traditional Japanese woodblock printing with watercolours. It will be an exciting week!
If you need directions to the campus and the Studio Art building, please check out these maps.
by Marja-Leena 
visual surprises in a parking lot, good thing I had the camera
by Marja-Leena 
Bison from the End Chamber of Chauvet Cave – from Bradshaw Foundation
This is fascinating news:
Prehistoric cave artists used cartoon-like techniques to give the impression that their images were moving across cave walls, two French researchers have suggested. A new study of cave art across France – in which animals appear to have multiple limbs, heads and tails – has found that the paintings are actually primitive attempts at animation. When the images are viewed under the unsteady light of flickering flames the images can appear to move as the animals they represent do, the research claims.
Mr Azéma, after 20 years researching Stone Age animation techniques, has identified 53 paintings in 12 French caves which superimpose two or more images to apparently represent movement.
More at Daily Mail, UK. The animations created by archaeologist Marc Azéma show how the paintings might look to our eye in the flickering fires in those very ancient caves.
This study makes me recall Werner Herzog’s film Cave of Forgotten Dreams. (The image above is reposted from that blog entry but is not necessarily identified by M. Azéma as an example.) Also my beloved Earth’s Children series of books by Jean M. Auel. Her last book especially has vividly described scenes of paintings being created in the caves, as well as the sacred rituals taking place in them in flickering firelight and in darkness.
Kiitos, thanks to Finnish author and blog friend Anna Amnell for her post on this, one of my favourite themes on my blog. As Anna said, the more we learn about these early humans, the more we are amazed by their intelligence and creativity.
by Marja-Leena 
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
– Albert Camus