Marja-Leena, Author at Marja-Leena Rathje

Eyes as Big as Plates

January 19, 2014 in Art Exhibitions, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Folk Legends & Myths, Other artists, Photography

– Eyes as Big as Plates # Agnes II © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen

– Eyes as Big as Plates # Velkkari © Karoline Hjorth & Riitta Ikonen

The first time I saw Eyes as Big as Plates and its many amazing photographs of elders set in nature, wearing materials from the earth, blending with the earth, sometimes half lost in moss or pond, I was completely stunned and awed by all of it. Learning that the artists are a Finn, Riitta Ikonen and a Norwegian, Karoline Hjorth explained a lot behind my feeling of a deep connection to the images – our Nordic roots, folklore and nature.

Riitta and Karoline worked with volunteer elders in Finland, Norway, New York, France, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. (I must say the settings in Iceland are the most dramatic!) They captured a wonderful sense of beauty, wisdom, humour and love of adventure in these models in their various home places.

This body of work has stayed with me as some of the most exciting I have seen. I have followed their blog since and now learned that they will have their first comprehensive solo exhibition of Eyes as Big as Plates in Oslo, opening January 23rd. How I wish I could be there to see the work and meet the artists!

Many thanks to Riitta and Karoline for permission to use a couple of their photos. Congratulations on your stunning project and best wishes for your continuing successes! It would be wonderful if their exhibition were to come to Vancouver!

18 Comments »

hand with tissue

January 14, 2014 in Being an Artist, Found Objects, Human, Photoworks

One idea leads to another as I play with the scanner. I find myself returning to the idea of a series of smaller prints of images of hands with objects, like these ones. When and if I have enough of a collection, I may print these with my home printer.

As many readers know, I have done numerous ‘hand’ images on this blog. Some became a series of large prints in the HANDS series which I finished last year. These may be most quickly seen all together in the gallery if you have not already seen them.

8 Comments »

cloth or paper?

January 12, 2014 in Found Objects, Photoworks

…more play with the scanner…

11 Comments »

oxalis, withering

January 10, 2014 in Nature, Photoworks

see some past ‘witherings’

4 Comments »

honeycomb

January 7, 2014 in Photoworks, Urban

playing with images from husband’s photos

attracted by pattern and colour

cropping and creating another world

later: came across somewhat similar images taken almost four years ago

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under the bridge

January 4, 2014 in History, Photoworks, Urban

found in the annual purge of the photo album, not my usual subject matter

the underside of Granville Street Bridge, the section over Granville Island

maintenance repairs and upgrades for earthquake resistance

made me think of a few ‘bridge’ quotes:

I am seeking for the bridge which leans from the visible to the invisible through reality.
– Max Beckmann

We will burn that bridge when we come to it.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

London Bridge is broken down, my fair lady
– Henry Carey: Namby Pamby

Added Feb.2, 2014: How timely! The Vancouver Sun has posted an article and many photos of the Granville Bridge’s opening to great fanfare 60 years ago. The bridge was built above an earlier Granville Bridge that had spanned False Creek since 1909. The 1909 bridge had replaced a third Granville Bridge which was built in 1889, when Vancouver was only three years old.

25 Comments »

self-portrait ’68

January 2, 2014 in Older Works, Printworks

Self-portrait 1968
drypoint
image size: 24.5 x 22.5 cm (9.5″ x 9″)

I have occassionally posted some of my very much older work here as I unearth them from the bottom of my flat files. This is one I had forgotten to publish though it was very much a favourite of mine. It was one of the last prints done in my final year in art school when my major was actually in painting. This was the time when I really fell in love with printmaking and especially the drypoint technique. It would be well over a decade before I was able to return to printmaking seriously.

My older works may be found in that category under Printworks. Another drypoint from that period is this one.

Added January 5th, 2014: As I continue to edit broken links and other funky things after this blog’s move to WordPress, I do end up reading a lot of old posts. Just now I came across this one, which is about this work being published in Qarrtsiluni! I had forgotten that, and how cheesy my words are!

10 Comments »

Happy New Year 2014

December 31, 2013 in Blogging, Culture

In these last hours of the old year, like Janus I look back and look forward. The days slowly begin to lengthen. It is a good time to express my gratitude and thanks for this past year’s conversations with all of you dear friends and readers. I hope we have many more in the New Year of 2014.

I always hold hopes for a fairer and better world for everyone and hopes for a greener Earth.

I wish you all a New Year of happiness, good health, inspiration and abundant creativity!

Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! Allen ein frohes Neues Jahr! Bonne année!

11 Comments »

ice and reflections

December 29, 2013 in Culture, Nature, Photoworks

a few of my favourite Christmas photos

at a special place on Vancouver Island, near Victoria on a little lake
with a thin layer of crackled ice on Christmas morning

at the home of middle daughter’s family where we all gathered for feasts, music, gifts

back home with eldest daughter and husband visiting here as well
now just the two of us catching up with photos, messages and a nap or two
on this fifth day of Christmas

reflections on this year’s winding down
thoughts of dear faraway family, friends and readers
hope all are having a pleasant holiday
as we are about to cross into a new year

10 Comments »

Winter Story 2013

December 25, 2013 in Culture, Other artists

Our lovely granddaughters Lael and Niamh have a wonderful Christmas tradition of composing, with the help of their mom and daddy, an animated Winter Story to share with family and friends. And once again, I’m proud to share it here. This year’s is called Twelve Days. Turn on the sound and if you wish, you can view it screen size by clicking on the icon on the lower right of the bar. You can also see their winter animations from the last few years on their site. Enjoy!

12 Comments »

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