by Marja-Leena

Happy 89th, Finland

candles.jpg

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää to Finland and my Finnish readers!

On December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence. On this date, 89 years later, Finns are celebrating their country’s Independence Day. If you are interested in learning a bit more about my birth country, please read my post of last year, plus this nicely updated history in Wikipedia.

On an unrelated note except for locale, have you listened to the Helsinki Complaints Choir? It makes me smile. I first saw this a few months ago and have noticed it’s been making the rounds of the blogosphere lately.

PS. The Choir is also viewable on YouTube, should you not have QuickTime on your machine. There’s a bit of background info, too.

December 5, 2006 in Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History 17 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

Margaret Witzsche exhibition

MWitzsche.jpg
detail: Salmon Escape by Margaret Witzsche

Margaret Witzsche has an exhibition of large canvases exploring the natural and inner worlds called Claiming the Dream.
AT: the Seymour Art Gallery, 4360 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver (Deep Cove)
OPENING: Reception tomorrow Tuesday, December 5th, 7-9pm
UNTIL: January 7, 2006

Marg is a friend and a past member of the Art Institute, Printmaking. She is a fabulous artist who works in a wide variety of media. I’m excited to be seeing her latest works tomorrow. If you are in the area, please come out! Hopefully, I will be able to do an article about her work next week for the benefit of readers.

December 4, 2006 in Art Exhibitions, Other artists 4 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

print sale ’06

detailvessel.jpg
The Studio Art printmaking department at Capilano College is holding their always popular Annual Print Sale, featuring intaglio, relief, silk screen and digital prints created by first and second year students, by artists in the Art Institute and faculty members in the Studio Art program. Do come and support the students and get some original artworks for some lucky people on your Christmas list!
That’s tomorrow! Tuesday, December 5th, 10 am to 4 pm.
Studio Art Building, Room 104
Capilano College
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver

December 4, 2006 in Other artists, Printmaking Comments Off on print sale ’06

by Marja-Leena

snow graffiti

snowheart.jpg

After the last snow storm, the rain never did come to wash it all away. Instead the snow melts slowly in the day and freezes again at night. The afternoon sun shone gloriously on all the whiteness. I felt inspired to do a little graffiti on the sparkling pristine canvas on the deck.

December 2, 2006 in Being an Artist, Nature, Photoworks 4 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

first time

Qarrtsiluni, should any readers be unfamiliar with it, is ‘an experiment in online literary and artistic collaboration’. The title comes from an Alaskan Inuit word that means ‘sitting together in the darkness, waiting for something to burst.’ Submissions are welcomed from everyone. The themes change every month or two as do the guest editors. Qarrtsiluni’s current theme is “First Time”.

I’m happy to note that my submission “First Love” is up, so please go have a look. And do read through the excellent writing, sometimes accompanied by artwork and photographs. Consider submitting some of your work!

December 1, 2006 in Being an Artist, Blogging Comments Off on first time

by Marja-Leena

rain on snow

JapaneseMapleNov06.jpg

This may be the last snow photo for a while. Oh, it’s been snowing here again since noon. However rising temperatures will change it to rain soon, according to the weather forecast. Our short-lived white wonderland will be washed away and it will be a dreadful wet mess as the rain saturates the piles of snow and creates flooding. Yuck, I dislike rain on top of snow.

I spent today working at home on my Christmas card design, so tomorrow I really want to get to the studio to print! We will see in the morning….where are my rubbers?

November 29, 2006 in Being an Artist, Photography 9 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

reflections

ice.jpg

– a beautiful, brilliantly sunny, very cold day

reflection.jpg

November 28, 2006 in Being an Artist, Nature, Photoworks 5 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

winter rose

winterrose.jpg
in my garden today

November 27, 2006 in Canada and BC, Home, Photography 15 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

snowy Sunday

snow-on-roots.jpg

As I promised last night, here are a few of our more interesting snow photos taken this afternoon on our walk to the park and around our garden. Though there was not much snow yet, even that little bit painted each fine and broad branch beautifully, transforming the world into a peaceful wonderland.

snowybranches.jpg

This morning we went to the Scandinavian Centre’s annual Christmas Craft Fair. We found some delightful handcrafted toys for the grandchildren and some favourite traditional Finnish baked goods. It was less crowded than usual, probably because many people did not want to drive in the snow.

While some areas have received as much as 30 cm of snow this weekend, our area close to sea level has not had that much yet. But the temperature is dropping below freezing, the wind is blowing and it’s still snowing heavily. By morning the commute to work may be difficult. Husband thinks he will take our car instead of cycling, his usual mode of transportation, while I’ll be working at home.

SNOWcotoneaster.jpg

The craft sale, the walk and photographing all this white loveliness has put me in the mood for Christmas, in a mellow and happy way, without the pressures of a commercial season.

November 26, 2006 in Home, Photography 9 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

snowing

It is snowing here! Will be back with photos tomorrow, I hope.
I love the snow, but not everyone does.

November 25, 2006 in Canada and BC, Current Events 3 Comments »