Learning about Chinese art and culture

Chinese art and culture have fascinated people for many centuries. Since it is one of the oldest civilisations in the world and has roots dating back thousands of years, China has amazed many and influenced the world as it is today. Chinese art and culture are very rich and different from what can be seen in other countries. It is full of enchanting beauty and interesting customs. Chinese paintings, calligraphy and century old intricate patterns on ceramics are praised by art lovers all around the world. China is also known for their traditions and complex rituals – for example, the tea brewing ceremony. Another intriguing matter are chinese new year customs. Each year has a Chinese zodiac sign attached to it. This year we are celebrating the year of the rooster. To prepare for new year celebrations, Chinese people clean and buy new clothes to get rid of the “old” and “bad” from last year. They also create decorations from red paper, which are supposed to bring good luck for the future. Then they gather to eat dumplings and celebrate with impressive parades in the streets. All with traditional music, fireworks, and dancing dragons.

Inuit Art Centre coming to Canada

Art is magnificently beautiful, isn’t it? Although there are so many “genres” of art in the world, there are some types of art that definitely stand out. Take, for example, Intuit art. It is both elegant and breathtaking. In addition to its beauty and elegance, its historical value is one of the reasons why the Canadian art community celebrated when the headlines read, “Canadian Museum gets $15 million for Inuit Art Centre“. Now lovers of art from all over Canada and the whole world will, starting in 2017, have a place where they can get their fill of Intuit art. The new Intuit art centre will be an extension of the WAG (Winnipeg Art Gallery) which prides itself as being home to the greatest public collection of Inuit art anywhere in the world. The new Inuit art centre aims to celebrate Intuit art and honour the Inuit. The new Inuit Art Centre will be full of stories and images from the art, the land and the people.

Art in the park Toronto

Toronto is celebrating art in style this year, with hundreds of different events staged in city parks and throughout the city itself. Art in the Park Toronto is a wonderful initiative that reflects Toronto’s vibrant creative art scene and makes it accessible to people of all cultures and ages. Stunning live performances of music, film, dance, theatre and art will all be set in the natural surroundings of its local parks. Launched in June 2016, Art in the Park will focus on community participation and offer free events for residents and tourists alike. Selected parks are located across all areas of Toronto from North York to Etobicoke and including the less affluent areas. This initiative has been organised by the Toronto Arts Foundation, the Toronto Arts Council, the City of Toronto and Park People. Artist-in-residence programmes will assist in attracting artists and local creative people to perform in different environments to normal. For instance, Toronto’s Phin Park hosts Artist-in-Residence project storyteller Rukhsana Kahn and Zimbabwean singer Tich Maredza, as part of their local events programme. Art in the Park Toronto is the biggest, most inclusive celebration of arts that Toronto has ever hosted. It will allow people to experience different forms of art and explore the extraordinary local artists of Toronto. You can see everything from outdoor theatre, dancing in the streets and art exhibitions to live Soca and Calypso music. Experience interactive art including tai chi, live demonstrations and author readings, writing workshops and painting competitions at this sensational event.

Children’s art history books that are perfect for your budding artist

Children’s art history books are an excellent way to nurture and develop the artistic talent in your children. If your kids are interested in art, then you should get them children’s art history books. This way they will learn what is takes to produce great works of art and become great artists. The Grimpsy Public Art Gallery has a lot of art history books that your can get for your kids. There are also a lot of the artworks and ornaments for your children to see and learn from. We believe this is the best way to ignite the artistic spirit in them. They will also get to meet other artists from different genres and learn, from them, the basics and details that are required to excel as an artist. So what are you waiting for? Get along to theGrimsby Public Art Gallerythis August and don’t forget to bring your kids along for a fun-filled outing with lots of learning.

Art news

Since 2001 the Sobey Art Award, has recognized young Canadian contemporary artists and raised the profile of contemporary art in Canada. In just over a decade, it has become one of Canada’s most important art prizes. For the winning artist, it can be truly career changing with the prestige and publicity it brings not to mention the $50,000 cash award.

But even the shortlisted and longlisted artists benefit, as the lists are treated like the who’s who in Canadian contemporary art by many curators in Canada and abroad. Summer is always an important time for art news as there is so much happening around the country and all over the world, so wherever you are there will be something inspiring to see, such as the Picasso, Man, and Beast exhibition currently on at the National Gallery in Ottawa.

This explores Picasso’s lesser known side as a skilled printmaker and displays many rarely seen works. In the autumn, keep an eye on the art news for the announcement of this year’s Sobey award winner. The winner and the finalists will have their work shown at the National Gallery from 6th of October until February 2017.

Wedding Photos: Save Money with this Trick

Say the words “thrifty wedding” and many women see themselves wearing a second-hand wedding gown. They assume saving money means giving up childhood dreams of flowing cathedral trains and dove-decorated reception halls. A never-worn gown can still work since brides and wedding planners can find workable, even fashionable ways to save on caterers, florists and musicians. Wedding photos are less expensive when you hire a professional photographer for your must-have photos, but let guests take your reception photos. Scatter disposable cameras around the reception hall tables. Once your guests have arrived, have the Best Man make an announcement explaining why there are cameras and how to use them. Station large collection bins, boxes or baskets around the room and have guests drop their used cameras into the bins as they leave. These wedding photos will tell the guests’ stories, record their best wishes for a bright future, and will have an unbridled spontaneity that you may not find with a professional.

Nova Scotian Folk Art

I was drawn to share a bit about Maude Lewis from Nova Scotia for like many Nova Scotians the early to mid-1900´s were economically challenging. With a majority of men making a living and feeding their families on the fruition from the sea; work was rare and hardship was common. The endless beauty of the landscape however overlooked this despair and many long standing families were hearty in both their hearts and resourcefulness allowing them to continue a way of life that was quite challenging.

Maude suffered since childhood from severe arthritis and before the death of her parents her mother had exposed her to water-coloring. Every year she would sell the lovely hand painted Christmas cards and make a bit of income.

Nova Scotian Folk Art

As Maud aged her range of motion was severely affected so many of her paintings were quite small. Maude married in her early 30´s and it was her husband, Everett who gave her both encouragement and a set of oil paints. From there she moved from her Christmas card focus to painting, apparently on most anything she could find. She was known for never blending colors and although simplistic her creations had an appeal that began to draw some attention.  After an article in a local paper the word began to spread, despite her rising popularity she lived a life of poverty. A book by Lance Walden, entitled  The Illuminated Life of Maude Lewis  has been well reviewed. A movie starring Ethan Hawke as Maud´s husband Everett and Sally Hawke playing the role of Maude. The film Maudie is in the making now.

Despite her growing notoriety toward the end of her short life (died at 67) she never sold a painting while alive for more than ten dollars.

Maud Lewis in her home in Marshville. N.S.

Canadian Guild of Crafts

 

falafels sliders with Tabbouleh and Maple Tahini Sauce

I am an easy-going person, or so I like to think; when my aunt visited and wanted to visit the Montreal Canadian Guild of Crafts I agreed to go with her although crafts have not been an interest of mine. I had such a pleasant surprise, what an interesting visit.  The guild has been around since 1906 and was founded ‘…To preserve, encourage and promote contemporary and emerging Inuit and First Nations art and fine crafts of Canada.’ There is a permanent collection with some fabulous prints and sculptures of past and contemporary work. A current collection was of felt making and the artist, Andrea Graham, was present and although I did not get to speak to her my aunt did which was a highpoint of her trip. The next exhibition this month is Neon materials Highlighted, 2015 has been designated the International Year of Light by UNESCO and this exhibition is a collective from contemporary fine artists both professional and emerging and I certainly plan on another visit to see it. I am interested to see how they present the passing on of knowledge that the energy we pass between us can either clash or resonate. As I think art in all its forms educates and informs us, encourages us to think outside of the box this exhibition will be very intriguing.

The trip to the Guild of Arts was planned to be an hour but we ended leaving for some lunch and going back; immersing myself in First nation and Inuit culture was a very pleasant experience and sharing it with my aunt added to that. I treated her to a restaurant for lunch at a restaurant  that I had heard about, Crudessence, a vegetarian restaurant not far from the Guild of Crafts and it was excellent. I love falafel and theirs had been recommended. It was excellent – not a cheap lunch but somewhere I would visit again, maybe not at lunch time as service a little slow as very busy. Altogether a really nice trip and one I intend to do again.

FINE ART IN AFRICA

This time I will like to talk about art in Africa. The stereotypical response when one is asked about Africa is usually centered on either poverty or civil war. It is most remembered not for its great resources, richness in art, culture or beauty but often keeps the title of ‘the dark continent’. Africa is home to not only diverse tribes, cultures, languages but also it is also the unlikely home of dynamic fine art. Historically, African schools did not place strong emphasis on art whether it was painting, drawing or sculpturing.  Therefore most African artists’ skill was drawn from pure and raw talent. This talent is now being nurtured and there is a new emerging market and high demand for African art all over the world and there is no doubt that Africa has the next generation of legendary fine artists.

Aside from great international attention on African Fine Art are great schools that produce these artists such as the Michaelis School of Fine Art in South Africa, University of Botswana, and the School of Fine Arts in Tétouan, Morocco which is most associated with the famous Moroccan artist, Kim Bennani. The world is slowly opening its eyes to the gem that is Africa and it is not only an emerging economic superpower but also one of great artistic potential. It is clear that the world reveres African art and displays it for the world to see in their treasured museums, so fine art is synonymous to a prosperous Africa. This continent will no longer be plagued with images of poverty, suffering and civil war but it will be filled with the beautiful imagery by African’s own artists. Art is the light the Dark Continent has been waiting for.

Huron-Wandat in Quebec

 

Mural de la chute Kabir Kouba,

Within Quebec you can find the self-governing area of the Huron-Wendat people. The mural above is a depiction of their ancestral journey using myths and legends of the Huron and First Nations. It is an amazing piece of art.It is also an area packed with galleries and artisans, really worth a visit or two. If you fancy hearing some of those stories the original way, via a storyteller, head to Musée Huron-Wendat. This is a great place to learn about the culture of the Nations and see it reflected in their art forms. Mind you I had to persuade my young Brit nephew that the picture below did not depict a Mutant Ninja Turtle!!

Go in the evening to hear the storyteller and if you really want to make it different you can arrange to spend a night in a traditional long house. No visit would be complete with time spent at an authentic reconstruction of an original aboriginal village. Seeing the history can give you a real insight into their culture and art. The culture is worth experiencing and the art collection is too big to examine in one visit. I certainly plan to revisit very soon.