biking by the water

It's been almost a month since I became a 'biker'. Yes, I am still a baby rider compared to those who bike all over the city, because I only bike on residential areas and designated bike paths (I am glad my route to work does not include major streets to bike on). I love love love biking down the lakeshore. The lakescape is gorgeous, ravishing, astonishing, exquisite, splendid, resplendent, superb, stunning, sublime, impressive, grand, magnificent, beautiful..... did I miss anything???

This is as far as my iPhone camera goes.. I've been meaning to purchase a dslr for a year now but always things come up and haven't had the chance to get it.. arg!!! After I move in September, I am really hoping to get my hands on one of those babies.

I mapped to find out how long the waterfront trail was and discovered it's 25km (approx). Actually, that's only within Toronto. The entire waterfront trail runs from Niagara-on-the-Lake all the way up to the edge of Quebec with an approx. distance of 656.3km.

map from [Waterfront Trail]

I want to challenge myself to bike the entire trail, only in Toronto! I wonder how long it would take me. It will be an amazing experience but probably a very tiring one coming back home. Plus, I will be traveling abour 50km since I live 3/4 way of the trail so have to go to the west end, begin, go all the way to the east and come back. wow. Now that I think about it, it's a day's project. My legs will fall off, I know it. Maybe sometime in the fall, when the weather is not too hot and the wind is breezy, I will take my raleigh out for a long long long trail bike ride.

[Diem Chau] crayon people

Yellow Girl / Carved crayon & wood base / 3" W x 3.5" H x 3"D

Storytelling Crayons installation view / Carved crayons & wood base / Dimension varies 

Girl and Dog / Carved crayons & wood base / 3" W x 3.5" H x 2" D

Cristiano Ronaldo in White from Crayola. Introduced in the Studio & School 12 box in 1903.

commissioned by Wieden + Kennedy to carve 66 crayons for Nike's promotion of World Cup 2010

detailed posting at her [blog]

A Vietnam native, Diem Chau and her family came to America as refugees in 1986. Chau is a BFA graduate from Cornish College of the Arts and has received an Artist Trust GAP Grant and a PONCHO Artist-in-Residence Award. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Miami, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Chau combines common mediums and common means to create delicate vignettes of fleeting memory, gesture and form, resulting in works that combine egalitarian sensibility and minimalist restraint. Her work touches on the value of Storytelling, Myths and its ability to connect us to each other through cultural and humanistic similarities. Chau's current work drifts into new territory by exploring the periphery of the narrative, moments forgotten and faded, or too brief to retain. Seattle, WA [Diem Chau]

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I love love love Chau's crayon people!!! They are so cute!! It's always fun and a great way to get to know the artist and her work when she has a blog that illustrates the process of her works (another blogger to follow!)

She also has some new works that are more delicate.

Untitled / Porcelain cup, silk, thread / 3.25" dia x 2" h

Braids / Porcelain bowl, silk, thread / 5.25" Dia x 3" H

 Untitled / Porcelain plate, silk, thread / 6.25" Dia

Link / Porcelain bowl, silk, thread / 4.5" Dia x 2.5" H

I think her new works have more serenity and feels Asian (maybe it's the long black braided hair, which kind of reminds me of the ghost from the Ring, yikes). She embroiders ceramic bowls and plates. How? Find out from her blog [here and here], it's pretty amazing.

ashes & milk

 

Organic Garden Cushion

$200.00

by Nadia Sparham

Made from all natural fabrics and embellishments this Organic Garden Cushion is detailed with buttons made from shell, seeds, wood, felted wool, and cotton. The subtle creamy layers of a tree is a backdrop for a playful bouquet of flowers. Removable insert is made of down feathers.

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I found this cute cushion from [ashes & milk]. It's unfortunately sold out (not that I would purchase a cushion for $200).

Pierres Graphiques 2010
$200.00
by Yoran Morvant

Yoran Morvant's Pierres Graphiques are designed to fit the geography of the stone. Each line is carefully drafted by hand, forming sequences of layered patterns. Perfect for enhancing the topography of your home. Display just one or create an ensemble of stones.

This stone is a one of a kind and is part of the 2010 Collection of Pierres Graphiques.

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There are also these really pretty stones which most of them are all sold out.

White Mug with Hollow Handle
$180.00
by Taka Suzuki

Taka creates sensually ergonomic Utsuro Ware from a Hajiki white clay. Each piece is finished using a technique in which the entire surface is glazed. On the underside of the ware are very fine rest spots where the piece was able to sit in the kiln during firing. Also found on the handle is a Yuzuhada pinhole to allow airflow out from the hollow form.

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What a funky cup. For those with ginormous hands!

Oiseaux de la France - Petite Crème
$100.00
by Claire Redor

French artist Claire Redor created the Oiseaux de la France Collection especially for Ashes & Milk. Sculpted by hand, this ceramic bird is graceful in form and finished in a soft pinky-white hue.

This Petite Crème Bird may be small in size but is substantial in weight and meant to be touched. Smooth, undulating silhouettes are ergonomically pleasant in the hands. Admire from front to back, all sides are equally appealing.

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These little ceramic birds reminded me of Carly's works.

[Kevin Van Aelst] anything can become art

Blue Tape, 2009, blue painter's tape, variable / digital c-print, 24 x 30

The Heart, 2009, digital c-print, 40 x 30"

One Heart Beat, 2008, digital C-print, 16 x 24

Hawaii, 2007, digital C-print, 12 x 18  

 Common Clouds, 2007, Series of 9 digital C-prints and labels, each print: 16 x 20

Left Index Finger, 2007, digital C-print, 43 x 34.5

Right Middle Finger, 2007, digital C-print, 43 x 34.5

 Chromosomes, 2005, digital C-print, 20 x 24

Kevin was born in Elmira, New York and did most of his growing up in central Pennsylvania. He recieved a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University in 2002 and an M.F.A. from the University of Hartford in 2005. He currently lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut. He has taught photography classes at the University of Hartford Art School, Middlesex Community College, and currently is teaching at Quinnipiac University and ACES/Educational Center for the Arts High School Program. He is a recipient of a 2008 fellowship grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. Photos of his can be seen weekly illustrating "The Medium" in the New York Times Magazine. New Haven , CT [Kevin Van Aelst]

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With Aelst, it's true that anything can become art. He's not only a photographer but a creative inventor. I am surprised how meticulous he studies things that are easily ignored and turn them into something special. Brilliant!

 

[Andy Ducett] imaginitive illustrations

(click to see the larger image)

october moments

more october moments

january moments

where did you come from?

drawings in ink and colored pencil, done with no under drawing, drawn directly with pen on paper. this is what my drawings have been lookin' like recently  i have limited edition Giclee prints available of the last three drawings, they are the exact scale and are on archival watercolor paper. Minneapolis, MN [andy ducett]

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I also love his collage series, they are humorous and clever.

yes, heads in sand

godzilla boy

cowboy says hello

These collages are made from found imagery and found photographs. brilliant!

[Jessica Swift] patterns!!!

gloria

love-baloons

leaves of blue


string rose

rain

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I am so smitten by these lovely patterns by [Jessica Swift] (formerly Jessica Gonocha). She also has some funky illustrations on her website. Probably something I want to use as my desktop wallpaper ;-D

abby try again

nine [link]

I believe that eggs are some of nature's most beautiful treasures.

I think this would look lovely hanging up in a kitchen :)

spools [link]

I shot this photo with my vintage yashica camera.

rain boot [link]

Yes, it is true.

It does rain a lot in Portland.

But that's not always a bad thing. Luckily I have these cheery boots to brighten my day.
Hopefully they will brighten yours, too.

my kitchen table [link]

I often attribute my messiness to my being an artist.
However true or untrue that may be, I think it worked in my favor here.

vintage owls [link]

My friend, Cori Kindred, has an amazing collection of vintage owls.
This is my photograph of them...

eucalyptus pods [link]

I'm always drawn to the strangest pod or plant at the flower shop.
One Sunday, I stopped by my neighborhood shop and these were there-waiting for me to buy them.

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Lovely prints by abby. She turned ordinary into extraordinary by capturing their essence.
Her main goal is "to provide a little beauty!" I love the fact that these are not digital photographs, they are, for most, taken with old analogue cameras like Yashica Tl Electro she owns. Maybe that's why the photographs have so much warmth to it. Plus, I liked the fact that there's masculine prints for those who feel flowers are too girly.

t.o earth quake

Toronto is all hyped up on the 5.5 magnitude earthquake happened today around 3pm.
I saw the shelves and light stand shake a bit but thought it was one of the guys getting organized in the back room when I was standing next to the gallery desk. It was so bizarre to hear it after the fact that it was actually an earthquake. wow.

Now Spacing has come up with a button (above) and some T-shirts (1, 2) are being printed to celebrate Toronto surviving the earthquake. I wonder if anyone is going to be printing 'I survived G20' T-shirts after the weekend.