One more from the Altered Board Book.
There's always an individual who insists on swimming against the current, isn't there? I'm sure we all know someone like that.
Image created using acrylic paint, potato bag string, home made stencils printed on rice paper using the gelli plate, Japanese washi origami paper, and Goldfish Crackers ad from a magazine.
I pass this enormous building site every Thursday as I drive to my artist group meetings.... the house gets bigger and uglier and more ostentatious each week. Domes and turrets and what-not. I think this is just a single dwelling and it's hidden away on a narrow country road. But I suppose it won't be a narrow country road forever, the city is encroaching.
Open House and a free concert at the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. All the familiar orchestral hit parade pieces.... Beethoven's Fifth, excerpts from Swan Lake, some Strauss waltzes, Pomp and Circumstance of course, Offenbach's "Can-Can", lots of foot tapping themes. Finishing up with a rousing chorus of "O Canada", Elbows Up!
As well as the familiar classical music, North Atlantic Drift played some Celtic selections. Dan Macdonald on fiddle, Brian Taheny on guitar and banjo, Ross Griffiths on Uilleann pipes. The concert hall was full, I was there with Older Son and 17 year old grandson.
It was a Petting Zoo for instruments! Grandson tried out the drum kit, I investigated lots of different percussion rhythm instruments, and we both had a go on the trombone, it sounded pretty awful! I'm sure the trombone player's ears were hurting. There were lots of instruments to try; violin, cello, clarinet, trumpet, oboe, French horn. This all took place at the Chinese Canadian Cultural Centre so some Chinese instruments were available too.
Meet Billy the Squilly... sunning himself on my deck railings on one of the first above freezing sunny mornings for a long time. He's enjoying the warmth of the sun through his furry coat and through the wooden railing.
The cheeky chap's hoping for a yummy handout, better luck next time, Billy, nothing to spare today.
Another one from the Altered Board Book.
A map of.... where? Looks like a busy place with all those vehicles heading across town. Streets printed on rice paper using string from paper potato bags. The cars were cut from the CAA magazine that comes in my mailbox. Sort of like the AAA but further north.
Another page from the Altered Board Book.
Beware the wild creatures of the deep dark forest. The noble stags arrived from Scotland on a paper napkin from a Rabbie Burns dinner, and the Swedish Dala Horse was lurking on a sheet of Japanese tissue paper.
And now they are living together in a forest of Canadian maple leaves printed on Chinese rice paper. Quite international.
The snow was snowing...
The wind was blowing...
And in the morning
Sunshine was showing.
(I'll never win the Nobel Prize for Poetry!)
