Seven's Change

Seven is sadly saying good-bye to Charter Member, Pia Skarrer Nielsen.  With Seven since its conception in 2006, Pia has left the group to further study in the textile fields of Tapestry, spinning and all things woolly.  She continues with her business Wonderous Woolerie.  Pia and husband Soren are spending much time sailing our South Shore and enjoying other adventures.

Pia made a spectacular contribution to Seven, participating in shows at /Argyle Fine Art, Halifax, Awakenings at Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, and leading our group to our largest adventure to date- Three gallery shows at various locations in Denmark, and culminating with our presentation at the Craig Gallery, in Dartmouth.

We will miss Pia and her input to our group. But we understand that everyone's life must evolve and priorities change over the years. 

From here to there and back again

SEVEN is currently showcasing their exhibit titled Udveksling at the intriguing home of the Charles Macdonald Concrete Museum in Centreville, Nova Scotia. This particular show has already been on exhibit at the Craig Gallery in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia but we thought it would be such a great opportunity to showcase the exhibit closer to where we live and where we practice our art. The show will be up until the end of June, 2011.

One of the exciting reasons for exhibiting our show based on the Exchange of ideas, inspirations and culture of our first international exhibit in Denmark (2010) at the Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum is that Charles Macdonald was also very much into the exchange of ideas, materials and inspirations. He spent most of his life living in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia but frequently traveled abroad. It is from his expeditions that he brought back with him the many ideas on styles, approaches to art and various mediums which he further explored in the comforts of his own home.

From the Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum Website:
"In his ninety-three years, Charles Macdonald was a sailor, a sculptor,
a painter, a builder, a manufacturer, and a socialist. The Charles Macdonald
House of Centreville Society celebrates the life and work of this exceptional
Nova Scotian."

You can read further about the incredibly talented and prolific man and the museum based on his homestead by visiting: The Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum. You can also find directions to the museum on this site.

We hope you have an opportunity to drop by and see our show and of course learn more about the people who paved the way for many ideas and developments in our beloved Annapolis Valley.

What a Party!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  to everyone who joined us in celebrating the opening of our new exhibit, Udveksling, at The Craig Gallery last night.  People were so excited to be there (or perhaps just hungry lol!), that the place was hoping 20 minutes before the doors officially opened!

The enthusiasm and delight expressed by all who shared in our exchange with much laughter and hugs was the shining star on our many months of learning, exploring and creating.

Many thanks to my good friend, Sandra Gunther, for capturing these images.

Until next time....

Deborah

a photo of Morten Grue

It was an incredible series of serendipitous events that brought you to Franka Rasmussen, Pam.  Here's Morten signing your book.

Found treasures

I have come home from Copenhagen with an unexpected treasure. It feels like a reward for past research and gives me such joy every time I see it.



Way back in January 2009 when we decided to do this trip I was wandering through the art texts at the Acadia University Library and was drawn to a large volume called Beyond Craft : The Art Fabric - by Jack Lenor Larsen and Mildred Constantine. I renewed this book many times intrigued by weaving techniques, scale of the work, dedication to a large project, simplicities, complexities and creativity. Many of the artists' works in this book were the inspiration for the work I created for 'Exchange'. One of the featured artists I admired was Franka Rasmussen.

' In the morning I walk about looking, and I think: surely this could be better. 
Or : what muck you made yesterday...all the little talks one has with oneself. And then one goes shopping and finds four lamp shades.....I think it may be the only ability I still haven't lost in my ripe old age: I am still able to find things'
 Franka Rasmussen  (1907 - 1994)

During our first days in Copenhagen, Deborah and I decided to spend a morning in the heart of the city finding galleries she had earmarked as worth a look. We had a blast loosing and finding ourselves. My respect grew by leaps and bounds for her navigationally adept brain. We came across Folk Kunst, made a mental note to return, took a photo for an additional reminder and carried on. Then it eluded us for a few days and when you are trying to fit many things into one day, going around a block more than once just isn't time efficient.

a table runner

'It is a tremendous strain to teach while making something yourself, but I couldn't do without either: getting to understand other people's way of thinking, getting new ideas started...I called it 'composition', later it became 'form and colour'...I simply tried to improve their vision, to teach them to see what they see.' Franka

Eventually, in the last week, around one more corner where many triangular blocks met, that sweet little sign showed up again. Inside was a gentle man named Morten Grue, shop owner, puppeteer, artist, maker of found object mobiles and a past student of Franka Rasmussen. This tiny little shop had some interesting vintage folk art AND some work done by Franka. Morten had purchased her summer home with contents (they were friends) and the last pieces he had of her's were in the store. They were here... and available, two wall hangings and two table runners. It just felt right. To see and touch them seemed to fulfill a quest and complete the project. It would be a few days before I decided to purchase a piece to bring home but I am happy every day that I did.

This one stayed at the store.
Morten kindly gave me the book with my purchase.

Franka Rasmussen -  'My attitude is that I will do things because the work is exciting in itself....that is the experience I want. The result however is not interesting. I have never kept a record or collected photos, because once a piece of work is finished, I'm on my way to the next one. It amazes me that I haven't felt the need to sell, but it wasn't necessary for my self confidence or for the reverence I feel for my work...It was this: I made the things for their own sake. That was the reason for working.'

And I have gone shopping and found................the end of a chapter....................Udveksling next....Pam

Deborah's highlights from Day 5

Greetings from Copenhagen!

I could really relate to this piece yesterday!

Looking up.

Brunch with SEVEN

The day was full of sunshine as SEVEN members got together one last time before the send off to Denmark. We shared yummy food, finalized some business, and watched Kelly's fabulous poetry of her words and photographs of the Bay of Fundy. Things have come together with a lot of work, sweat, hope, stress, support and a dream to make it all happen. Wishing the group much success, many adventures from Nova Scotia to Denmark, and lots more stories to come.            

Breathe

One week before our departure and I'm feeling quite contemplative.  Looking back on these 18 months of preparation, I see that my journey with SEVEN has been ripe with personal growth.

Learning to deeply and fully think as a member of a collective and not as a self-focused individual, has been quite an exciting ride.  In learning to give consideration to other's ideas and feelings and making space for others to expand and change, I seen that I've also learned to give myself these gifts as well.

"SEVEN to me, is collaboration and consensus.  With much play, discussion and laughter in our group, I find I'm continually challenged to see my art and my ideas from the perspective of the others."

I wrote this statement for a newspaper interview many months ago, and I feel that it's the heart of my experience with SEVEN.  Thank you, ladies.

The purpose of SEVEN's journey to Denmark is exchange. Exchange of ideas with Danish artists. Exchange of our agricultural/tidal culture with our Danish cousins. Exchange of the myriad elements that form my sense of place and will cross the ocean for a genuine exchange with another place and it's people.

my place - a muskoka chair in the trees

As I prepare myself for this exchange, I think of the people, here, who create the heart of my experience of our region. They shape the land, the economy, the lives and routines of those around them by being passionate and authentic. They make you want to drive many extra kilometers out of your way to engage in an exchange with them. In fact, by going out of our way to connect with these people, the out-of-the-way becomes THE way.

 These people, who are far too numerous to name and honour in the short time I have before our flight leaves, are, to me, the very breath of our place. This is the breath that I'll take to Denmark.



Peace,
Deborah

How are home renovations and shipping art work the same?

I think we all know the answer to this. They both take alot more time and money than your best thought out estimate!

This was a true maze to wander through for us. Many paths were taken to reach the goal of having all art works in a crate and on their way to Copenhagen on time for an August 2nd set up day. We have learned so much, copious notes have been taken, many people/departments contacted and papers signed.

TA DA!!!!! VOILA!!!!!Its done now and here is a brief review of the last two months on the paper trail.

It started by a call to CBS to see just how to go about this. We were planning to ship all the art work in one crate and have all of it return to Nova Scotia. This way we wouldn't have to navigate the TAX departments. Export and Re-import documents were what we needed . I won't fill you in on the circuitous route we followed to determine all the neccessary documents but I will let you know that what was determined one day often changed the next due to things we had or didn't have or the gallery in Denmark had or didn't have.

Many thanks go out to Lisa at Canada Border Services and Nicole and Michelle at Kuehne and Nagel, our freight forwarders. Together we unwound the red tape.

I'll tell you what we have now that is making this happen.

Seven are all members of CARFAC so we could get Certificates of Canadian Origin for each art work
Seven has Certificates of Canadian Origin for each art work. (with photos attached and 3 extra copies made)
Seven has a business # and an import /export #. This was neccessary as we needed an ATA Carnet.
Seven has an ATA Carnet - a document issued by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce that accompanies exhibition items when they travel around the world to countries that accept ATA Carnet documented items.
Seven has a Surety Bond. Neccessary to prove to the Chamber of Commerce that we do intend to return the art work so they will issue an ATA Carnet.
Seven has a Commercial Invoice with company letterhead listing all the art work with prices, commodity /tarriff codes, sizes and weights to accompany ATA Carnet, Carfac Certificates of Origin and supporting documents.
Seven has an envelope of supporting documents with show brochures and post cards, confirmations from galleries, magazine and newspaper articles and copies of all aforementioned documents inside the crate.
Seven has an ICCP approved crate with a document to prove this as well.

Now our part is done and the freight forwarder will deliver to the door of the gallery on August 2nd. They will also remove and store the crate for us until we pack it to take the exhibit to Kerteminde. Then they will take it to Kerteminde and from there return it to Nova Scotia. This was a blessing for us to find a company that could look after all these details. We'll let you know how it all turns out when the crate returns in October.

The inspectors from Canada Border Services arrive.

Pia signs the ATA Carnet with the inspector. Note the official stamp.

Keeping all the papers straight.

Meeting with Wendy Elliot  from our local newspaper, The Advertiser.

Showing Wendy some of the art just before the wrap and pack.

Financially, we had drastically underbudgeted for this part of our trip. Shipping costs! Now we know and have many of the things we will need if we every do another international show. Our Carnet is good until July 2011. Not that we have any plans to go elsewhere at this point in time......but if you wanted us to come...just saying.....

Trying to fit it all in nice and tight.

Very hot and humid day, Thanks for the shade Angela.

Packed, documents in, art work in, screws in place.

The crate is in Montreal and leaving for Copenhagen shortly. We are scurrying around finding good walking shoes for all the treks we are going to take while visiting the spectacular country of Denmark.
 Excitement is bubbling up!

- Warm regards, Pam

The traveling box for our artwork is HERE!

Ladies and Gentlemen
I have to tell you this has been quite a journey and we haven't even left the county, the valley, never mind the country yet.
The latest hubbub on our journey was the venture of getting a suitable crate built - we thought from the papers that we read that....
we needed certified wood and that was it. So a good supporter used to building houses had offered to built the crate for us to our specifications and within the rules and regulations as we had understood them.
The builder had a hard time getting through to the powers that be who were in control of the certified woods we were allowed to use.
And now it was Monday, July 5th and still nothing - phew, this gave even my husband a slightly sweaty brow and he had gone on an early morning internet search while I was still far away in dreamland.

He found a certified company near Bridgewater and later that day started a flurry of phone conversations with the company boss. It turned out that the builder also had to be certified and .... our builder was certified but not for this.
We were so fortunate that Tecbox was able to quote us a price and also.... build us the crate in two days. They got our measurements 4' x 4'x 4.5' (well, sort of anyways) and they put it together. We were so pleased that this could happen on such short notice.
This afternoon Soren and I drove down to get the box, first though we went sailing with the dog in the Lunenburg Backharbour, where his boat is moored for the summer and we had a little sail about in the warm sun with slight wind on our faces keeping us pleasantly cool.
 

And then...... we drove to Tecbox to pick up the creature - (the photo is Soren and Marshall unloading) and I had meant to take photos as the box was being loaded but..... I chatted with the owners and Soren took care of all this outside in the heat with one of the men from the building room while I was inside an air-conditioned office with the dog. It was pleasant, fun, excellent service and if anyone ever needs a special crate for something try out this place.

I haven't looked into the box yet, the lid was screwed on (note to self bring the right kind of screwdriver in the suitcase, screwdrivers are not the same all over the world ) but I was told that there are styro-foam lined sides + 5 sheets of 1 inch styrofoam for us to cut and divide to the size of our works so everything can arrive safely in Copenhagen.

More unloading with Soren and Marshall

Dear Reader, are you aware that we are only 3 weeks away from being there now, actually, at this moment in time three weeks ahead we will be having a cool drink and relaxing our bones on the roof top terrace at my sister's appartement. I guess that really this is a rhetorical question, I had to ask it since I am wildly eager to tell you that I am aware, very aware and the good anticipation for the whole adventure is growing wildly and fabulously by the minute.
Will our artwork get motion sickness once we get it all packed and it has to move around with a forklift again?

We drove home from Bridgewater with the box on the truck, stopped to secure it with some of our sailing rope before we  hit the highway and then..... I fell asleep as did the dog and we didn't open our eyes again until we were at almost the other end of highway 12, which means we were almost home.

A slightly forlorn looking box, funny how the size changes when you have nothing to measure it against with your eyes, this is surely a small box - well, no, not really!

Now it was time to take the box to the Randsland Farm - a magnificent broccoli farm employing lots of  people. Marilyn's husband is one of the brothers in that big family and also their consultant, keeping the whole fleet of needed machinery running smoothly at all times.

This was very fortunate for us, for as this aforementioned box is not a small box and as we are not exactly is sharp training for the Olympic competition of weight lifting,  getting said box off the truck and into an appropriate spot might have been an interesting experience for the three of us.
However,  Marshall has access to ..... forklifts ...... hurray!
I don't think we saw the words 'forklift knowledge and driver required' when we were reading our to-do list in the fall of 2009, that was when we really got into the swing of our preparations.

So the box got forklifted into place and I had the fortunate experience of looking at one of the 10 or 20 greenhouses on the property. Each greenhouse holding close to a thousand trays of broccoli - each tray holds 270 broccoli plants 270.000 broccoli plants in the photo. They are about one thumb high and they are 'three weeks old'. They will cover approximately 10-11 acres of land.

When they are 6 weeks old they are big enough to be harvested and then they go .... to many different places - we saw an enormous truck being loaded with broccoli headed for Newfoundland.
And here are the workers who labour hard in the fields for us all summer, cutting,  sorting and packaging the broccoli  available for us in our supermarket, near and far from here.
This of course was a little detour from what we are doing but...... people say never forget where you come from, and I don't, and on top of that I would like to add 'never forget where your food comes from, and if you don't know, then please start to ask questions at the place you get your groceries. 

Going back to where I come from for the first time in 5 years in a few weeks is truly amazing and ...... when we open the box and share  with the audience across the atlantic in a not very local spot for the rest of the group I will be looking at surroundings which I grew up in, lived life in and .........  I am so looking forward to go back for a visit.

See you soon, Pia
 Wonderous Woolerie and super SEVEN

Danish Press Release

Fiber, fantasier og farver fra Canada

Syv canadiske kunstnere udstiller på Sjælland og Fyn i august og september og oktober.

Syv kvindelige canadiske kunstnere, hvis valg af materialer spænder fra ord og uld til fiber og farver, og som er gået sammen i gruppen SEVEN, udstiller i Danmark til august. Deres første stop bliver Basal Elin Galleri i København 5.-8. august efterfulgt af en endagsudstilling på Basal Elin Studio i Hørsholm 14. august. Gruppen udstiller derefter på Værkstedsgalleriet i Kerteminde fra d. 12. september til d. 12. oktober.

Gruppen er baseret i Nova Scotia på østkysten af Canada. De vildsomme maritime og skovmiljøer samt rustikke landbrugsomgivelser i denne provins har stor indflydelse på kvindernes arbejde, ligeså vel som tanker og idéer om bæredygtighed, kvindelighed, menneskelige relationer og livet i det hele taget har stor betydning for deres inspiration. Deres kunst er sensuel, sjov og farverigt; det er nærværende, rørende og reflekterende.

Gruppens medlemmer er Pam Frail, Marilyn Rand, Marie Jardine, Pia Skaarer-Nielsen, Kelly Marie Redcliffe, Deborah Nicholson og Angela Melanson og deres aldre er fra 37 til 56 år. Selvom de alle hver for sig er selvstændige kunstnere med talrige udstillinger og bestilte opgaver på deres respektive cv’er, så har de dannet gruppe for at finde gensidig støtte og inspiration. Respekten for kvaliteten og spændvidden af hinandens arbejde og potentialet for at gå på opdagelse på nye veje binder dem sammen.

Dette er deres første europæiske turné.

Læs mere om gruppen, deres arbejde og deres turné i Danmark på
http://www.sevenartisans.blogspot.com/ eller på facebook http://facebook.com/SevenArtisans


Udstillingerne:
Basal Elin Kunst, Trepkasgade 5, 2100 København  
5.-8. august 2010
Torsdag 5. august 12-20, Fernisering samme dag kl. 18-20

Fredag 6. august kl.12-20
Lørdag 7. august og søndag 8. august fra kl. 10-17

Endagsudstilling i Hørsholm, Løjeltevej 12, 2970 Hørsholm
Lørdag, 14. august fra kl. 11-16

Værkstedsgalleriet, Kerteminde fra d. 12. september til d. 12. oktober
Fernisering kl. 12-14
Gedskovvej 3, 5300 Kerteminde

Ongoing Source of Inspiration

I have recently finished my body of work that will travel to Denmark - all consisting of mixed medium paintings (acrylic, pastel and pencil on wood panels). Each piece is 3' x 3'.

It has been quite the journey so far with the initial idea of exhibiting in Denmark, export workshops, regular SEVEN meetings and of course my jaunts through the forest on a daily basis just to discover what and how I will interpret the theme EXCHANGE (UDVEKSLING in Danish). I am happy to say that I feel great about my chosen idea and hope to explore it even further as an ongoing source of inspiration for future projects.

"This body of work explores a world where creatures speak from a place of childlike honesty from the vantage point of an enchanted forest. It is the exchange of relationships between the setting and its’ inhabitants that will allow the viewer to question their own ideology."

Hope you are able to meet and see the members of SEVEN and our works on exhibit in Denmark! 

- Angela

The Source, farm and fibre.

Often, in my busy life, I loose touch with my beginnings and why I started working with fibre in the first place.  Our annual Back to Back International Wool Challenge, brings me back to working with fibre in the raw state, just off the sheep and smelling so heavenly barnny.  It also brings me once again into the company of other fibre enthusists and other farmers growing fibre animals. 

On June 5th, our B2B Team Sheep Thrills, gathered at Gaspereau Valley Fibres for a fun filled day of shearing, spinning and knitting.  Teams from around the world compete each year in this challenge and funds are raised for Cancer Research.  Our team beat our own record by over an hour, we are nowhere near beating the Canadian record nor the International record, but we are all winners for such a great cause. 

Photo: Sheep Thrills Team

 I love working with these women, and meeting so many friends, both old and new.  I love getting

 that  wonderful feeling of belonging to a society with respect for our natural world, and the

 creatures that depend on us and on whom we depend on.

Once back into raw fibre, I decided that it was time to sort my wool crop.  I picked out fleeces for the mill at MacAuslands, choice fleeces to sell to other spinners and my favorite ones for me to use for my own handspun and felting projects.  As one thing leads to another, I also cleaned out the lambing pens and hay storage areas in the barn to prepare and make room for this years hay crop.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

 Photo of my youngest grandchild, Keith enjoying the late day sun and newly dyed wool.

I spent the rest of the week getting ready for the Wolfville Farmers' Market, which I have started

attending again as a vendor.  I was missing the one on one contact with people that I have always

enjoyed.  I rarely go out without meeting someone new and saying to myself, that was an interesting

person, I am glad I met them.

This week I am back to prepareing for Denmark.  I am sure that when I have been there and return,                            

I will say "That was an interesting Country, I am glad I went there."         

Marilyn Rand

We're on our Way!

Well, we haven't exactly packed yet, but..... we have started talking about the crate which our works will travel in when we do head out into the world on July 29 at 22.10 in the evening. Awwwww, don't know which leg to stand on thinking about it.
Time to breathe in and out and then do a revision of the priorities on the list which seems to keep growing and growing.   This is all good though, since as the list grows  the section of already done items and priorities have been scratched out. I like to scratch out things on the list with a bold red pen, then I feel like I have really accomplished something, since the list...... at times can be very red. Especially when.... you put even the minutest little items down on the list, not just the overall goals. Ah, the carrots we hang in front of our own noses.

Freia wishing I was done weaving so ...... she and I could go out again, although, as you can see from her paws we had been to the woods once that day  already. Dogs live with lots of hope and love in their lives, every day!







Other than focusing on the list I am heavily engaged in finishing my last tapestry for the exhibit  at Basal Elin Kunst in København and later at VærkstedsGalleriet in Kerteminde.
Tapestry weaving takes lots of time, as I might have mentioned before, but..... I love doing it, I love seeing how the piece progresses, how the type of yarn and colour I choose in the end has an effect on my initial thought and idea. The texture of yarns and colours continue to amaze me and every day I spent in front of the tapestry is a pleasure, often a pleasure which is tempered  by sore muscles when I get too carried away and don't remember to get off the bench to do some stretching and getting the blood circulation going again.
As a matter of fact, I find that I can enter into this very interesting space, where all that matters is .... the movement of the hands as they feed the yarn butterflies through the shed which I open with one foot or the other on this particular upright loom.

 Taking a break in the sheep pen an early spring day just a few months ago with my special good friend Sam.

Now although my eyes feast on the work and progress in front of me my brain wants its own input and starts saying:  feed me too, feed me too please! I accomplish this by listening to audio tapes or cds which I get at our local library. Thank goodness for the library. Sometimes I come home with grand literature, sometimes I am not sure what it is and other times it is just total entertainment and lots of laughs are intermingled in the weaving.
So when people ask me if I read a lot, well, I do have to say no, but..... I sure listen well!
And as for now, right this moment, I can feel the thoughts starting to also circulate around where I would like to take the group when we do arrive in Copenhagen.
The Round Tower, with the most magnificent view of the city, the main pedestrian walkway in the centre of Copenhagen, oh, Tivoli Gardens, yes, we must go to Tivoli Gardens, and I have heard there are special fireworks on August 15th. When I was a kid in the last century there was fireworks twice a week, but that has been changed now and there are lazer light shows going on instead twice a week, but..... I want to see the real fireworks and so I guess we have to make it there on August 15th, a fine finale for the group trip since many of our participants are heading home to our beautiful Canada the next day. 
Off to the looms, Pia             

What? Dream Catchers?

Keeping it short today. Trying to stay away from the dream world and focus on all the tasks at hand.

Our last show was Awakenings. These are my pieces created around that theme.

                                                                   

 We never know for sure how someone else will think and feel about our work and I was surprised when some people asked if these large pieces were  dream catchers. They stand 6 feet tall and the circles are 25 inches in diameter. Once the comment was made I went though a range of emotions. The dream catcher has felt overdone to me, almost a bit kitchy. I wasn't feeling great about this reaction, until I watched and talked with the dream catcher people who were truly moved by how they felt. They changed my mind about dream catchers and how I feel about showing work.

From there it was easy to let go of my first reaction and let the art be what it is, open for interpretation for one and all. Not every one thought dream catcher, not every one liked them but the feedback was nourishing on all levels. I will strive to make myself clearer with future pieces knowing that not everyone will see as I see. In February I was walking by my front window and the reflection begged a photo. Kind of dreamy I think!

Do you think art pieces should have a clear message? How would this interpret across cultural boundaries? What could speak to all the cultures in the world? Here is where my mind will be as I go back to working with production pieces for the afternoon. (one of the benefits of production work).

Enjoy life!  

Pam