This past week I did another illustration for the Lives section of The New York Times Magazine. The article was about the complicated relationships between four sisters, so I depicted them as slightly crumpled and torn paper dolls. You can find a link to the article and my illustration here.
I'll be working on a couple more for the magazine this week and I'll be sure and post them when they've been published next week.
I'd been running low on my previous business cards and decided to try out a new design. I'd used my Print GOCCO to make the last ones, but they were far simpler; in a single colour and simple design.
I created the new design yesterday and had Jenna help me cut paper to size for printing. I wanted these to be fun and use a couple of my favourite ink colours, (I used the same ones to print this small edition). I think they sort of look like party confetti, don't you? Fun!
I was recently commissioned by the owners of Mjölk to create a print design for an upcoming exhibition they're having with renowned Japanese designer, Oji Masanori. Masanori will be in attendance, as well as a number of the craftspeople that help produce the designs he's created; including Studio Prepa, (glass studio), and woodworkers from Asahikawa.
For the design of the print, I used some of Masanori's most well known designs to create a small collection of items in brass, wood and porcelain. This is one of my favourite projects that I've done in the last while, but it was very easy to work with such beautiful designs as subjects! The limited edition, (of 25), giclée print is 17" x 22" and printed on archival paper with archival inks, and will be available at the exhibition opening at Mjölk on August 11-12, 2012.
Last night, Chris and I went to the TIFF Lightbox to see Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. I've been familiar with his work and activism for some time, (especially after his disappearance last year), but this documentary was an eye opener.
I really admire someone who is able to communicate clearly about, and through, their art; something that I struggle with a lot. Ai Weiwei has endured a lot in China, something I find hard to comprehend working in a comfortable studio here in Canada. His struggles have only made his work more powerful and beautiful.
The film will still be screening at the TIFF until August 2nd.
These turf houses were located at Grettislaug, a hot spring pool near Sauðárkrókur. We drove along a very long gravel road, through farmland and barking sheepdogs, to get to the ferry that was going to take us to Drangey, (the island is pictured above in the distance). We'd been told that the ferry left from 'the pool', and we were a little confused until we got there and saw a pair of hot springs. The ferry left from the small rocky port located just behind the building above.
As I'd mentioned in a previous post; we'd been told that Drangey was a great place to go to see a giant bird population. We decided that since we couldn't make it out to Grímsey, we'd take the boat to Drangey instead.
It turned out to be one of the most harrowing experiences of my life, (but only because I have a fear of heights). We took the boat over with a small group of people and a guide. We'd read that once at the island, there was only one spot where you could ascend because the rest of the island is comprised of very steep cliffs. Well, it turned out that the one route to climb was also quite steep and required a rope to haul one's self up. The first climb was about 100m up a crumbling stoney path. (A side note: the bridge at the boat moor had been knocked down a couple of years prior by the boulders that had fallen from the top of the path we were climbing. That wasn't reassuring).
I made it to the top of this section, only to realize that we still had more path to climb. With that, I had a minor panic and sat down where I was. It was there that I stayed while the others, (Chris included), continued on. I sat with two other women for the next two hours. It felt like ten, because I was sitting on top of sheer cliffs with the most unbelievable cacophony of bird sounds around us. Near the end of two hours I was able to calm myself enough to take a few shaky photos with my camera phone. The view really was beautiful.
I didn't regret not continuing on; (though, Chris got some amazing photos during the rest of the climb), because I don't think I could have handled the heights any more. And the climb ended on the edge of 190m cliff. (That's 623' for American readers). Chris says that this was one of his favourite parts of the trip; and if you can handle heights and a good bit of exercise, I know he'd recommend it to anyone visiting Iceland.
If you've noticed; there are no photos from my camera of our visit to the island. I'd forgotten to pack a fresh roll of film from the fridge! Luckily, too, because I don't think I could have lugged a big heavy camera up that climb! Oh yeah, and I made it down okay.
After the previous day's stress, I was very happy to stop at the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport the next day!
