New stockist: Collage Collage

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Thank you to Erin of the newly opened Collage Collage in Vancouver for stocking our little magazine for the creative and curious.

"Collage Collage is a place that strives to uphold the tremendous creative abilities that children have, in surrondings that adults find equally stimulating, provoking and above all, inspiring. Collage Collage is a store, a school, a gallery and a workshop for children and adults. It's a place to find some art supplies, a story book, a small sculpture or a new pair of scissors." Sounds marvelous!

Their workshops sound fantastic: I want to sign up for this one:

Inspired by Marcel Dzama, Mixing Colors
Drawing and Painting for 5-6 years

Students will experiment with a palette based on Dzama's work. After reading a story book based on his work, and looking at some of the works of his collective, The Royal Art Lodge, children will be shown how Dzama mixes imagery from life and the imagination. Children will experiment with trying out their own dream-like creatures and then painting in their drawings. Ideas will start in a sketchbook warm up, and then move to large paper. Like Dzama, students will start with pencil drawings then layer ink and paint washes.

If you're in Vancouver, go visit Collage Collage this weekend!

Made for one another

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Shauna and Stephen (Something's Hiding in Here) are certainly a dynamic duo. Creativity abounds with these two and it is so much fun to see how they collaborate together to see their projects through completion, with each of their talents complimenting the other's. When Shauna contacted me about placing an ad in the current issue of UPPERCASE magazine, of course I was more than happy to have something by these fine folks on our pages. When she told me her plans for the advertisement, I was thrilled! Such a sweet idea. To read about their ongoing project "I made this for you," visit their post on Poppytalk.

Alfred Hitchcock Dioramas at Bird Dog Video

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Attention local Calgarians: Don't miss the 3rd Annual Bird Dog Video  Art Show/Silent Auction! Each year a selection of artists, musicians and all round creative people graciously donate their time and efforts to help raise money for a local charity.
  
This year artists pay homage to the master of cinematic suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.  Drawing from Hitchcock's extensive film ouevre, each artist started with an empty shadow box and could produce a Hitchcock diorama to their liking - recreating a specific scene, creating a new scene or simply using Hitchcock as the theme for their idea. 

The event will be held Thursday September 17, 2009 (7-10 pm), all proceeds go to the Elephant Artist Relief.

Bird Dog Video is located at 1333 16 AVE SW Calgary, AB. For more information, please contact Jolie Bird at: 399-2615 email: jolie.bird@gmail.com

Creative Adventure: Squam Art Workshops

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Looking for a great creative retreat? Squam Art Workshops looks like the perfect destination.

From their website: "Imagine turning down a long drive that leads you through a grove of pine, white birch, maple and oak trees and brings you right to the edge of a sparkling lake. As you step out of your car, you can see vintage turn-of-the-century cabins tucked along the shore and smell the pine needles that cover the road. It's an ideal setting for a creative retreat and that's exactly what we have waiting for you at Squam Art Workshops.

If you are looking for an experience that will provide you with the time, space, and inspiration to recharge your creative spirit, this might be just the ticket. Join us for an event that is designed to foster a safe and nurturing environment where you can explore a range of mediums. There are a whole range of classes to choose from that include: painting, printmaking, journaling, doll making, writing, knitting, sewing, photography, crochet, sculpture, felting and some classes that combine several of those elements into one workshop."

There are a few spots remaining for the September sessions, including a class being taught the wonderfully talented Andrea Jenkins (HulaSeventy), regular contributor to UPPERCASE magazine.

"Come experience the magic of Through the Viewfinder photography from the ground up! This special technique combines old with new, vintage with modern and is truly the best of both worlds. More specifically, Through the Viewfinder (TtV) photography is defined as taking a picture of any subject through the viewfinder of any camera with another camera. In this workshop, we'll use old twin lens reflex cameras and digital cameras together to produce images with an authentic vintage aesthetic. We'll begin the day building and personalizing viewfinder devices and then, armed with our cameras and newly-constructed viewfinder devices, we'll step outside for an experiential photo shoot. At the end of the session, we'll examine and post-process the dreamy results. Spend the day looking Through the Viewfinder in this wildly wonderful and backwards way and see the world around you with completely new eyes."

[photos by Jen Gray]

Surprise Ball

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UPPERCASE magazine subscriber, Gina Namkung, makes these incredible Surprise Balls, little balls filled with fun treats. She recently sent one to Sandra Juto, who shot the images above.

“From as far back as I can remember, be it a ring from a gumball vending machine, a Cracker Jack prize, the thrill of a piñata, Christmas stocking treats, I have always been drawn to small things. The desire to include items that are ephemeral, whimsical, charming and or amusing set mine apart from others - this is what I hope. It’s the quality of the goods (and sometimes rarity) that matters...for some it may be hard to open (and I kind of like that) but people are never disappointed by what they find inside.”

Great idea, Gina! The surprise balls are available at Kiosk. (Look for photography by Sandra Juto in the fall issue of UPPERCASE magazine.)

Merce Cunningham

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Revolutionary American choreographer Merce Cunningham passed away yesterday at the age of 90. Internationally celebrated for his innovative movement studies as well as his creative collaborations with other artists including: minimalist composer (and his long-term partner) John Cage, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, Cunningham will long be remembered as a singular 20th century visionary artist.

Our dance critic, Andrea Jenkins, will be including a special profile of Cunningham's contribution to the world of modern dance in a tribute piece featured in the Fall issue of UPPERCASE magazine.

Click here to watch a glimpse of Cunningham's most recent production, 'Nearly Ninety' with musical accompaniement by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Sonic Youth.

Urban Source

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Urban Source is a few blocks away from The Assembly of Text and it was a fun discovery. Offering bits and bobs from various sources such as industrial offcuts, overstock and all variety of remnants and scraps, this is the ultimate in creative recycling. I coveted the empty movie film canisters; lined with some tissue paper or fabric remnants they'd make a cool package for a gift of cookies or candies.

Bright Star

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I am eager to see Jane Campion's latest film, Bright Star (2009) which explores the torrid 3 year romance between the 19th century English poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish play the young lovers.

Judging by the film stills, it looks to be a lush romance and a lavish period piece.

Check out the film's crafty on line production scrapbook which features rehearsal and location photographs, letters and archival material used in the film, actor's notes, and much more.

As well, the gloriously handsome Whishaw discusses his performance in an articulate, engaging interview with the Guardian.

B is for Bonfire

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Uppercase gallery is excited to announce an open call to artists to participate in our upcoming exhibition, Bonfire. Please click here for a more in depth description of the theme and how to submit your artwork.

The image above is taken from a Fire-poi typography site where you can see more of the alphabet on fire and read about graphic designer Nir Tober's elaborate process of combining typography with fire spinning.

The photograph below was taken by Janine when she attended a Walpurgis night bonfire in Sweden this past spring.

RedBall visits Toronto

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New York-based artist Kurt Perschke's RedBall travelling art project explores urban spaces and architectural history through the curious trope of a giant red ball. You can discover more about the artist and his work here.

The first two pictures below are from the Redball's tour of Barcelona and the third captures the sculpture making its way through a Sydney railway station.

The RedBall exhibition has its Canadian premiere in Toronto, June 5 -14 (sneak peek below). For more information on where to see the ball live in action in the big city, click here.