Author Archives: Joelle Gebhardt

“Time” – Illustration Friday

January 9, 2014 – 6:42 am

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This is my quick illustration I made today for the Illustration Friday blog. The theme for this week is “Time”. My inspiration for this drawing is a quote by Dr. Seuss, “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon”.

This quote resonated with me today as I worked from home and couldn’t get over how dark it was; at 3 pm it felt like 6 pm. On days like this I truly do wish I had a sunshine window covering to help me forget that time is passing.

I also tried a new effect of cutting and pasting a drawing over a drawing and embroidery. I haven’t decided if I like it, but hey, sometimes it’s good to experiment a little.

 

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This was December

December 30, 2013 – 1:20 am

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As with most things in December, this collage is late. I’ve been doing these reflection artworks at the start of each month, but it wasn’t possible this time. So consider this piece a backwards reflection on December.

While making this, I was thinking about the events of the past weeks. Also, the strangeness of this season. Everywhere I went I saw a juxtaposition of Santa, elves and reindeer with Jesus in the manger. I heard stories of families being reunited while others were separated and trying to forget it’s Christmas. For some their dreams were fulfilled and others had to swallow their disappointment. December was wonderful and December was hard. It was FULL. So this collage is very busy. Everything has a story behind it and all the images are my own quick creations.

It was a great month, even if I was eating soup for half of it. In the midst of the craziness there were  moments to rest, read and enjoy good company. So, I’m not complaining.

What was your December like? I’d love to hear about it. And if I haven’t had a chance to say it in person:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

 

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Nelson Mandela Drawing

December 7, 2013 – 8:20 am

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Nelson Mandela's Letter from Rhode Island

I pulled these drawings out from under my bed today when I heard about the death of Nelson Mandela. I made them 2 years ago for school in a project I called “Prison Letters”. This drawing is based on a letter from Nelson Mandela. It was smuggled out of the confines of Robben Island, South Africa and took 2 years to reach the ANC (African National Congress). At this point Nelson Mandela had been in prison for 17 years as a political prisoner for resisting the apartheid and white minority rule. The letter calls on South Africans to continue their resistance and fight. It is also a response to the Soweto uprising of 1976 when policemen opened fire on children who were marching in protest.

The specific quote that I drew imagery from is,  “between the anvil of mass united action and the hammer of armed struggle we shall crush apartheid and white minority rule”. This was written on June 10 1980. The drawing is on vellum, attached to a board shaped like Robben Island. The markings show the number of days the letter took to reach the ANC, and the drawings in the anvil are collaged from newspaper photographs around the events relating to the letter.

To be honest, this was an important drawing for me. The research I did on Mandela was impacting, sobering and inspiring.  But during my critique in school it was pointed out that it was not very “relevant” to the Canadian contemporary art scene. Why prison letters? Why Mandela? Ouch. So the drawings went under my bed.

Yes, we don’t have an apartheid here. And yes, Nelson Mandela lived in South Africa. But everything he stood for and accomplished is relevant to Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission  launched HERE in October is named after Nelson Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa. Did you know that? And today there was a memorial held for him at the Vancouver Art Gallery, which I find very ironic considering the critique I received two years ago.

I end this day, thinking of an old verse I’ve heard many times over the years. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” from 2 Timothy 4:7.  Few of us could say that with full confidence, but there’s no question in my mind that Nelson Mandela fought the good fight.

 

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Fellow Vancouver Artists in the Crawl

November 20, 2013 – 8:42 pm

This past weekend was the Eastside Culture Crawl in Vancouver. For those of you who don’t know: this is an annual event where over 400 East Vancouver artists invite you to come look at their studios and artwork. There is a lot to see and buy, if you are looking for some local art. To be honest, this was the first year I participated in the Crawl, even though I’ve lived in Vancouver for almost 5 years.

This same weekend, I was participating in The Postcard Show: Volume 3 and the Annual Artist Showcase at China Cloud Gallery, which was open for the Crawl (photos of this below). Not having my studio open, allowed me to go out and visit other artists, which I really enjoyed. While I was walking from studio to studio, it hit me that half of the artists from the Open Book Art Collective were in the Crawl this past week! This is the art collective/book club I’ve been a part of and we just had our first show a few months ago. I took it upon myself to take some photos, since these ladies are doing amazing work and deserve some attention 🙂 I wasn’t able to get to all four of their studios (sorry Andrea Armstrong), but here are some photos from the ones I did see.

First up is: Jenny Hawkinson ( http://www.jennyhawkinson.com/). Jenny works with a variety of mediums such as acrylic painting, drawing, embroidery and textiles and installation. I really appreciate her consideration of display and installation which is something that many artists working in 2D often don’t consider. We are so quick to put something in a frame, but her drawings are hung from the ceiling or mounted out from the wall. Check out her website site to see more of her work!jennyh2

 

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Next is: Cara Bain (http://carabain.ca/) Cara is a designer as well as an artist. She paints amazing portraits that are expressive and capture the character of the subject. I personally find portraits difficult and tedious, so I admire Cara’s ability to do this. She recently made a series on wood panels for the Death of a Beekeeper exhibit. I enjoy that she allowed some of the natural wood surface to show through the painting.

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Lastly, but not leastly (I know that’s not a word) is: Erica Wilk (http://www.ericawilk.com/). Erica put a lot of work into preparing for the Crawl this year and pumped out a whole series of new works. I’m really excited about the direction she is taking with her work, I’ve not seen anything like it. Check out her website above to see what I mean. Erica also makes jewellery from bits and pieces of vintage jewellery. She was kind enough to let me sell some of my postcard books and zines at her table in the China Cloud gallery. If you are looking for some one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts, she sells her jewellery online and does custom orders too! erica2
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The picture below shows some of work I was selling next to Erica’s at China Cloud during the Crawl.

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This is November

November 13, 2013 – 12:27 am

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But there is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when she felt it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods…for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of spirit and purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them.

Couldn’t say it better Ms.Montgomery.

I’ve resolved to make one of these for each month, so voila! This is NOVEMBER. Mustaches, bare trees, boots, shopping bags and acorns. All of these images are my own photography and drawings, layered to represent my feelings toward this month. I try to do it very quickly, and not think too hard about the layout or composition. Basically, this is my procrastination project for the day.

Happy November to you!

 

 

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The Postcard Show

November 8, 2013 – 2:05 am

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This is a series of postcards I finished this week for The Postcard Show: Volume 3 at Hot Art Wet City Gallery running this Nov.14-16th.

Since I’m really enjoying the combination of embroidery, fabric and drawing, I decided to use these materials once more. I also had a revelation last week that most of my drawings seem to be about animals or food. Rather than fighting this impulse, I’ve decided to RUN with it.

So the subject of this postcard series is FOOD. And specifically, some of my favourite WHEAT products: waffles, sprinkle donuts, and toast with jam. Fortunately, even those of you who have to abstain from wheat can happily indulge in these drawings. They are gluten-free, I promise.

The intention of the Postcard Show is to create “a narrative through accessible and affordable art” And how it works is, “each postcard is made available to the public through a silent auction with an affordable minimum bid and a buyout bid in order to entice the audience to get involved in the business of art collecting” (copied from the website). All of the art in this auction will be original works of art. And if you are free for the final night of bidding, I would definitely recommend you get in on the action! The finale is on Nov.16th from 7pm-midnight.

 

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Exhibition Reflection: Death of a Beekeeper

October 16, 2013 – 8:14 pm

Here are a few photo highlights from the Death of a Beekeeper exhibition I was in a couple weeks ago. The first couple photos are taken by Jared Korb, and the last few are my own.  The show was put on by Open Book Art Collective, and if you’ve been following my blog or facebook page, you already know about this group.

I really enjoyed being a part of this show. The installation process was crazy, as we had to set everything up and take down within a 72 hour period. But, in the end it all came together and we had over 100 viewers walk through! We  asked everyone to leave a book suggestion for the next show and are starting the voting process now. If you are interested in seeing more photos, a more extensive gallery will be uploaded on the group website by the end of the week.

Don’t miss the next exhibit which will be taking place sometime in April/May 2014!

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This is October

October 9, 2013 – 12:46 am

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I’d have to agree with Anne of Green Gables, that “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?”

I’ve decided to make an illustration at the beginning of each month, until next September 2014. This collage/illustration is dedicated to the month of Canadian Thanksgiving and the Pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin lanterns, pumpkin costumes, pumpkin muffins…I hope you’re not allergic to squash vegetables!

I combined some new drawings with old drawings, a plaid pattern and a Peter Pumpkin-eater illustration from 1918.  I have a lot of projects on the go right now, so this was a fun break for today.

Have a Happy October 8th!

-Joelle

 

 

 

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Attention Book and Art Lovers

September 19, 2013 – 1:04 am

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I know what you’re thinking.

ANOTHER art collective?! And I would agree with you, that yes, there are already many art collectives in Vancouver. But THIS art collective is unique because we are also a [drum roll] book club!

The original concept of Open Book comes from the brains of Katrina Stock. She’s a fellow lover of literature and had a dream to gather artists together, over a good book, to exchange ideas, art and criticism. Finally this January, the idea materialized and a collective was formed.

The Open Book Art Collective (www.openbookartcollective.com) consists of a six visual artists all based in Vancouver. Every half year we choose an interesting book and from there meet, discuss, create and eventually put on a show, where we open up the conversation to the public.

On October 5th we are inviting you (and all your acquaintances) to our first show, based on the novel, The Death of a Beekeeper by Swedish author, Lars Gustaffson. It’s not a mystery novel, though I know the title makes it sound that way. To get some background on it click here.

And if you need one more reason to come:  there will be free food and refreshments on us!

Hope you see you there,

-Joelle

 

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This is September

September 3, 2013 – 10:36 pm

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This is a photo and sketch collage reflecting on the end of summer and arrival of SEPTEMBER. Polka-dots. Leaves. Biking. Trees. Roads. Sunshine. Dresses. I can’t believe it’s September already! Apparently, we are due for an early fall in Vancouver this year because of all the sunshine we had in the summer. The leaves are falling by our apartment on 8th Avenue, and I’ve been experiencing that old-familiar itch to return to school.

I took this photo in Kelowna, BC. For myself, the image of the open road will always stand for adventure, travel and uncertainty. What’s around that corner? Is this the best way to go? I find these questions spring up every September, and again it’s happening this year, in 2013.

Although, there are many institutionalized aspects of school that I detest, the environment of studying will always thrill me. For those of you going back to school, I applaud you! You are doing a courageous thing. Enjoy the uncertainty, the planning, the dreaming, the unrealistic expectations of this month. When November hits you’re going to question why you ever went back, but for now, it’s September 🙂

Thanks for reading:)

 

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