Questions

What are you grateful for right now? 

What brings you joy right now? 

What are you noticing right now? Do you see a pattern of what you are noticing?

Quotes: Eileen Myles

"I hope there's mystery and poetry in your life –– not even poems, but patterns. I hope you can see them. Often these patterns will wake you up, and you will know that you are alive, again and again." 

–– Eileen Myles (b. 1949), American writer, poet, performer 

Source: Valedictory words by Eileen Myles via Austin Kleon newsletter, August 23, 2024. 

via: Sketchbook N 14, 2024, p. 9.

Quotes: Mary Oliver

"The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us."

–– Mary Oliver (1935-2019), American poet 

Quotes: Buckminster Fuller

"Man is a complex of patterns and processes."

–– Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), American architect, designer, inventor, futurist and writer 

via: Art Alternatives Knapsack Sketchbook, 2017 a, p. 3.

Work & Life

Front porch cicada; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

I've been a bit absent from blogland for a few reasons. I've been writing various artist statements during my daily 30 minute office practice. It seems that the words and time that I normally dedicate to my blog are being used for my statements. On Monday I felt disillusioned with the results of this new month-old habit. I expected that I would have a resolved Poetic Memory statement and already be writing an essay for another series. Nope. Then yesterday I had a breakthrough for how to install my tags. Today I realized that the results of my 30 minute office practice are non-linear. Yes, my Poetic Memory statement is moving forward, but I am reaping other rewards too.

The other reason I've been absent is that I had surgery a month ago and I'm still recovering. S l o w l y. I've since learned that it can take 4 to 6 weeks for all of the chemicals to work their way out of your body. Like my new office practice, I've learned that recovery is non-linear: Some days I feel like my normal self and then I'm exhausted for a few days. Such is life.

Patterns in food

Squash; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

The other day, my eye doctor told me that I had super visual acuity. I'm not sure that this is true, but I do pay closer attention than most and experience wonder on a daily basis. I try to follow the advice of John Cage: "If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all." 

Squash; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

When I saw this squash at the farmers' market, I bought it because of its pattern. My husband said that it tasted very good.

Found pattern

Wood offcuts pattern; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

During our August staycation, I cleaned and organized my office and pieced hexagons for a collaborative quilt top. My husband made drawers for the print and paint area of my studio. I can now find things and my husband still has all of his fingers! The drawer offcuts made a pleasing pattern.

Studio Series: Shake-n-make Collaboration

Hexagons panels © Karen Thiessen, 2016

The Shake-n-Make Collective, composed of Liss Platt and Claudia Manley, is mounting an exhibition called The Hand of Craft in May 2017 at the Cotton Factory and they are enlisting help. (I last wrote about them here). On exhibit will be a massive quilt top (approximately 16 feet by 6 feet), which will spell out "Labour" in shades of taupe against a purple background. The textile will be entirely pieced by hand using the English paper piecing technique. Liss and Claudia are piecing the letters, and volunteers are invited to piece the purple panels that are 3 hexagons wide by ten hexagons long (7.5" X 29").

To facilitate this collaboration, Liss and Claudia have been hosting English Paper piecing events where they teach the technique. They provide the hexagon templates printed on freezer paper, fabric strips, and thread. Volunteers are welcome to incorporate their own purple fabrics.

When Claudia asked if I would contribute to the quilt top, naturally I said yes. This summer high heat and humidity zapped my energy. English paper piecing was one studio activity that worked best in my "Zombie" state. It worked so well that I've pieced nine panels so far. It's addictive. In the process of fleshing out my own stash of purple fabrics, I learned that compared to other colours, few fabrics are available in purple colourways. The next time you are in a quilt shop, take a look –– you'll be surprised. I know I was, especially since purple is one of my favourite colours.

Halifax Street Art

Barrington Street Mural; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

While in Halifax this summer, a massive mural by Jason Botkin (b. 1974) caught my eye. He's an ACAD graduate who originally hails from Denver, Colorado and is now a Montréal-based artist and a co-creator and co-director of en Masse Collaborative Mural project. The mural overlooks a sad parking lot on Barrington Street directly across from the Grand Parade, formerly the site of a gorgeous old Birks building, torn down in the early 1980s to make way for a government building. The empty lot has been an eyesore for more than 30 years.

Barrington Blocks Ceramic Installation; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

This Barrington Blocks installation by NSCAD ceramics graduate Catherine Laroche, is interactive. The ceramic blocks are glazed with a different colour (orange, yellow, green, grey) on each of the four sides and rotate independently: they are pixels one can touch. The installation screened the aforementioned sad parking lot. 

Halifax poster detritus; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

And finally, a collage of chance.

Tree pods

Tree pods; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

In late July I had the opportunity to hang out with my cousin Paula's artist friend from Thunder Bay, who is now my friend too. We gallivanted around town and I showed her the galleries. It was a treat to spend a day-and-a-half with a fellow artist who sees the world as I do and who also picks random bits of discarded beauty from the street. On our travels, we stumbled upon this beautiful tree with its showy seed pods. Nature really does put on a nice show. It's up to us to notice.

Different kinds of Halifax stars

Ship from Colombia; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

While vacationing in Halifax recently, I encountered all sorts of stars. This dignified ship from Colombia attracted a lot of attention. It was definitely the star of the waterfront for several days.

Stars on the Halifax waterfront pavement; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

If you looked down while walking along the Halifax waterfront, you'd see a family of sea stars (formerly known as starfish).

Found star; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

I found this star in Halifax too. Can you guess what it is?

Studio Series: ink spots

Ink spots © Karen Thiessen, 2016

When I last saw Dorothy Caldwell at the opening of her travelling exhibition Silent Ice/Deep Patience at the IdeaExchange in Cambridge, Ontario, I asked her about the washes on her newer quilts. Dorothy told me that she had grown tired of drawing the designs, waiting for her silkscreens to be exposed with her designs, be shipped back to her, and then her finally printing the fabric. Too much time elapsed between the initial mark-making on paper and the final result on fabric. She decided to work more directly by brushing washes of India ink onto the fabric. 

Dorothy's use of a non-traditional colorant inspired me to play with India ink on fabric in my own way. I used Dr. Ph. Martin's Hi-Carb India ink in black. I discovered this brand a few years ago from Keri Smith's blog: it's her favourite ink. It's mine now too.

Mr. Toad

Mr. Toad; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

Isn't this guy a beauty? The symmetry and the colouration of the marks are very inspiring.

Package Design

King Soba package; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

I confess that I bought these noodles partly for the beautiful patterns on the package. Since I've been off wheat for twenty years, these were the first ramen noodles that I've had since before my gluten-free days. Pretty packaging and delicious food are a nice combination.

Studio Series: Matrix collage

Matrix collage © Karen Thiessen, 2016

While I was a textiles student at Sheridan College I developed a complex three-print pattern, but due to time constraints was unable to push it as far as I knew it could go. Fast forward twenty years and now I'm playing to see where it can go. The bonus is that ten years ago collage wedged its way into my studio practice, and now I have a thinking tool that I didn't have during my Sheridan days. Oh the places that this matrix pattern will go...

Studio Series: Dartboard pattern screen-print

Dartboard pattern screen-print © Karen Thiessen, 2016

My winter printmaking class has finished and the spring class doesn't begin until the end of April. Fortunately, I have a significant stash of screen-printed as well as found papers with which to collage. The dartboard pattern is one of the first designs that I created in Photoshop (about eleven years ago). It's an image of a dartboard in my family room that I put into repeat and then layered. In early March I decided to see how the design would look screen-printed and I like it very much. I printed an apple green ink over a dark green paper that my friend Bob gave me (on the other side is one of his print rejects).

Studio Series: Mark-making screen print

Mark-making screen print © Karen Thiessen, 2016

My ongoing 2014 Lenten mark-making practice has been good to me. At times it seems to be going nowhere and then bam! I make new discoveries. Early this year I was playing with an old Sheaffer calligraphy pen and some Sakura micron Graphic pens and I was pleased with the line qualities, so I decided to see how they would look screen printed. During my last printmaking class, I took a shine to printing on brown Kraft paper in off-white and pink inks. Now I have a whack of paper to collage with and I am curious to see how I can push the mark-making, screen printing, and collaging. Where will it go next?

Studio Series: 2 inch collages a

Two inch collages a © Karen Thiessen, 2016

I've been quiet here in blogville as I write my various statements. The other day I had a revelation that I'm sure you've all figured out by now: I gave myself a break of about an hour (looking at design magazines) and I came back to my work refreshed and energized. It's such a simple concept, but so very effective. When I returned to the studio I made 43 two inch collages and was in flow during the entire time. A friend has a system of working 52 minutes and then taking 17 minute breaks. She uses a timer to keep on track and finds that this allows her to get a lot done and stay fresh. Do any of you have ways to keep fresh during your work days? If so, feel free to leave a comment.

Lines in nature

Miscanthus; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

Miscanthus sinensis grows in my garden and I like it best in winter when stripped of colour.

Studio Series: Mennonite series tags

Mennonite series tags; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

Off and on, I've been playing with words and symbols of my Dutch German (Russian) Mennonite material culture for more than twenty years. Until I discovered the tag format I hadn't been able to pull it together. Above is a random assortment of the strongest tags pinned to my studio wall. I'll present them differently in a gallery setting with proper spacing, probably in a long line and I'll install them with specimen pins.

Mennonite series tags detail; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

I have over fifty completed Mennonite material culture tags, but only thirty work well together. The collection now has a voice and an aesthetic has emerged.

Mennonite series detail; Photo © Karen Thiessen, 2016

As of this week I have thirty textile tags set up for stitching. The collection is growing. It's about time.