March on into Spring.

 March marks the anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring Covid 19 a global pandemic. I think we can all agree it has definitely been a year! Now is a point in our collective history we won't soon forget. A period we will hopefully one day look back on with a casual "remember when" and reflect on all the positive changes slowing down inspired within us. 

Change,  uncertainty, and loss are major themes faced by so many during this pandemic. Alone yet together we have moved through the highs and lows of being disconnected physically and socially and for many Canadians, provincial mandates remain in place to protect us from a potential third wave. Through this past year, the desire to expand the boundaries of "home" and to alter, refresh and renew our personal, multitasking spaces has inspired us to get creative. As a result, I think creativity just might be one of the qualities to come out of these unusual circumstances stronger and more supported than ever before. 

The creatives among us will be nodding heads reasoning, of course, slowing down provided more opportunities for me to work at my craft, my art, to develop my process, and to process these crazy times. Not everyone is a creator but many more people have been inspired to try their hand at the many opportunities available online. Like Wendy Klotz, our most consistent seeker of online workshops, tutorials, and creative events, they too have been soothed, inspired, comforted, and reinvigorated by the products evolving out of time spent developing new skills and finding new outlets for self-expression. 

"Middle Ground", a recent commission by Amanda Onchulenko. Acrylic on canvas 30' x 60"

Others, like members of my clientele, who don't wish to dive into creative processes personally, with no opportunity to travel, eat out and gather in the ways they have previously known, have also turned to their interior spaces and sought the expertise of artists and makers to help them to envision change.

 Living spaces have become offices, dance halls, practice pitches, yoga rooms, gyms, and boardrooms, often simultaneously. Many have found new ways to define home and what better way to do that than with the purchase of a new painting or quilt, a drawing or sculpture, or even a new piece of jewellery to dress up for that next zoom meeting. Zoom has also encouraged many to reevaluate personal spaces. This technology, virtually unknown before Covid-19,  (pardon the pun) has inspired many to declutter and encouraged others to curate their backdrops to become unintentional gallery walls. I am grateful to everyone who has reached out, made requests or purchases, commissioned paintings, and ventured out to see my work when local protocols allowed. Needless to say, I have been painting a lot these last couple of months as I took a pause after my textile show, "Composition". 

 

Lesley Turner travelled to New Zealand for the birth of a grandchild over the winter. While there, without her studio and materials she continued to seek and find inspiration. Creativity drives many of us and though it may be shaded at times our creative instincts continue to shine within us and find new ways to be expressed. During Auckland's latest lockdown Lesley was fortunate to be able to walk daily in Cornwall Park across the road from her accommodation. Collections of natural found objects wove their way into natural textile hangings to become another way to reinforce her connection to her land of origin and family in a creative way.


Texture is attractive to Lesley no matter where in the world she lands. We are happy to report after multiple quarantines, delays, and complex travel arrangements, Lesley is home on Vancouver Island, healthy and safely at work in her studio. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with her history, her heritage, and her family.

Lesley's travels included many sites like this one that connected to her ancestry.

Lesley's visits to many familiar places she says brought childhood memories into focus. She has reconnected with family in person and also through stories. Meeting up with friends also reinforced the exchange of shared experience and she feels this resulting reconnection will show itself in future work.

Wendy Klotz has continued to fill her creative well since last we "spoke". She is grateful for the access to online workshops afforded. Already she is noticing the return to in-person instruction and activities limits access due to location. Wendy says, " It was wonderful to interact with artists from all over the world and I do hope that in the "after times" some of it will continue." Through the pandemic Wendy has filled multiple notebooks with inspiration. A recent presentation by Calgary's CARFAC organization inspired Wendy to work on the business side of her creative practice, re-evaluating her Artist Statement. Time to reflect is helping her to clarify what work she likes to make and encouraging discernment in how to intentionally move forward. It is a great exercise for someone who is constantly searching for answers.

"I am continuing with the drawing classes. I really did mean to stop, but Dionne Swift is so creative and constantly coming up with new ways to "look" that I am still learning. The image below is of a recent "dot" drawing, after some research into pointillism, both current and historical.

Wendy has also rediscovered some seasoning projects like a box of quilt tops she is now keeping on hand to quilt as necessary. Wendy says she is keen to start some new work. She feels the process of refining her Artist Statement is helping her narrow her focus, and that is encouraging. It is also a reminder that though we may have lost many things we are still finding new ways to develop and also to simplify our reactions and resources. I can't wait to see where this road takes her.

Ingrid Lincoln, Cording, digital print.

Ingrid Lincoln of Winnipeg has also spent some time beyond her studio rumbling revisiting areas of interest. As a Winnipegger, living through another Manitoba winter, Ingrid has ample experience and opportunity to work with ice. Her cording explorations like the example above have long proven a fascination. I am looking forward to reading Ingrid's artist statement on this body of work. The contrast between the tactile nature of textiles, generally associated with softness, encased in ice is fascinating to me. Ingrid with this work has also illuminated for us all the power of connection between ideas and media. The textile process in this work is just the beginning of a series of interactions that involve photography and digital printing as well. The work is a further example of the merger taking place between fine arts, crafts, and technology.

Ingrid takes full advantage of the opportunities of a cold winter and continues her studies of fabric, ice, and light photographically.



The winter has kept me very busy in my new space. Never one to totally embrace ice, it tends to trip my Australian sense of balance more often than I would like, I am always pleased to be able to work through the winter without the distractions of the garden and being outside as much as I am in warmer months. My new space overlooks the Red River and I found myself drawn repeatedly into my window to watch the many skaters taking advantage of the longest skating trail in the world.

Since completing work on my show "Composition" I have taken a break from textiles to accommodate requests for painting commissions. Work is work and as a creative we all know to act on opportunities as they arise. The commission is a different beast. Assimilating the requests of a client through creative eyes can be challenging while the challenge of it can also be inspiring. Art and life merge in so many ways.  

At la Maison des Artistes, Winnipeg with "Composition". Jan/Feb, 2021

As we move into a new season, we hope you have had an opportunity to get creative through this Pandemic winter. Perhaps had some time to realize your creative goals and dreams, sought instruction when you felt the need and were able to refocus your personal and creative goals.

Let's all move forward, alone, yet together, and look forward to reconnecting in shared spaces again soon. Here is a virtual hug! Won't it be great to "administer" one of those to someone beyond our bubble again soon?

Stay well, stay safe. Be creative!

Amanda Onchulenko on behalf of Articulation Textile Group.

Amanda's Website
Lesley's Website and Blog
Wendy's Blog
Ingrid's Website
Donna's Blog
Donna's Website