This past August I had a show at the Britannia Art Gallery. The show was called Here Today.
Here Today is a mixed-media photographic project shown through souvenir pocket mirrors and focusing on landmarks and establishments connected to the Italian community in the Commercial Drive area and a little beyond.
You can now view the work online here.
Currently, the work is available for viewing and purchase at Bird on a Wire Creations in Vancouver.
I’d like to show you how many changes and layers there can be in an art journal page. For me the process is unpredictable. A little planning always gets me started but this can be simply the decision to start the first layer with blues and the next with a warm opposite colour.
On this page I also wanted to use some of the Martha Stewart Crafts paper stencils and a laser cut ornament (the cross) from one of Michaels exclusive bands–ArtMinds. The laser cut cross is meant to be used as a Christmas ornament but I don’t celebrate Christmas. I did however see some exciting use of the cross as a stamp or even a stencil.
Here’s how it went (click the images to see an enalargement):
I’ve been using mixed-media sketchbooks for my art journals. I never altered the front cover of the sketchbook, I just focused on the inside. But looking through Art Journal magazine, I realized it was time to work on the covers. I have five sketchbooks that are now in need of their own covers. I got to work right away and applied two coats of gesso to cover up everything below. I like texture, so I used a brush for my first layer and a credit card for the second layer to spread the gesso smoothly, but that also provided more texture on top of the brushstrokes.
What does one put on the cover?
Brushing on the first layer of gesso
The cover of my first art journal ©Laura Bucci
I used a paintbrush, brayer, acrylic paint, Martha Stewarts Crafts Metallic paint (bottom charcoal grey rectangle and top stripes), a Jelly Roll pen for the white cup and pattern, paper collage, and a paper stencil from Martha Stewarts Crafts collection (stripes on top). The Martha Stewart Crafts collection is available at Michaels Stores–they were gifts I received during the Michaels Blogger Event.
I particularly like the Metallic paints from the Martha Stewart Crafts collection. The grey areas in the image above look like charcoal. This paint has a really nice sheen to it.
I’m working on my second cover now…
Here Today is the title of my exhibition coming up in August. In this exhibit, I am reflecting on landmarks and establishments connected to the Italian community in the Commercial Drive area (my neighbourhood in Vancouver) and beyond. Commercial Drive used to be called Little Italy but this name does not apply any longer since The Drive (as it is referred to now) has evolved into a multi-cultural neighbourhood.
a section of Renzo’s awning framed by son Andre and to be hung in the coffee shop
The Drive has been my neighbourhood for five years. Before that I’d often come here to shop at Santa Barbara market and Bosa on Victoria Drive, and I’d go for coffee at Cafe Roma to name just one possibility. I’ve often walked by establishments on The Drive but have never gone in. Mind you, I’ve wanted to go in but held back to avoid awkwardness because I didn’t have any business there and some places it just doesn’t seem to be appropriate to go in and browse. One such place was Renzo’s Tailors which was located on the corner of Commercial and Charles, next to Grandview Park. Renzo’s Tailors closed a couple of years ago and has re-opened as a cafe.
This change is not a sad one as the business is still in the family. The tailor shop was run by tailor Renzo Montagliani, and now the coffee shop is run by his son Andre. The name is still Renzo’s–I like that. Renzo himself can often be seen at the coffee shop having coffee with other Italians or perhaps checking-in to see that his son is doing a good job?
Each and every person has an interesting story about their life. If they have businesses sometimes we can find articles about them. I lucked out with Renzo. The Vancouver Courier published an article in 2010 giving us just a bit of insight into this businessman.
Things change, it’s inevitable, but as long as there is a record of them, a trace, a memento to honour the people, the buildings, etc. then sometimes it’s easier to accept. Andre, Renzo’s son has framed a section of Renzo’s Tailors awning and will be hanging that soon in the cafe. He said he also wants to bring other artifacts from his father’s business and display them in the cafe.
Interesting tidbit: 53 years ago, a custom suit cost $55; today it would be a minimum of $1,500.
Hope to see at my Opening reception: August 1st, 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
The exhibition runs from August 1st to the 30th.
Here Today (2 person show)
Britannia Art Gallery
1661 Napier Street (in the library) Vancouver, see on map
In conjunction with the exhibition, I will be offering a *free* workshop funded by Britannia Art Gallery:
August 4th, 1 to 4pm
Image Transfer Pocket Mirror Workshop
Britannia Community Centre
A maximum of 10 people can register.
Register through the community Centre.
I will adding my one-of-a-kind pocket mirrors to my online shop on Etsy over the next few days.
There’s three there right now, two more to go. Two of the collages are on Vancouver and the others on Guatemala.
These are one-of-a-kind and not multiple reproductions, so get them while they’re here.
I'm a mixed-media artist based in Vancouver, Canada.
Follow me on Instagram on your phone: @laurabucci or through the web with Webstagram
