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Posted:
November 29, 2011
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they're all lies

My journal project: eco-friendly lined journals made in Canada with covers screenprinted by me in my Vancouver studio.

screenprinted journalAbout this Journal: I took this photo in the colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala in 2006 (link to my travel blog). These Maya women were participating in a protest in what is normally a peaceful town. The local government had plans to move the location of the chicken bus station from the town centre to the outside of town. The current location, in town, is very convenient for the countless vendors who bring in their wares to town to sell. Moving the bus station outside of town, would have meant an increase in transportation expense or walking the rest of the way to the town centre. It is a brave act to protest in Guatemala given its past with a 36-year -long civil war which ended only in 1996. The reason for the move is that the mayor planned to introduce his own microbus company to take people from the edge of town into the centre. The women here, are listening to a speaker and their expression said to me “they’re all lies,” ” son todas mentiras.”

Journal Specs: 6 x 9 inches ECO perfect-bound notebook with 72 sheets.  13 pt soft cover and ivory lined sheets. Made in Canada from 100% recycled materials.

Availability: I am printing only a very limited edition — only 3 or 4 of each composition. I may print more depending on how they’re received. I will have these at the One Of A Kind Show in Vancouver (Dec 8 – 12).

Read about my other journals.

Posted:
November 11, 2011
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my thoughts are my own

My journal project: eco-friendly journals made in Canada with covers screenprinted by me in my Vancouver studio.screenprinted journal-my thoughts are my ownThe image of the woman is from a trip I took in Guatemala. The expression on the woman’s face was one of someone who thinks a lot and that has many things to worry about. Maybe life isn’t easy for her. Who are we to know anyway? When we travel we might often think that we understand or can relate to the people we see on the street. But can we really? We might want to have a conversation with this very pensive looking woman. But does she care about having one with us?

To me this image says, “don’t pretend to know what I think,” “don’t pretend to know what my world is like” and most importantly “don’t assume I want to share my world with you…a stranger.”

Journal Specs: 6″ x 9″ ECO perfect-bound notebook with 72 sheets.  13 pt soft cover and ivory lined sheets. Made in Canada from 100% recycled materials.

Availability: At the moment I have printed only a very limited edition — only 3 or 4 of each composition. I may print more depending on how they’re received. I will have these at the Culture Crawl (Nov 18, 19, 20) and the One Of A Kind Show in Vancouver (Dec 8 – 12).

Read about my other journals.

Posted:
November 7, 2011
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to banish a bad mood

My journal project: eco-friendly journals made in Canada with covers screenprinted by me in my Vancouver studio.
Screen printed Eco Friendly JournalPara desterrar el mal humor – This Spanish phrase written by artist Frida Kahlo in one of her sketchbooks inspired a composition for my journals and a pocket mirror. The translation is “to banish a bad mood.” It is no secret that Kahlo drank a lot and that the reasons for this were the incredible amount of physical pain she endured since her street car accident, and her stormy relationship with muralist & painter Diego Rivera. The image of the woman advertising ‘aguardiente’ (brandy/whisky) is from an ad painted on a wall in Guatemala — many ads are still beautifully painted on exterior walls in the country. For me the juxtaposition of the phrase and the happy lady promoting the drink presents one side to ‘booze.’  The truth though being that for some, engaging with aguardiente can have heavy consequences.

The pattern image is from another photograph of a tile wall I have taken in Guatemala. All the design elements come together to offer a visually rich composition but with undertones of something else inferred. There’s always something else below the surface.

Screen printed eco friendly journalAt the moment I have printed only a very limited edition — only 3 or 4 of each composition. I may print more depending on how they’re received. I will have these at the Culture Crawl (Nov 18, 19, 20) and the One Of A Kind Show in Vancouver (Dec 8 – 12).

Read about my other journals.

Posted:
June 30, 2011
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looking is not "seeing"

your reflection is not who you must be

Work is progressing on the 3″ round mirrors with a collage on one side. “Looking is not Seeing” is another phrase I am using on the pocket mirror collages. Text and their messages represent an important component of these compositions. In working on these, I am inspired by the work of Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer.

I will have several designs to show at September shop which is a pop-up shop for the month of September at the corner of Kingsway and 10th in Vancouver. I am doing this pop-up with five other local designers. I’ll be selling my work there and also I’ll be offering some workshops at that location. We have a blog site that explains the project. I’m pretty excited about this.

We are also doing  collaborative projects which will be available for auction with proceeds going to a local charity.

Visit September Shop to find out who the other designers are. There’s also a post there on my work in progress.