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Art, Ayatana, Biophilia, Blog, Canada, Excursions, International, Reflections, Residencies, ◆◆◆

Biophilia – Getting there and Arrival

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It was about a 9.5 hour drive in total, probably the most I have ever driven alone. It seemed a straightforward trip and after driving an hour and a half for work when I worked out in Western MA back and forth, I felt like I was prepared. I had also been driving all over the region for the past two years doing art drop offs and receptions so driving that much shouldn’t be a problem.

WELL, it wasn’t that bad of a drive up north as the GPS took me through upstate New York during peak foliage season. The drive itself was amazing, peaceful and almost healing. It took me back to driving around Big Sur in California. It had that same dramatic effect. But I had a DRs appointment that morning at a very early hour and with pre-travel anxiety I had gotten little sleep the previous night. Lack of sleep makes for a very LONG drive and falling asleep at the wheel… I wouldn’t recommend it at all if can be avoided.

After driving 7.5 hours north I finally got to the Ontario border and went through the Border, it was pretty painless. But after driving a 140+ mile stretch I wasn’t too happy when my GPS told me I had about another 100 miles to go before reaching my destination. I was also very nervous about missing my arrival time with my host in Ottawa. It was very difficult for me to get a room for Friday/Saturday evenings since I was arriving late and I didn’t want to be left stranded somehow.

I did manage to get to my hosts’ house OK. I actually ended up arriving 30 minutes earlier than expected. My host, Clemence (from airbnb.com) was very gracious and did a wonderful job of welcoming me into her space. Her apartment was very nice and spacious and in a convenient location.

Saturday

I slept in on Saturday and then spent mid-late afternoon driving around Ottawa. I stopped by the Crystal Dawn Shop and bought an evil eye charm. Something told me that it would be very 10598246_377519615744484_145269713_nbeneficial to have on this trip!

From wiki,

“The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when they are unaware. Many cultures believe that receiving the evil eye will cause misfortune or injury.[1] Talismans created to protect against the evil eye are also frequently called “evil eyes”.[2][3]“

I went to Byward Market and stopped by Peace Garden Cafe for a late lunch. The Peace Garden Cafe is a well known vegan restaurant in the area and it is very good! I don’t normally eat 10693472_589183677854027_905841335_nvegan, but I wanted to stop by a cafe that fit in with the new age/zen theme I was going for that day.

 

 

 

After an afternoon out in the city I came home and did some preparation in my art journal for my week and went to bed on the earlier side to get ready for my week ahead!

Sunday

I left Ottawa after having breakfast with Clemence who graciously bought me a small coffee and croissant! We went to a near by mall so I could by some postcards and we ate breakfast and ended up talking about our lives and plans for the future… I left to meet up with my group at 12pm at the National Gallery for lunch. I finally was able to relax a bit after meeting up with them and eating something more substantial. Then I followed the group to the hostel that most of everyone stayed at. I didn’t stay at the hostel because it claimed to have been haunted and being a medium in a haunted place I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.

We then left to goDSC_0051 to Pine and Birch Ranch and once we got there we checked out the property and did our artist talks and had dinner.

 

 

 

 

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Art, Ayatana, Biophilia, Blog, Canada, Excursions, International, Realize, Reflections, Residencies, Travel, ◆◆◆

Writing: Biophilia – Ayatana Artist Researchers Group

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I recently went to Ottawa, CA and Wakefield, QC for an artist research group for the week. The residency was research based so we didn’t have to produce something.The research group is called Ayatana Artist Research Program.

From it’s website,

 “The Ayatana Artist Research Program is a Canadian, artist run, residency program dedicated to encouraging hands on research, adventure, experimentation and collaboration between visiting artists. Ayatana workshops focus on experience and encounters with the natural world. The residency facilitates field research and contact with scientists and experts in a diverse range of settings.”

I was really excited to have found a residency that spoke to artists who focus their work on science, art and spirituality. This community in the art world is very small, but exists. It’s hard to know what’s out there if you don’t go searching for it. For example, I recently applied for a conference in Bilbao, Spain to present my work in Kirlian Photography. It is a completely fully funded experience… but the conference is geared towards artists, technologists and bioartists!

To commemorate this residency, I will be doing a series much like my California Seventeen series.

I also took up the task of designing and completing the group’s publication for the week. It’s almost done, I just need to get everyone’s info for the book. So excited to debut it!

I was also assigned to do an Ottawa,CA feature on Jetsetter Gypsy through my internship and wrote about Pine and Birch Ranch where we stayed. This should be posted soon.

The next post in this series will list the table of contents.

Art, Blog, Excursions, Reflections, Travel, ◆◆◆

Biophilla Residency First Impressions

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I’ve been able to fit this blog post in because I came down with a cold! I vomited twice last night, have chills, a sore throat and vomiting. I decided to stay home to recover a bit and fight it off. With my fear of vomiting I decided to not go today. But it’s nice to have some ‘me’ time this week. It’s been difficult to do that – not that that is a bad thing, the group is fantastic, it’s just I miss my ‘me’ time.

This residency is better than I expected… which is always a good thing and has given me some fresh ideas and inspirations for new projects but at the same time I didn’t really know what to expect. I went in with an open mind and so glad I did. It is SO nice to be able to talk to like-minded individuals – talking about science and art.

The first two days we did a bit of hiking. The first one was down a mountain we climbed through a chairlift to see the foliage and the second we hiked through a forest in a national park. We were supposed to meet with an arborist to talk about the trees but I had to drive the group that day due to the group van breaking down the first night. The park didn’t have a specific address so I couldn’t plug it in the GPS and it was hard to orientate yourself. But we got there and focused the hike on finding things for the Kirlian workshop I did later that night! The kirlian workshop also came out really well and we got some cool negatives! So well, they want to do it again!

Yesterday, we went on a third hike into the forest to see the reptiles and amphibians with a specialist. We just happened to see a beaver, three types of tree frogs and a salamander. I’ve got some really cool photos.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of the week unfolds and to see where things go.

 

Art, Blog, Excursions, Projects, Realize, Research, Travel, ◆◆◆

Residency: Ayatana Research Program

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]From Sunday September 28th to Saturday October 4th, I’ll be at Pine and Birch Retreat here in Ottawa, CA for the Ayatana Research Group residency. I’ll post infrequently, if not at all throughout the week. I need sometime to unplug and reground and figured this week would be a perfect opportunity.  I quite honestly don’t know what to expect, but I hope I come out of this program as a more enlightened artist![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Other Pieces” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic” el_class=”widget-title”][vc_masonry_grid post_type=”ids” element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ item=”masonryGrid_OverlayWithRotation” grid_id=”vc_gid:1534894494196-34e8d5d5-dc08-7″ include=”3715, 15095, 15102, 15201″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Art, Excursions, Exhibitions, Travel, ◆◆◆

Surface & Depth exhibition at The Golden Thread Gallery

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Surface & Depth
The Golden Thread Gallery

10559889_890557867624184_6154000368628523859_nOn Saturday the 13th I drove out to West Hartford, CT to attend the reception for the Surface & Depth gallery. I really like this space and it is cool that it is underneath a monastery/spiritual retreat center. I’m thinking about becoming a member once I have some extra money. I like that their exhibition themes are big/philosophical ideas rather than ‘landscapes’ or ‘still lives’, etc. I actually found it very hard to choose which exhibit to submit my artwork to! Many of their themes for this season can fit my artwork. This is Seaweed’s first group show. 🙂 Being a spiritual retreat center the crowd was a little bit older, so the reception was quieter than normal, and I didn’t really know anyone there which made it hard to reach out and mingle. But I’m glad I went because the energy of the place was really nice and it’s a great gallery.

Art, Excursions, Receptions, Travel, ◆◆◆

Institute for Human Centered Design – Reception

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DSCN0390July 23rd, I went into Boston to attend the reception for the ADA 24th Celebration at the Institute for Human Centered Design. I really wanted this exhibition, and I’m glad that my artwork was accepted! This was pine needles second exhibition (Gallery Ehva was first). The reception was very nice and it great to meet the people behind the exhibition and event. There was a poetry slam after the reception and then my family and my brother’s girlfriend and I went to Ward 6, a really good restaurant near by. Great evening!

Excursions, Travel, ◆◆◆

Witches Brew Coffee House, Long Island and an Interview

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I left at 11am this morning to go to an interview in West Babylon, NY for tomorrow. It is an in-house graphic design position. I am excited for it, as the position fit me to a T. I used Airbnb again and my host is lovely. He’s a desktop publishing teacher for the financial sector so I thought it was interesting that I picked his apartment! I went up the day before so I could arrive on-time and stress free at my interview.

The company is called Saberin Systems and they generally make products in technology for the 10525485_1459870944262706_262918770_nfinancial sector, I guess their office is expanding and they are looking for more internal employees. It looks like the work will mostly be internal and not for external customers.

On the way I passed I wicked cool cafe on Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead called The Witches Brew Cafe! It was a bit expensive, but I wanted to try it out because apparently it is a very popular attraction. I had their baked brie and cho hazelnut marsh drink, the baked brie was delicious. I thought it was very good and the decor is very cool! As a gypsy soul I felt very at home there. 🙂

I then walked around a bit and bought milk for breakfast tomorrow. I’m planning on stopping by The Genie Within, a metaphysical store in Babylon before my interview. I don’t expect to buy anything but it’d be cool to check it out at least. I’m also hoping to snap a few photos before I leave.

 

2ex4NlVNGLr7a8This is where I sat in the Witches Brew except this is a photo during the winter time

Art, Blog, Excursions, Receptions, Travel, ◆◆◆

A Solo Show: Electrolyte!

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groundingsllc2I had my reception for Electrolyte! yesterday at Groundings! It was a great success and the right amount of time too. I think 2 hours for a reception is good. For Studio19, my reception/party I think was 3 hours, but I guess it depends on the event. It was just enough for me to meet some of the locals and talk about my artwork.

It was fun meeting a woman who happened to work at the photography studio right next to Minuteman Press. She was their photo retoucher and just happened to be there for a massage but enjoyed the artwork as well once she learned more about it.

I want to say there was a small crowd of people at the reception. Which was nice because I did a lot of internet marketing, but I couldn’t get my press release onto any of the media websites because it was membership only. Meh. For refreshments there was snapple, water and soda and we had cookies and a fruit bowl.

 

b672b7_1a252479d5cf30365cb9b2b12009097e.jpg_512Then my parents took me out to tapas food in Northampton, MA. We ate at Ibiza on Strong Ave in Noho. My parents told me that they got married in a park in Noho and wanted to check out the park as well as Main st. At the tapas restaurant we had a lot of delicious food! I even liked some dishes that I normally would turn my nose up at… and that was really refreshing. We had their mussels, crab croquettes, vegetable crepes, meatballs, pork raviolis, short ribs and raw tuna.