Mackenzie Art Gallery

For a about a month, i have been informally searching for a way to feel a part of a local arts community. I am finding that the only way to really find out about these things is to talk to people. THere is no central place where you can go, or no central person, where you can just ask 'I want to be part of the local arts scene... where should i go? what should i do?'. However, if you casually ask around about these things, you slowly get little tidbits of what to do, where to go, who to talk to. I find this fascinating. You talk to one person, and they show you what they know, leading you down one path. Others lead you down another. I find there is actually quite a lot happening in my small city, but it is just all beneath the radar. If you aren't tapped into the arts scene, it's all kind of hidden to you. I wonder why that is?

I went to an ATC session at the Mackenzie Art Gallery today. The facilitator there from the gallery mentioned that he had a mat cutter available in the back, and when i went to use it i saw that they had full studios back there! I guess it makes sense, since they have all the artists there and such, but i had always pictured the making of this art as seperate... something created at home and then brought to the gallery. I bet there are many that are like that, but as i saw from the space there, that is not the case with all artists. I was amazed to see all the different materials they had there... my fingers just started to itch when i saw the big bucket of wax... "just take the wax and run" hahaha (i have recently been facinated by encaustic art). So i started talking with the facilitator, asking I could get in on this great space they had there. And he was all like 'Oh, we have Studio Sundays, where they are open to the public. Didn't you know?' Hunh. I definately didn't know. I love getting to know more and more about my city, and the things that hare happening 'below the radar' of the general public's knowledge.

THe trading yesterday was great. They had a small workshop about how to do packing tape transfers. Exciting, cheap, easy and it looks good. How could you go wrong with that?

As you were saying in your comment, Andre, i agree. I think it's time for me to start dabbling in larger art. I have been playing around in ATCs... i like them because they are small. It is a good way to experiment with different techniques, medias, methods and such without having a huge time commitment for each project. And I also love collecting the cards.... having little pieces art from all over the place. I find it rather exciting. However, i think it is time for me to start trying some bigger things out there too. Like actually using a canvas maybe? Making something bigger than 3.5 inches? I still want to continue making ATCs, for i do love them, but i want to branch out in other areas as well. Just don't know what direction to go yet. Maybe some time at 'Studio Sunday' will help me today? Just checking out what others are doing and such. Wish me luck :)