Friday, June 27, 2008

Luke You at the Toronto Zine Library


















Please join us for a talk with special guest Luke You of Melbourne, Australia, brought to you by the Toronto Zine Library Collective.

Luke You makes a free weekly paper zine called 'You'. He has published a copy every week since November 2001. The zine usually
takes the form of an anonymous hand written letter sealed with staples in a paper bag. The zine is produced in the city Luke You lives in - Melbourne, Australia. Luke has been publishing zines anonymously in Melbourne since 1994.

Luke is also one of the coordinators and one of the founding members
of the Melbourne zine store Sticky. Sticky is dedicated to promoting and distributing zines and artist-books and has been getting the zines to the kids since April 2001. His talk will cover his involvement in the Australian zine scene, his own zine 'You" as well as his involvement in the Melbourne zine store Sticky. This is the final gig in his zine world tour which took in Melbourne, Chicago, Bloomington and Toronto.

Sunday, July 6th, 2008.
1:30pm

Toronto Zine Library at the TRANZAC
292 Brunswick Avenue
2nd Floor Rehersal Hall
Toronto, Canada


For more information, contact:

torontozinelibrary@hotmail.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

WWS Coverage in MONDOmagazine














Here's an online article I found about the World Washi Summit that featured little write-ups of both events I participated in. The forth-mentioned origami shoes at TSA and crocheted washi scarf at the OCC are both mine. And congrats to my friend Yoko for getting a really nice mention in the piece...


Craftflash: Awash in Washi

World Washi Summit
June 7-15, 2008
35 locations in and around Toronto


By Amy Borkwood

How many ways can you possibly manipulate Washi — through folding, gluing, dyeing, painting, cutting, printing, sewing, etc. — in order to create something absolutely new? This is what the World Washi Summit seemed to be asking of its artists throughout this one-week exhibition of Washi (the Japanese word for traditional papers, made by hand for over 1400 years, from renewable, indigenous plants). Galleries (and restaurants, retail stores, and more) all across the city dedicated their spaces to the exploration of this traditional paper, featuring new and experienced artists, all working within the medium of Washi.

The hand-making and traditional uses of Washi — and this is applicable to fine craft and handmade goods in general — have drastically reduced with the use of machines in traditionally handmade goods and materials. The purpose of the summit is to draw attention to the traditional roles of Washi, through showcasing the creative possibilities of this medium.

The potentials of Washi seem limitless: at the Toronto School of Art exhibition, there was an exact replica of a newspaper, intricately hand-lettered and hand-drawn, next to an installation of origami shoes, spread along the entire gallery floor, which ended at a podium full of shakeable folded boxes (seeds and bells sounding inside). My favourite piece at this gallery was Yoko Nomura’s “Yozakura (Cherry Blossom in the Night),” which was really a study of the Washi itself: loosely layered sheets of Washi, made with Washi-petals inside the paper as well as on the floor directly in front of the piece, as if the petals had been falling slowly from within the paper over the course of the exhibition.

My boyfriend and I subwayed and trammed down to Propeller gallery, just to find that the show didn’t officially open until the next day — only to be let in for an early showing by a (wonderful) woman working in the gallery. Though the gallery wasn’t completely ready to be viewed — there were papers and rulers along the floor, notes on the walls about the placement of each piece — the work that we saw was stunning. One piece by Teri Donovan stood out: black-ink prints of houses on off-white Washi, with hand-embroidered root systems trailing from each house.

After Propeller we headed to the Ontario Craft Council gallery, where 13 artists had been working over the June 7/8 weekend to create gorgeous, innovative Washi works. Within two days, the artists collaborated or worked individually to craft mobiles, “paper cups” (glass cups overflowing with torn Washi), jewellery (a necklace made of large, egg-like sculptured Washi), multiple collages, and even a scarf knit from Washi and shredded office paper. The OCC exhibition, all crafted within the two-day deadline, is now being auctioned off to the public. Go to the OCC show if only to see the knit-paper scarf. Honestly, how is that possible?

***

Original article can be found here.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Washi Lockdown and Auction at the OCC


















So the Washi Lockdown is over and done with! It was pretty intense, but a really awesome experience. It was a real luxury being able to make work for 24 hours (almost) straight, with 12 (incredible) artists and craftspeople.

I didn't make it out to the auction, but I'm thrilled that two of my three pieces sold, and that the event was a great success for the OCC. My sincere thanks go out to Katherine McKellar, Janna Hiemstra, and the rest of the Ontario Crafts Council for organizing a really incredible event, as well as to all of my fellow participating artists.

For those of you interested in taking a look at the goings-on last weekend, check out the official OCC Washi Lockdown Blog, which lists the results of the auction, and features exclusive photographs of the two-day event: http://
occwashilockdown2008.blogspot.com

AND...tomorrow is the last day of the World Washi Summit! Make use of the day and be sure to go out and see as may of the fine WWS exhibitions around the city as possible!

http://www.worldwashisummit.com

Pictured: Tara Bursey, Web, knotted washi and straight pins (2008)

Friday, June 06, 2008

Washi Lockdown and Auction at the OCC














Ontario Crafts Council Washi Lockdown & Auction

Washi Lockdown June 7th and 8th, 9am - 9 pm
Washi Auction Party June 11th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, 990 Queen Street West, Toronto


14 craftspeople + 1 gallery space x 2 days = infinite possibilities

Throw in all the washi paper they can handle and you get the Washi Lockdown & Auction in support of the Ontario Crafts Council In partnership with the World Washi Summit and the Japanese Paper Place, the Ontario Crafts Council is pleased to present the Washi Lockdown & Auction. Developed as a means to engage both our membership and the public in a new and exciting way, the Washi Lockdown was inspired by both the creative potential and beauty of washi paper and the pioneering efforts of the Emma Lake International Collaboration.

This weekend, June 7th and 8th, 14 craftspeople in all media from across Ontario will be locked into the Ontario Crafts Council Gallery together for 2 days. Pushing the boundaries of traditional craft practice they will create a series of one-of-a-kind collaborations incorporating washi paper that will be auctioned off the evening of June 11th. Stop by the gallery and peer through peep holes cut into washi paper covering the front window of the gallery.

Don't miss a rare opportunity to bid on truly unique collaboratively hand-made objects.

The Washi Lockdown brings together emerging, mid career and senior craftspeople, including Tanya Norman, Brad Copping, Marc Egan, Yusun Ha, Tiana Roebuck, Jess Riva Cooper, Tara Bursey, Andrew Curle, Emma Gerard, Joel Dunkley, Patrick Collins, Julie Laschuk, Kathleen Doody and Lubo Brezina. The live auction on June 11th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm, is your chance to get your hands on the one of a kind pieces of craft created during this unusual event. 100% of funds raised will go to support the Council’s programming and exhibitions schedule. All work created will be on display in advance of the auction at the OCC Gallery June 9th and10th.

For more information about the OCC and the Washi Lockdown & Auction contact
Katherine McKellar at 416-925-4222 ext.222 or kmckellar@craft.on.ca. To learn more about the World Washi Summit and the vast creative potential and importance of washi paper please visit www.worldwashisummit.com.