Upcoming Classes in 2012 11/15/2011
Here's a heads up on the line up of workshops in the first half of 2012. More details will follow. 14 January -- Basic Screenwriting Seminar 31 January -- Synopsis Workshop 4 February -- Writing for the Documentary Seminar 3 March -- Travel Writing Seminar 6 March -- Character Workshop 27 March -- Treatment Workshop 7 April -- Writing for Children Seminar 1 May -- Setting & Description Workshop 15 May -- Poetry Workshop 29 May -- Script Workshop 26 June -- Dialogue Workshop To be kept up to date, sign up for the mailing list. There's a box for that on the main page. Add Comment  For the second year in a row, the Part-time Faculty at Concordia held a showcase to highlight the research and achievements of its professors who teach at Concordia. I was pleased to participate with my book No Small Potatoes. It was a great opportunity to meet some of my colleagues as well as the many passersby who stopped to chat and find out more about the part-time profs who bring a unique perspective to their teaching at the university. “Part-time faculty bring an applied knowledge but also a pedagogical one to thousands of students,” says Peluso, part-time Political Science Lecturer and President of the Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association (CUPFA). “This unique view can only improve students’ perspective of their education and their future careers. Concordia’s reputation is enhanced by having such faculty in our classrooms.”  During the day, I held a raffle for one of my books, and the lucky winner was Valerie Walker. Turned out that Valerie won the book on her birthday. What a lovely synchronicity! Valerie is a fibre artist who teaches in the Design & Computation Arts department. She was showcasing some of her tie-dye pieces made using an ancient Japanese method called shibori. There were over 40 part-time faculty members showcasing their work, and I was honoured to be among such talented people. Looking forward to next year's showcase, and hope to see you there! Art x 9 Art Show Opens in Two Days! 09/28/2011
 It's only two more days before the opening of Art x 9, an event organized in conjunction with Les Journees de la Culture. Art x 9 combines an art show with activities, and it's all free! At left, you can see a mosaic of art work details from each of the pieces made by artists involved in the show. It's just a sneak peak, though, and to see the full pieces, you'll have to come to our show, which opens on Friday, September 30 at 10am, and goes until 5pm on Sunday, October 2nd. The vernissage is this Friday, from 5 to 7pm. Please drop by for some wine and nibblies to help celebrate our event. Don't forget to RSVP for the vernissage and/or show by clicking here. There will also be several free activities:
See you there! Un peu de Virginie Martin, Art x 9 artiste 09/23/2011
 Dans moins d’une semaine se tiendront les Journées de la Culture, notre culture célébrée partout au Québec. Pour ma part, ce sera la première fois que j’y participe en tant qu’artiste et non visiteur. Malgré que je suis de la Montérégie, j’ai été généreusement accueillie au sein d’un groupe d’artistes dynamiques de la région de Montréal.  Je suis artisan-joaillière formée à l’École de joaillerie de Montréal. Je travaille principalement l’argent sterling et les pierres naturelles. Je travaille rarement autour de thèmes précis dans ma création. Je dirais même que je sais rarement au départ ce que deviendra une pièce sinon que la grande majorité de mes créations ont pour inspiration une pierre, qu’elle soit précieuse ou non.  Pour cette exposition, il nous était demandé de créer une pièce autour du thème de notre perception du Québec. Suite à quelques réflexion, j’ai choisi « Persistance ». La persistance du peuple Québécois dans sa différence, dans ses convictions, dans ses idées. Je voulais que la pièce ait un goût de nature, d’espoir mais qu’elle soit minimaliste.  Je n’en parlerai pas plus, je vous laisse la découvrir, ainsi que toutes les créations de mes 8 acolytes, sur place dès vendredi soir. Au plaisir, Virginie A Bit About Indra Singh - Art x 9 Artist 09/22/2011
 The work I am showing at Art x 9 is the first attempt at a self-portrait where I am confronting my identity; it is an exploration in what constitutes a Quebec/Canadian citizen. While conceiving and painting this piece, I quickly realized the convoluted path I was to follow in my attempts in understanding my own identity let alone in trying to communicate it to others. Social, familial and gender issues all come into play in layers, covering, uncovering, yet always affecting the other. At first, I was interested only in the bi-culturalism aspect of my heritage, but the more I worked at the painting, the more I became aware that one's identity is the sum of many things that can reach beyond the culture of one's parents.  I have been painting and drawing horses for many years and now and then, they may play a minor role for a while. You can see them in the self-portrait I am showing at Art x 9 —small, but there. Horses will always be an important part of my identity. If anyone would like me to create an identity piece for them, or a more traditional portrait, I would gladly accept the commission. Also, please let me know if you would like to be on my mailing list regarding new works, or if you are interested in attending my workshops and lessons re painting and drawing. ---------------------------- Contact the artist via her website. Click on the horse above to be taken there.    Creative Writing Group Seeking Writers 09/21/2011
 I'm always encouraging my creative writing students to start a writer's group as a way of carrying on the work they begin in my classes, and from time to time, I get queries asking if I know of any open writing groups. As it happens, a couple of my former students have an ongoing group. Recently, I asked them if they were looking for new members, and they are. So, here's a word from one of the founding members. JustWrite Montreal is a small group of writers with a desire to do what the name states: write. We've found meeting other writers is a great way to stay motivated, improve one’s skills, and that doing so in a low-pressure environment makes it fun. All forms of writing is welcome, with meetings spent providing comments on written work, brainstorming ideas, and talking about new discoveries in writing. Open to new members, the group meets every two weeks at either the Starbucks on Ste-Catherine (Montreal) or less frequently at the Starbucks on Boulevard du Quartier (Brossard, near the Dix30) - depending on what works best for all. Transportation is often available too. A Google group exists (JustWriteMontreal), which is used to organize meetings, share links to blogs/articles, and occasionally post written work. There is no cost to join the group. All that is required is an eagerness to write, to critique fairly, and of course buy something at the Starbucks! If interested, please e-mail me (chapmanjeffrey @ gmail.com) to find out more.  So here in the beautiful city of Montreal in slightly less than two weeks our Culture Days 2011 will take place. Les Journées de la culture is comprised of several hundred amazing, fun free events happening all over Montreal. This is a celebration of the artistic and cultural abundance in the city and Culture Days are going on country-wide. So much to see, do and experience.I will be participating in an activity called Art x 9. This event includes myself and seven other Montreal-based artists who have made works celebrating life and art as we see it in the context of Montreal. From the 30th of September to the 2nd of October join us at Studio BBG for demos and workshops (Screenwriting, Bodhran Playing, Face Painting, Jewelry Demos and more).  My piece for this show is a textured acrylic work inspired by the architecture of the city. This piece represents the way that upon leaving my home I am immersed in the culture of Quebec and its art as soon as I step out the door each day. A wrought iron spiral staircase winds down to street level from a beautiful brick facade, stained glass windows, with fleur de lys motifs look out over the street. Gardens with Tiger Lillies explode into life around the stairwell. The side walk is covered in chalk drawings of different coloured hand prints representing the cultural diversity that blesses the city and amidst all of those hands is the Fleur de Lys again chalked in this time on cement. Underneath it all on the bottom panel lies the Spirit of The City uniting the whole, sending living shoots up through the cracks in the sidewalk, full of patience and mystery, only this connected being knows all of the secrets that this city has to offer. This piece differs from my regular work in that I am usually working on a much larger scale and the theme of my work is usually much more mythological and meditative with a lot more texture. I seldom do cityscapes of any sort as I am inspired by the truly natural world. This was a challenge for me in that I had to find some way to meld the two so that the piece would speak from my heart and also convey what it is for me to live here and how I am affected by the art and culture of this city. I am glad to do commissioned works and viewings of my current work are available by appointment. You can see pictures of a few of my other paintings below or on my web sites listed below. ----------------------- To get in touch with the artist: 514-473-5682 www.elissabaltzer.com http://elissafaeryfire.blogspot.com/ elissabaltzer@gmail.com    Art x 9 Schedule Now Posted 09/17/2011
 All of the artists involved with Art x 9 will be on hand during the three-day show, at one time or another. If you'd like to meet with a particular artist, have a look at the schedule on the Culture Days page. They're waiting for you! Tous les artistes impliqués dans l'Art x 9 sera sur place pendant le spectacle de trois jours, à un moment ou un autre. Si vous souhaitez rencontrer un artiste en particulier, ont un regard sur le calendrier de la page de "Culture Days." Ils vous attendent pour vous! The Language of Flowers - Book Review 09/06/2011
 One of the many things I like about my job is getting to read books and write about them. Here's my latest book review, published in The Globe and Mail. It's about a young woman who finds her way by using the hidden messages in flowers. The novel has made me see the world of flowers in a completely different light, and I particularly like the fact that an index of the meaning of flowers is included at the back of the book. Check out my review by clicking here. Culture Days Web site Launched! 09/03/2011
 Check out the Culture Days web site. It's up and has a really neat search function to help you plan your three days of free cultural activities. In this picture are the Art x 9 artists: Meredith Hayes, Elizabeth Johnston, Indra Singh, Shannon Rochon, Thaneah Krohn, Julie Webb, Elissa Balzter, and hostess of our events, Nadia Vani. Look here for upcoming blog entries about all the activities Art x 9 is planning for you.
| AuthorElizabeth Johnston is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. ArchivesNovember 2011 Categories |
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