Art Prodigy (Proof)

I’ve talked before of my daughter as a budding artistic genius here and here. Still, I’ve done so with my tongue planted fairly firmly in cheek. Now that she’s actually started creating art it’s a whole new ballgame.


Take, for example, the following drawing, created by Gaia in Mid-May 2010.

Notice her choice dark, muted colour palette of browns, slate blues and greys? See how her lines vibrate with raw anger in their sharp, staccato placement across the page? Notice how the artist (formerly known as G) has ripped a portion of paper at the right of the page. Was this a way to highlight the artist’s (decidedly negative) take on the state of our broken world or perhaps even confront the viewer with their own mortality?

The day I found this drawing tucked in G’s cubby I was greeted by a baby ball of rage and a daily report reading only “This morning Gaia enjoyed screaming loudly with (her baby BFF) in the aquatic viewing area.” I noticed she also refused to nap, eat or generally be pleasant in any way. This behaviour carried on well through the evening. I wouldn’t hesitate to classify to the day this drawing was conceived as a decidedly bad one.

In contrast take the following drawing, created by Gaia yesterday.

Notice the bright, tonal colour palette of greens, reds, purples and blues? See how her lines flow along the page in rhythmic harmony? See how the artist is attempting to recognise the beauty of nature with the abstract representation to the left of the image? Is it a tree, perhaps a symbol for her own growth or simply a rush of frenetic energy reaching skyward?

Yesterday when I found this drawing tucked in G’s cubby I was greeted by a giggly baby and a daily report that read “Gaia coloured with so much enthusiasm today! She had a crayon in both hands and moved them quickly across the table.” She took two naps, played outside and ate two servings of meatloaf at lunch. Her behaviour was such that kissing her on the forehead as I gathered our things caused her to laugh so loudly it set the other babies off in waves of glee. I’d say it’s clear that the day this drawing was conceived was a decidedly good one.

My point? My daughter is a true artistic genius, in touch with the very deepest corners of her soul with the ability to capture her emotion on her chosen canvas (scrap paper – ever the environmentalist) that I have no doubt the world will take notice.

I told you so.

Giving Thanks

Music Credit: Thank You by Led Zeppelin

Art Prodigy (Blow Your House In)

If you're a regular here you might remember this. Well, Gaia and I spent this morning at the MacKenzie Art Gallery and as always she came home with a lot to say. Perhaps I need not state the obvious but come on, clearly she's an artistic genius. Foisting my dreams on my child - who me?

G – Mama, I wanted to talk to you about the exhibition we saw today if I may.

Me – Of course. Did you enjoy it?

G – Well, it was nice to go to the gallery, as always. I do so enjoy contemporary art. But I’m left troubled by some of the issues being addressed by Vernon Ah Kee.

Me – Was it the faces? They are a little scary.

G – Don’t patronise me. While the faces were a little disturbing I wouldn’t demean them by referring to them as “scary”. Please. I thought they were a very appropriate and moving depiction of the artist’s view of how others see the aboriginal community. The hollow, black eyes and mouth offering a clear vision of a silenced, disrespected people. I found them moving.

Me – Oh.

G – I also enjoyed the exhibition title and how it suggests a re-examination of the story of the Three Little Pigs from the perspective of the wolf. I’d never thought about how we only hear one side of the story and how Ah Kee encourages us to consider different perspectives such as the pigs as colonisers taking the land from the wolf and the acceptance of a villainous characterisation and the validity within that construct.

Me – How do you know the story of the Three Little Pigs? I don’t remember reading it to you.

G – You know I do read when you’re not around. Seriously mother, can you focus? As I was saying, I just think his point of view, as an Australian aboriginal has so much resonance here in Saskatchewan with our own aboriginal community being as large as it is. He really spoke to some universal issues. The work has brought up a number of troubling issues in my mind, ones that I think are important to bring to the forefront. My hope is that exhibitions like this one might get people talking about their own biases so they can eventually be deconstructed.

Me – Wow. That’s a great point. You know, I thought it was really interesting, at the artist talk on Friday as Ah Kee was explaining his point-of-view, how he noted perhaps the wolf was trying to warn the pigs about a meteorological phenomenon (the wind that eventually “blew their house in”) or perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding because the wolf and pigs spoke a different language or came from different cultures.

G – Yes, well I would comment on that but you chose to attend the event on Friday on your own. Ahem.

Me – Gaia-bear we talked about this, it was an evening event and you know you get cranky if you’re not in bed by 8:00pm.

G – Whatever you say.

Me – Can we move on?

G – I suppose. Beyond the content I also found the presentation of his work quite striking – the row of faces and the large, bold words on the walls. In fact, the text reminded me of the work of Jenny Holtzer, who I know you enjoy, and the use of simple but evocative text to convey a message.

Me – Yes, I had made that connection as well.

G – Oh? You didn’t say. That’s convenient. Anyway. I also thought the large portrait of his grandfather was beautiful. It’s my understanding the artist does a number of these of his family members and that they have some correlation to the black and white archival photos of the Australian aboriginal community. I think it’s moving to take something used to classify or rationalise a people and transform it into a media that offers some dignity and respect.

Me – Speaking of portraits, did you enjoy the student exhibition we went through? You know, that’s the project I was working on last year while you were still in my belly.

G – I know, I remember.

Me – Oh do you...

G – Of course. It really was amazing though, to see two years of work from students up there in the gallery. I’m so looking forward to meeting the artists at the opening this weekend.

Me – Yeah. Me too.

Vernon Ah Kee: Blow Your House In is on at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until January 3, 2010. The exhibition is a culmination of the work he did as a artist-in-residence with the gallery this summer.

Looking In, Looking Out: Qui suis-je maintenant? is on until Februrary 28, 2010. It’s an exhibition of work by students who took part in an incredible bridging project which aimed to bring youth from different 'cultures' within Saskatchewan (specifically École Monseigneur de Laval, Sacred Heart Community School, Scott Collegiate, Michael A. Riffel High School and Chief Kahkewistahaw Community School) together to explore their identity and the identity of others through engagement with the variety of work displayed at the gallery from 2007 to 2009. Students got the opportunity to tour the exhibitions and respond to them with the help of a number of talented artists. Their finished work ranges from three dimensional plaster masks to Warhol-esque portraiture to video screen tests to beadwork and more. They also had the opportunity interact with each other, facing preconceived notions of their differences and breaking them down as they recognised all the ways in which they could relate. I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of this amazing adventure while working at the gallery last year and am so looking forward to celebrating in the achievements of these students at the opening on Sunday, September 20th (1:00pm-4:00pm). If you’re in town I highly recommend you join us. It’s truly a unique and inspiring exhibition.

The Catapult

Jaydeen (one of my BFFs who I write about frequently) and her main-man-Myles have started a blog which promises to be chock full of amazing photographs. Both have a wonderful and unique way of seeing the world and Jaydeen's photos in particular leave me wanting to wax poetic about life and art and travel and beauty. I've been begging her for years to get her shit together for an exhibition in Miami (where she currently lives) but for now this will have to do. A professional by no means her photos are simply a momentary glimpse of what life must look like through her eyes. We should all be so lucky to see what she sees.

If I haven't convinced you yet then have a look at some of my favourite shots she took while she helped me survive in the two weeks after Gaia was born.

Art Prodigy

Lately Gaia has been talking up a storm. It’s all coos and goo-goo-gah-gahs of course but I like to think the prevalence of this baby talk in the last few weeks is indicative of some serious intellectual action going on in her little baby cranium. In reading about language development I’ve learned it’s important to encourage this baby talk and enthusiastically respond so Gaia learns about the art of conversation (speech patterns and the like). Given that I spend twenty-four hours a day with her and very little time with anyone else I feel pretty stoked that talking to my ten-week old makes me a good mother and not some crazy lady who has conversations with her baby. I started out simple, offering the occasional “Oh really?” “That’s interesting!” and “Tell me more.” Today I decided to go for the gusto and attempt some more meaningful dialogue. We went out this afternoon and saw the new exhibitions at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. Our conversation in the car on the way home went a little something like this:

Me – What did you think of the work we saw today at the gallery Gaia-bear?

Baby G – Well mother, I particularly enjoyed the Ted Godwin paintings. The pieces were so animated and intense. I can certainly see why he called the execution of these works “the big attack”. I think that phrase can have so many meanings... an attack on the accepted art forms of the day and a look towards innovation obviously, but also an attack on the senses, a nod to the experience of the viewer as they look at his work. I found they had great emotional power.

Me – Wow.

Baby G – Indeed. I also think it’s so inspiring, as a child growing up in Saskatchewan, to be exposed to such an important Canadian artist and see the work he produced right here in Regina. It makes me feel encouraged and reminds me that I don’t need to live in a major metropolis to make an impact on the world around me...

Me – I agree... I was thinking about that too and...

Baby G – Umm mama, I wasn’t quite finished.

Me – Oh. Of course. Sorry.

Baby G – As I was saying I think it’s so important to remember that you can be a part of something innovative no matter where you live. I look at the Godwin paintings and think about the Regina Five and I just feel so optimistic. It makes me think of Regina’s important place in Canadian Art History and about the gallery and what an integral role it plays in community education.

Me – Well yes. I’m glad you realise that. It’s just a shame that more people don’t take the opportunity to go to the gallery when it is such a great resource.

Baby G – Of course. I felt that went without saying.

She’s napping now and I’m left marvelling at the level of her observations. She’s obviously an art prodigy.

Ted Godwin: The Regina Five Years, 1957-1967 is on at the MacKenzie Art Gallery until August 30, 2009. Douglas Morton – Re: Surfacing, For Emily and Dana Claxton: Buffalo Bone China are also on for the summer. Please go see them. Admission is free and they really are inspiring.