Setting up at Sooke Harbour House

Here’s a link to the set up for Sooke Harbour House.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150960569791867.412004.654616866&type=1&l=ba645214f2

Thanks again to the Sooke Harbour House Art Gallery!

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And here’s a slideshow of all the mosaics:
http://glass-on-glass.ning.com/photo/photo/slideshow?albumId=5066367:Album:11124

Deryk’s paintings are here: http://www.derykhouston.com/?page_id=2121

Thanks again to the folks at the amazing Sooke Harbour House!

Mosaic accepted in Sooke Fine Arts Exhibition

I’m really happy that my submission was accepted into the Sooke Fine Arts exhibition July 28 — Monday, August 6, 2012.

The complete list of artists whose work will be on display is here:

http://sookefinearts.com/information-for-artists/art-selected-for-2012/

 

http://glass-on-glass.ning.com/photo/birth-of-venus

Local Colour – an art exhibition with Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn

“Local Colour” is the name of the exhibition that Deryk and I will have for the month of August in the fabulous Sooke Harbour House.

Beautiful Soft Folds – acrylic painting by Deryk Houston – $2000

Deryk will show several of his acrylic paintings (including this one, called “Beautiful Soft Folds.”)

“Local Colour” is an exhibition title that suits us both.

Thank Your Lucky Stars (glass on glass mosaic)

Much of Deryk’s work is inspired by nature and the lush fertility of our great West Coast – he truly does depict the colors seen locally and he has an amazing feeling for movement and vibrancy.

More about Deryk’s work at: http://derykhouston.com/

See: a web page of all of Deryk’s paintings in the exhibition.

 

 

My work is made from recycled glass which I collect from friends, nearby thrift stores and yard sales. I love broken chunks and I melt individual pieces in the kiln so they are flat enough to adhere to my base glass — windows discarded from heritage houses that I use as my canvas. I think I am preserving some of the local colour as well and I am always inspired by the stories behind the discarded glass. I may not exactly knowthat those now-chipped amber water goblets were someone’s treasure back in 1960, but I can guess that there was a day when they got put in a box and sent to charity. When I flatten them and add them to a mosaic, I feel like I am giving them a new life.

Autumn Sonata – glass on glass mosaic

I will exhibit about seven or eight glass-on-glass mosaics, including my latest pieces: “Autumn Sonata” and “Thank Your Lucky Stars” (as usual, these are named after movies).

More about my work at
http://glass-on-glass.ning.com/

Sooke Harbour House is a fantastic location. We are delighted that they will be showcasing our work. So, if you’re in that area during August, please drop in. The gallery can be viewed by anyone who comes by. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel or restaurant, but you can count yourself among the lucky if you *do* happen to be there for a meal or a vacation. It truly is “world class.”

Vedran performs again in Sarajevo

Vedran Smailovic had not performed in his hometown of Sarajevo for twenty years.

Yesterday, April 5, marked the 20th anniversary of the shelling of that city and Vedran returned to play his cello again.

Cellist of Sarajevo, Vedran Smailović from Marcel van der Steen on Vimeo.

Here’s a news article about the event.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/cellist-sarajevo-plays-again-mark-anniversary-shelling-city-172552540–spt.html

I have always viewed Vedran’s actions during the siege as an example of the power of the arts to give people hope. It’s about picking up the pieces and rebuilding and it’s a perfect message to think of once again at Easter. Springtime is a new beginning.

(Above is a video of me reading my book about Vedran Smailovic: “Echoes from the Square” with artwork by my husband, Deryk Houston)