For one, I always enjoy visiting Oakville. I lived there for over three years, which for me, is long enough to develop a home like feeling of attachment to a place. I always get a little nostalgic kick out of riding the same old buses, passing the same sites and walking the same streets, even eating the same things I used to eat when I lived there. It's also neat to see what's changed while I was away. A new business here, a pretty garden there. So that was nice.
It's also nice visiting Sheridan itself, which I do with less frequency, but for the same reasons. It's only been three years, but wandering the halls after the show, I was surprised by how many little memories came back; classes I kind of forgot about, things that used to be routine.
And it was really nice to see all the work by the current students. This is probably cliche, but I feel like people are getting more and more talented every year. It was also inspiring. It made me wish I was back in school, so I could spend as much time being creative as I used to do. As such, I found myself vowing to make better use of time I do have, and to pursue other ideas I have before I forget how. (That can happen, ya know.)
The best thing of all though, was the people. I didn't see any of the folks who graduated with me, but I did see my teacher. We had a nice little chat and I received some encouraging words from her, which still means a lot. I also saw others from years above and below myself, and met some great new people as well.
One of my favourite things about doing a show like this, especially one with people I feel a kinship with (as alumni of the same school, of course) is doing trades. There's always so much talent at the shows I participate in, but I can't always make purchases. So it's great when someone enjoys my work as well; then we can strike a deal.
The first bargain I made was with Mary MaKenzie. She had just graduated from the ceramics stream of the Craft and Design program, and was making all these crazy peices inspired by the defensive (and sometimes offensive) aspects of some plants. They were really neat; tangley delicate jumbles of thistley, pokey, twiggy bits. They reminded me a bit of the sea, of coral and driftwood, and I overheard a show goer who thought of insects. Mary says they are landscapes of sorts, which I think also made sense.
The piece I traded a leaf necklace for was one of her smaller ones, this lovely little dish with a glass puddle bottom. I love the delicate colour and the detailed pattern. Very pretty.
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The next bargain I made was to trade an organza gathers necklace for this lovely bird pin. The artist is Kerri Andreas, who has just finished her second year in the textiles stream and is heading into a Harbourfront residency for the summer. In addition to textiles, Kerri fuses glass, and so was able to make this silkscreened pin, which I chose because of the blue and the bird. But it was a tough choice. She also had some great fabric neck pieces, some pretty decorative bunting, wall pieces and more. She was really very sweet and great to talk to. I hope to see her again next year.
lovelies.ca
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Finally, I got to make a trade I'd been planning on all day, a pretty ribbon bracelet for this great gummy worm pendant. It was made by Emma Gerard, who was a member of the glass stream around the same time I was attending Sheridan. Her whole table was just delicious, an assortment of flameworked penny candy favourites. I hard a really hard time choosing between a swedish berry pin and this gummi worm pendant. Then I had difficulties choosing colours! But now I've got it, and I can't wait to get it on a chain and wear it. Emma told me she's hoping to go to NASCAD (I think!) to study jewellery. With the talent she already has in glass, I think she could create some really fantastic things.
With all the time I spent preparing for this show, I didn't get a chance to write about the other show I was at recently, this one for Sheridan's Illustration graduates. There was so much incredible talent, I grabbed several business cards just so I could keep an eye on their work. If I get a chance this week, maybe I'll post again to share that great stuff as well!
