female artist

April 2022 - Update

  • Grant Project Update - Becoming a Pixel

  • Vancouver Cityscape (mixed media textile project)

  • Cross-stitch on 23 inch embroidery hoop

  • 30th Birthday & Debt Free


Grant Project Update - Becoming a Pixel

This week marked the start of my next grant project. Huge thanks and photo credit goes to Ivana Djordjevic for taking some beautiful portraits (I'll be sharing more shots from the studio, but you'll have to wait patiently to see those)!

Yesterday morning, I uploaded this photo into StitchFiddle.com to create the pattern I am using to cross-stitch the first portrait from my "Becoming a Pixel" series.

I'm so excited to work on this project and of course I need to make a special shout out to the Canada Council for the Arts for their support in funding this one.

Stay tuned with me on social media in the next couple of days, where I'll be sharing more of the process and behind the scenes.

Photo credit: Ivana Djordjevic - Ease Creative Inc.


Vancouver Cityscape (mixed media textile project)

I began working on a new mixed media textile project which I’m creating specifically for a solo exhibition in February 2023, in Mt. Pleasant Michigan. The theme of the show is “crafted” architecture and I’ll be showing works that feminize masculine imagery through the use of traditional feminine craft processes. I will be constructing a Vancouver cityscape using only textiles and fibres with a combination of hand sewing, machine sewing, crochet, cross-stitch and free hand embroidery. So far the process has been very experimental and I’ve pretty much just been taking it one step at a time and seeing where it takes me.

The first part of the process was taking photographs of the city line and digitally collaging various images of the industrial urban environment. Once I finished this digital collage, I projected the image onto a large piece of craft canvas and sketched the outline of the city using pencil.

Next I had to re-familiarize myself with how to use a sewing machine since it’s been over ten years since I’ve used one (not since high school)! I purchased a second hand sewing machine through Facebook Marketplace. I quickly read the manual and started doing some tests on scraps of fabric. From there it took a little guts and courage to take the leap into sewing with the machine on my large canvas, overall I’m satisfied with how the city outline turned out.

I also started to experiment with free-hand embroidery, which is very new to me! As most of you probably know, cross-stitching has been my main medium of choice for the past several years. So getting out of the structure of the grid and being a little more free with my stitches has been very relaxing and fun to say the least (don’t get me wrong, I still love and prefer to cross-stitch). In the end, the analytical part of my brain is too strong to give into free-hand embroidery over cross-stitching. Trust me it’s just not going to happen.

As I moved onto the next stage of the project I knew I wanted to incorporate fabric, but wasn’t exactly sure how I would do it. I sorted through a box of scraps that my mom delivered to my studio a few days before getting started on the project. I separated similar colours together and landed on three different patterned fabrics in a blue colour scheme. I cut them into two inch strips and started to pin them onto my canvas. Voila! Just like that, I started to visualize the progression of the project!

After pinning the strips, I went straight to the machine and sewed my fabric buildings onto the canvas. With the spaces in between I wanted to use a variety of fibre mediums and so I planned out the layout of the fibre buildings in my sketchbook. I headed to Michaels and purchased a few skeins of yarn which could be used for the project. Then I got started on crocheting building strips in two different shades of blue.

A lot came together for this project in the span of just a few days, but I’m really happy with where it’s going so far! Sad to say that for now the progress on this project is going to slow down as I focus on my grant project and another new large cross-stitch project which I’m making for my show in Sechelt this October 2022.


Cross-stitch on 23 inch embroidery hoop

This large 23 inch embroidery hoop project will also be taking a back burner position for most of this year. Expect to see very slow progression on this one, as it’s for my solo show in Fort Wayne, Indiana in May 2023.


30th Birthday & Debt Free

A few weeks ago I celebrated two big milestones. The first was my 30th birthday, which was a day filled with pampering. The day included a massage, a pedicure and a fabulous dinner with my best friend Mara, at The Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, served by my wonderful cousin Avital!

That same day I made the final payment on my student loans, which is a huge accomplishment and weight off my shoulders. I went to post-secondary directly out of high school and was a full-time university student for seven years straight (four years of which I was also a student athlete). I didn’t have enough time to work a steady job with a steady income.

After graduating with my MFA I found myself a job in Vancouver (with SAXX) which paid salary and I was determined to pay off my loans. Four and a half years later, I did it and I’m thrilled to finally be debt free! Cheers!

March 2022 - Update

  • Canada Council for the Arts project grant 2022 - Becoming a Pixel

  • Inside the new studio/prep for upcoming exhibitions

  • Work in progress


Canada Council for the Arts - Project Grant 2022 - Becoming a Pixel

I’m very excited to share that this year I will be receiving my second Canada Council for the Arts project grant for a new cross-stitch series titled “Becoming a Pixel”. Through my laborious approach to making art, I mirror society’s obsession with technology and its ability to both connect and disconnect. The “Becoming a Pixel” series of cross-stitched self-portraits will visually demonstrate how digital technologies are impacting the way we view ourselves and engage in the world.

I will be starting this project in April, but for now I’m currently working on grant applications for the next deadline. I can’t wait to share more about the project and process along the way!


Inside the new studio/prep for upcoming exhibitions

I’ve been spending the past couple months getting things set up in the new studio and I finally feel like it’s coming together! I created two mockups for a couple of solo exhibitions I’m planning for in October 2022 and February 2023. This is a very important stage of the process to make sure that I stay on schedule to complete works that haven’t been made yet.

The first show “Back to the Future: Digital Art Through Embroidery” at the Doris Crowston Gallery at the Sunshine Coast Arts Council in Sechelt will be on display from October 14 - November 13, 2022. The second exhibition, “Womanmade: Crafting Architecture and the Mundane” at the Morey Family Gallery at Art Reach of Mid-Michigan, Mount Pleasant, MI, is scheduled for February 3-27, 2023.


Work in progress

I’m currently restraining myself from getting too involved in new projects while I focus on grant writing. So to keep my creative juices flowing I recently stitched all my loose threads onto the ongoing “Stitching Loose Ends” project. I’ve also been slowly working on my 23 inch embroidery hoop for a conceptual project tentatively titled “Stitching, Unstitching”.

Work in progress, Stitching Loose Ends, 2018-2022

Work in progress, Stitching, Unstitching, 2022

August 2021 - Update


Pre-ordering now available for Funded Art Book Project

Throughout July my focus was on finishing my art book project funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. I’m happy to announce the book is finally complete, titled “Invisible Labour: Cross-Stitching, Feminism, & the Collective Strength of Women”.

I’ll be accepting pre-orders till the end of August. The reason for this is so that I have a better idea of how much demand there is for the book before I make a bulk print order. The book will be printed as a limited edition of 50, all books will be signed, numbered, and dated. In addition, the book will also be available for download as a pdf. Head over to my shop to get your pre-order in before the August 31st deadline!

(Cover) Invisible Labour: Cross-Stitching, Feminism, & the Collective Strength of Women, hardcover book, 12 x 12 inches, 2021

(Cover) Invisible Labour: Cross-Stitching, Feminism, & the Collective Strength of Women, hardcover book, 12 x 12 inches, 2021

 
 

Vacation - Kelowna Wine Tasting Trip

Now that I’m wrapping up the art book project, I’m doing my best to take it easy and relax for the rest of the summer. Over the August long weekend my best friend and I visited several wineries in Kelowna for a much needed vacation. Until next time, cheers!

May 2021 - Update


Feminist Craft of Care for Times of Crisis: a presentation panel

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On May 13th @6:30pm-8:00pm PST, I will be presenting at an artist panel “Feminist Craft of Care for Times of Crisis”, alongside Lena Chen & Sarah Shamash. The panel is part of Digital Carnival Z an annual festival run by Cinevolution Media Arts. I’m very excited to be part of such a well run event and to be presenting with such amazing and talented artists. Register online through Eventbrite to attend the event for free.

I will present works from the past several years which investigate notions of labour, productivity, and the value of art in relation to craft and women’s work. Instead of becoming reliant on computers and other advanced technologies that are accelerating the speeds of production and consumption alike, I choose to look back to centuries-old practices that have been passed down through generations of women. I explore the parallel between repetitive processes and computer programming by taking on the role of a machine.

By embracing time-consuming processes such as hand-stitching, I emphasize the importance and value of women’s labour. As a female artist, my labour is feminized and inherently connected to women’s domestic work. I challenge expectations of traditional craft by introducing conceptual layers and experimentation with new media. Throughout my artist talk, I will bring awareness to the value of feminine art forms and the connection between craft and fine art.


A WAY Online Art Gallery

GlitchSeries04 - Crop_1_crop.jpg, Archival inkjet print and embroidery, 11 x 14 inches, 2019

GlitchSeries04 - Crop_1_crop.jpg, Archival inkjet print and embroidery, 11 x 14 inches, 2019

Glitch Series 04 is available for sale at A WAY Online Art Gallery for the next couple months, check out their website for my work and art by some other amazing artists!


Open Call - Submit your Story

Women’s stories surrounding pain will be chosen to be part of a conceptual art book project, mirrored with images of delicate handkerchiefs and embroidery.

Submit your anonymous stories and experiences of when you felt the need to hide either your emotional/physical pain in order to avoid pity or shame for being too sensitive.

Let us contradict the stereotype of women as pure and fragile by demonstrating the perseverance, dedication, and strength of women. 


Work in Progress - Funded Art book Project

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The past month has been jammed packed with many hours of cross-stitching, as I begun working on my project funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. First, I received my new embroidery stand and hoops in the mail. Second I fully prepped a piece of Aida cloth by securing the edge with stitches, to prevent fraying. I even marked the vertical and horizontal middles with stitches, which is something I rarely do!

For this project, I am creating an art book consisting of scans of my Ama’s original handkerchiefs and corresponding cross-stitched replications of each pattern.

I have chosen and scanned nine handkerchiefs, which I am converting into cross-stitch patterns. Using the patterns, I am cross-stitching nine embroidered pieces (approx. 6x6 inches each), which are scanned once completed.

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After each cross-stitch piece is completed, I will mirror the cyclical structure of a woman’s existence and allude to the concept of invisibility, by recycling the same piece of Aida cloth and the same strands of embroidery thread for each new pattern. I will unravel each completed cross-stitch replication and re-stitch the next handkerchief by reusing the same material.

The art book will consist of pages with a scan of a handkerchief on the left and a scan of the corresponding cross-stitched piece on the right. It will also include stories selected from an anonymous open call (Submit your story to be a part of the project). The stories will be examples from women who have had to hide or pretend that they were not in pain in order to avoid pity or shame for being too sensitive.

Throughout April, I completed three of the nine cross-stitch pieces. Each piece took an average of 25 hours to cross-stitch and 14 hours to unstitch. It’s weird to think that the only evidence of these works will be the final scans/images that will be included in the art book. Although it may seem unusual, it adds to the conceptual aspects of the work, by emphasizing the invisibility of the labour. This connects to the idea of women’s labour and pain as invisible.


I acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

 
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January 2021 - Update

Well it’s been one hell of a year and I’m happy to finally say goodbye to 2020. COVID aside, this past year actually allowed me more time in the studio and there are things that I’m happy to say I’m proud of. This year I submitted my first Canada Council for the Arts grant application (pending results by end of February), I participated in my first virtual exhibition, and I read several books, not only for research, but also for my own personal enjoyment.

I took a much needed hiatus from September - December 2020, since it’s always busiest time of year for my job. I now feel rejuvenated and ready to get back into the studio. I spent my most of my holidays cross-stitching, painting, and jotting down ideas in my sketchbook. Sometimes the hardest thing for me to do is to settle on the idea(s) I should execute and which ones I should leave behind.

I finished the third and final piece from the System Failure series. Overall I’m really happy with how the series came together. All three pieces may stand alone, each with a unique colour palette and various levels of “completion”. The cross-stitch patterns are based off of digital glitch images that have been disrupted or “glitched”. The series is a representation of a “glitch within a glitch”. However, the glitched or unfinished cross-stitch is a forced visual that alludes to a machine error or malfunction.

System Failure 03, 8x10 inches, embroidery floss, Aida cloth, 2020

System Failure 03, 8x10 inches, embroidery floss, Aida cloth, 2020

I finally finished a series of paintings (currently untitled), that I originally started while I was an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center (in September 2019). They were only meant to be tests while I was trying out the painting technique I ended up using for the Translation Series that I also began in Vermont. The paintings were painted square by square, section by section, using tape to mask out various areas at a time.

Lastly I spent time on Stitching Loose Ends, an ongoing project that I started back in 2018. I used up all the loose ends lying around my apartment, which I guess means I need to get going on another cross-stitch project! I also finished another row on the second painting from the Translation Series. I’ve been making slow progress on this series since the process is quite tedious with all the tape masking. One day I’ll have a studio where I can have the painting out at all times and work on it in little spurts while taking breaks from other projects. Currently I don’t have that luxury and it takes a lot more motivation to get a painting station all set up in my apartment.

Looking forward to seeing what’s in store for 2021.

Happy New Year!

August 2019 - Update

  • Glitch Series 04

  • Vancouver Art Book Fair

  • WIP

  • Vermont Studio Center Residency


Glitch Series 04

This past month I re-visited and completed Glitch Series 04. See below for behind the scenes photos, as well as the finished works, which will be framed at 11x14 inches.


Vancouver Art Book Fair

In October, I’ll be participating in the Vancouver Art Book Fair! Since I’m going to be in Vermont for all of September, I wanted to make sure I finished my zine for the fair ahead of time. Below is a sneak peak of my zine titled, Glitches, 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches.


WIP (Work in Progress)

Lately I’ve been spending time adding onto the project below, Timeline (tentative title). This project uses up odds and cut-off ends of embroidery floss that I’ve accumulated while working on other cross-stitch works. I’m finally making some slow and steady progress on this piece, which is going to be my largest cross-stitch to date once it’s complete!


Vermont Studio Center Residency

Only one month till I leave for my 1-month residency at the Vermont Studio Center and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s been a very busy summer and I’m looking forward to having time to relax and really concentrate my efforts on my art practice. Not only will this mean more time to work on projects, but I’m also hoping to work on research and catch up on reading. During this residency, I also want to work on improving my writing/talking about my art. So far my plans for studio work during the residency are to expand on my Paint by Numbers Series by incorporating cross-stitch and potentially re-painting on a larger scale. I’m also interested in investigating alternative modes of installation/presentation. The possibilities are endless, which is why I’m thrilled to have the time and space to explore new ideas!

March 2019 - Update

  • Pacific Arts Market

  • Women in Art

  • ATP Market

  • Glitch Series 04


Pacific Arts Market

Only a couple days left till I move out of the Pacific Arts Market! It’s been a great experience and I hope to return in the future. Tuesday, March 5th is your last day to check it out in person!


Women in Art

Although I won’t be able to attend the opening for this amazing exhibition filled with Women artists, I hope you get a chance to check it out! The exhibition will be up from March 9th - April 2nd at the Kariton Art Gallery, Abbotsford, BC.

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ATP Market

This March and April I’ll be a vendor at the All Tomorrow’s Parties (ATP) Market on March 16th & April 13th. The markets takes place 11am-5pm at U.O.C. Hall 154 E 10th ave, Vancouver, BC. I’ll be selling buttons, photo prints, limited edition Glitch prints, and lots of original drawings and paintings at affordable prices!

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Glitch Series 04

Still working away on cross-stitching for Glitch Series 04, check out the progress photos below.