The Return of the Kingfisher

The kingfisher is back! For years the kingfisher was a permanent resident of the farm, and then he disappeared about five years ago. I missed seeing him perched on the wire over top of the canal. Last year, we thought we heard him, but we couldn't spot him. Then this weekend, we kept hearing him, and then we finally spotted him. What a delight it was to see his bright blue body flying across the green canals.

Snipe!

This fall we have encountered several snipes at the farm. They have a very distinctive call, hence their name. Even if you don't hear their call, you can identify a snipe by its weird zig-zag flight pattern.
People still hunt snipe although they are very tricky to shoot. I try not to think about that too much.

Let me presnt the Pelicans

I was so impressed by the pelicans summering at Floating Stone lake in northern Alberta that I had to make them. They are amazing birds. Huge. Beautiful. I have never seen anything quite like them.

When I look at these birds, I remember floating on the warm lake water, as a flock of pelicans flew so close overhead, I could almost touch them.

Bird Making Time

It is getting colder and wetter. It is harder to stay outside and work in the garden. This weekend we will try and build the cold frame and then after that, it will be time to go for short walks and stay inside and make birds. So far, I have made a golden finch, a kildeer, and one lost bird. I will post the picture soon.

Bird in the Hand Show

The opening was lots of fun. Check out the bird footage at:

http://jewellerbau.blogspot.com/2008/01/bird-in-hand-leannejs-opening.html

Bird in a Hand

A Bird in the Hand
by leannej
Opening January 15th at 7pm
Runs to February 12th, 2008

At the JewellerBau
42 Kingsway
(at main)
Vancouver BC

Join us for the opening of A Bird in the Hand, a new show by leannej. A bird in the hand is a three dimensional graphic story. Known for her flowchart installations, leannej combines her odd tendency to tell stories in boxes with her compulsive need to make small hand-sized sock birds. In A Bird in the Hand, she explores the various meanings of habitat and home in her large flow chart stories.

This is leannej’s first three-dimensional show which features 50 life-sized replicas of birds commonly found in British Columbia with a few rare exceptions. The text flow charts provides shelter and places for the small birds to perch. Each bird is hand made using recycled socks and glass beads.

Leannej is a text based artist. She has been publishing and showing text based images in magazines and gallery spaces in Canada and the US. Her first book was published by Artspeak Gallery in 2002 and is available at www.artspeak.com. Texts in this show and bird images are also on view on her blog, Birds hate us. You can find the blog at www.leannej.blogspot.com.

(JewellerBau) is the latest reincarnation of Gallery 42, owned and operated by artists Dina Gonzalez Mascaro and Joelle Ciona. They have completely remodeled their space to accommodate local and Argentine artists and showcase the sculptures and jewellery of Gonzalez Mascaro. The “Bau” in (JewellerBau) is an evolving sculpture of display niches inspired by Kurt Schwitters' merzbau installations of the 1920's.

Gallery hours are Tuesday and Sunday 11am to 6pm, Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 8pm
The grand opening of (JewellerBau) is February 14h at 8pm.
www.jewellerbau.blogspot.com