2008

Here are some moments of the soon to be exiting 2008:

The year started with a fabulous trip to Mexico with Miss B
Received an offer of admission to grad school in Sask
Got promoted at work and moved to a new office
Our cat Putzka died the same day as Pavarotti
Inspector Clouseau came into our life
Received an offer of admission to grad school in Halifax
Opened Breathless show at Jeffrey Boone Gallery
Left my job
Had a cheap and cheerful garage sale and left my beloved Strathcona flat
Went to Europe, visited friends in London, uncle in Sofia and drank campari in Milan
Attended a friend's wedding in Sofia, very proud as I was the matchmaker
Moved to Saskatoon, miss K came for moral support
Started school, met new friends
Began a new body of work
Went to Toronto: Toronto Art Fair, Nuit Blanche and Stu were some of the highlights
Live Artfully happened
Continued working in the studio
Wrote the longest paper in my life
Home to Vancouver for Christmas, visited with many friends, had closure and ate tons of sushi

Looking at this list, it looks like it was an amazing year, and it was! I feel fortunate for everyone in my life and I am thankful for everything that came our way. PS. The picture is my uncle Toni and I in Milan.

Let it Snow!

Completely snowed in, I have not been able to leave North Vancouver as my parents live on a steep hill pretty much on the bottom of a mountain. I have never seen anything like it but I have to say I am really liking it! I am about to start preparing the Christmas Ham (if it turns out I will post photos), will also attempt baklava as it is the Bulgarian tradition, all while listening to old fashioned Christmas tunes. I always find the Holidays tacky and it helps to intensify the mood by listening to Bing Crosby and Doris Day's version of "Baby It is Cold Outside".

Update: Here is the Christmas Ham as promised!

Inspector Clouseau

Beyond words. Inspector Clouseau has been in is best behavior, so cute and cuddly!

On another note, Miss A and I went to see Milk last night. An amazing story and a beautiful and inspiring film. It rings very true today, parallel with the politics of the US election, prop 8 and the need for change of people's fears. Great film, highly recommend it!

Raccoons and salmon tacos

I handed my paper yesterday and finished the online course on ethics and I am officially done. It was hard to organize and concentrate while being back and being sick but now it is really done! I celebrated with the best salmon taco on the fisherman's wharf on Granville Island and then met Miss K for a beer. My mom and granny are busy chasing raccoons on the balcony, the cat is amused and scared at the same time. Fun with family!

Back

I have been back a few days now and loving it. Just looked at the weather forecast for Saskatoon and it was minus 20 but sunny. Here is plus 7 but it is raining. Regardless, it feels great! Miss A. and I took photos with Santa at the Tinseltown Mall (I almost wrote Satan, is this a Freudian slip, or what?).

A Breathless Christmas

A Breathless Christmas, window installation at Jeffrey Boone Gallery,1 East Cordova Street unit 140, Vancouver, BC, December 4-January 7

A Breathless Christmas is a project loosely based on the current Hudson Bay's Christmas campaign. Typical holiday advertising creates the perfect illusion, whether is spending time with family, acquiring desired goods or achieving social expectation of what the holidays should be. A Breathless Christmas takes this concept and applies to a non-existent storefront, in a closed gallery. While the posters promise "the perfect gift" and "free delivery" they are just a façade, there is nothing behind the advertisement and behind the glass. The project is a continuation of the artist's research of marketing, appropriation and authorship issues. As advertising campaigns are borrowing from art concepts more frequently, the line between them becomes blurred.

Update: Thank you Cathy for putting it on Tartooful's blog.

Feeling wintery

Things are calming down slowly. I have two more crits left, need to pack, do laundry, return a ton of books to the library and and I am off. Last week was very heavy on the academic side but I feel confident and good about it all. Thank you for visiting and reading and commenting on this blog, your company is keeping me sane. Talk very soon with most of you in person!