Prairie Ribbons Performance, Arts Building, University of Saskatchewan

I Can Dream, Can I?

I met a wonderful man! He is fictional, but you can't have everything. (W. Allen)

Tabloid Drawings

I am posting some new work from the Tabloid Drawings series. These drawings are based on tabloid headlines and content from "Weekly In Touch". 24"x30" , watercolour and gouache on paper.

Miss Saskatchewan

Last night's performance went really well. Miss Saskatchewan was lovely and she graciously agreed to cut the ribbon for the exhibition It's Not About the Landscape. Below is the speech I gave to introduce her. Thank you Miss Saskatchewan!

I would like to thank all of you for coming out tonight to the opening of Its Not About the Landscape. The idea for this exhibition was born out of the fact that the majority of us the MFA candidates are not from Saskatchewan and we wanted to respond to our new found home through a group show. Through this process we collectively and individually researched how we fit within this place. Whether it is a collective project involving a local neighbourhood, baking at home or outfitting for survival in the Saskatchewan winter, I believe we captured the essence of our present landscape. We are all pretty diverse not only in our use of medium but in our understanding of Saskatchewan. And whether we stay or leave Saskatoon we will always have a little bit of the prairie landscape in us wherever we go. I would like to think of us as mini Saskatchewan ambassadors. With that said, I would like to introduce to you the real ambassador to Saskatchewan, Miss Saskatchewan 2008, Janice Moorgen, who graciously agree to officially open this exhibition. Janice represented Saskatchewan at Miss Canada International 2007 and Miss World Canada 2008. She is actively involved in various charitable organizations. She enjoys acting and modeling and currently work at Birks Jewelers. I present to you Miss Saskatchewan!
Thank you.

Update: This was just posted on the University of Saskatchewan's website.

It's Not About the Landscape

If you find yourself in Saskatoon on January 23, you are invited to "It's Not About the Landscape" show. It is a group show of the MFA candidates at the University of Saskatchewan.

Love. Change. Life

This exhibition is very timely, with all the changes around. Please come to Tatooful this Thursday, July 17 for a night of summer fun, art and friends! Always a treat at Tartooful!

The Cheaper Show NO.8

The Cheaper Show returns once again. I hope you can make it to this great event!

On June 21st, 2008, the eighth installment of The Cheaper Show series will take place in the Gastown district of Vancouver, BC.

The concept of The Cheaper Show is very simple: 150 multi-disciplined international artists presenting 300 pieces of art, each priced at $200 for one night only. Far from being an 'art sale,' each exhibiting artist consciously makes a sacrifice by selling their work for less than its potential value. This creates united support for the event, the arts community, and an opportunity for this show to take place in an environment that is accessible to everyone. In turn, many walk away with sales, exposure, commissions and gallery representation, as well as having an opportunity to connect with peers on an even playing field.

Visitors are drawn to the show, discovering a rare display of exceptionally diverse talent where someone from almost any financial background may own a piece of art. These people include the curious, the first time buyer, and the well-seasoned collector.

The Cheaper Show is a salon style exhibition that focuses on quality and diversity rather than category. Works of art, regardless of medium, are displayed so as to activate one another; oil paintings and illustrations hang next to contemporary photographs with content that ranges from the urban to the academic.

ALL ART SELLS FOR $200
ADMISSION IS FREE

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
7pm–Midnight
142 Waterstreet (old Storyeum building)
Vancouver BC

Map

Water Street will be shut down to car traffic until 8pm on Saturday please use parkade entrance via Cordova Street.

Breathless

Thank you all for coming out to the opening and your support! It was a lovely evening! I was truly left breathless.

Breathless Invitation

Please join Biliana Velkova on Thursday May 29th 6-9PM for the opening reception of Breathless by Biliana. The launch of Breathless, a perfume that exists in brand only, extends the artist’s research into consumerist notions of identity and the accompanying obsession with labels. In Velkova’s practice, marketing strategies and art-making practices coalesce to illuminate the phenomenon of co-branding celebrity identity and luxury consumer products. Launching a non-existent product with an unknown persona, devoid of famous trademarks, she poses questions of the artist as brand so as to blur the lines of art, commodity, and social identity. Employing marketing strategies reminiscent of ad campaigns that use popular icons to create brand, the exhibition consists of packaging, a promotional video and the use of the gallery space as consumerist venue to attract attention and material curiosity. In the absence of an actual product, only a celebrity mirage will exist.

www.JeffreyBooneGallery.com

1 East Cordova St. unit # 140
Vancouver, BC

Spring Salon

You are cordially invited to the opening reception of Spring Salon at Jeffrey Boone Gallery on May 1 at 6pm. It would be great to see you!

много лютива (or upcoming new screenings)

I am happy to report that my short film Put Your Slippers On is going
to be screened at Cinema Politica in London, Ontario and the Canadian Civilization Museum in Ottawa. If you are in the area, pop in to see it, it is part of the Digital Diversity festival.

The photo above is in step with the film's main subject-my grandmother. She is still going strong with leaving me notes everywhere. I found this one when I opened the
fridge yesterday. It says "very hot", it was a roasted pepper resting on a napkin. Love it!

The Grand Love Launch

It was a great launch, lovely to see everyone come and particapate, thank you Joelle and Dina and Jewellerbau!

The Grand Love Launch

More Rain

I am posting more of the Rain Variations. Ironically, I escaped the rain right after I installed the show. I am back from sunny Puerto Vallarta and the pictures are coming soon!

Rain Variations

You are cordially invited to visit Capilano College Gallery where I am exhibiting a new series of drawings entitled "Rain Variations". The exhibition runs from January 7 to February 1, 2008.
The gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. Studio Art Building, Capilano College, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver

Rain Variations

This series of drawings explores the ephemeral relationship between the rain and the medium of watercolour. Although it is a departure from my research interests, I enjoyed experimenting and working in the medium that first made me interested in art. The individual pieces are separate visual poems, each one recording a specific time of the day on which it rained. The process was very simple, I left them out in the rain and depending on the size and speed of the raindrops, different formations occurred in the watercolour washes. It was a very enjoyable process, in which I felt I was collaborating with nature and the results are very surprising and not manipulated.

Biliana

Live Artfully, Give Artfully and more

I hope this finds you well. It has been a busy month and I am excited about a couple of upcoming events coming up on November 15, Thursday.

You are cordially invited to an art opening at Tartooful Art Space entitled Live Artfully, Give Artfully. This is a group show and I am happy to be showing alongside such a lively group.

The second event is a showing of my film "Put Your Slippers On" at the Pacific Cinematheque , again alongside a very creative group of filmmakers as part of the Digital Diversity contest.

And if you can't make it to those, come and meet for a drink at the Piano Loungeat the Wedgewood Hotel after 9pm.

B

Digital Diversity Contest

My recent short film Put Your Slippers on, You are Going to Catch a Cold has been selected to compete in the RCI Digital Diversity contest. You can view it here and if you like it, you can vote for it between October 15-21, 2007. There might be one of my grandmother's spinakopitas in it for you.

This project is about my grandmother Mara's assimilation into Canadian life while very much remaining Bulgarian. Coming to Canada at an elderly age, she managed to create a community in her new adopted land despite not speaking the language and having very different cultural references. She has always found ways to connect with people, whether through food, laughter or caring for others.

Give me an "H"

I know it is probably a long way but I wanted to cordially invite you
to Homecoming. I want to thank the cheerleading squad from St. Cyril
and Methodius school in Plovidiv, Bulgaria and their director Galia
Angelova for their gracious participation. Performance starts at 7pm
on Saturday, September 15 at the Center for Contemporary Art (at the
Ancient Bath) in Plovdiv.

Last days of summer (after Warhol)

The market below my apartment sells coca cola in the old classic bottles. I am not a soda fan but I do like to get them from time to time and especially when they go with my outfit.

Summer Art Outings

I am pleased to invite you to two exhibitions of my recent drawings
and paintings. Please see below for information.

Summer Must Haves:
Recent Watercolour Work by Biliana Velkova
This season's hottest accessory is witty, beautiful and true work of
art: the new collection of original watercolours by local artist.
July 19, 2007 5 til 9pm at Tartooful #102-118 East 2nd St, North Vancouver


and just one block up

Black and White
A group exhibition of artists celebrating black and white work across
a broad range of media.
July 19, 2007 7 til 9pm at CityScape Gallery, 335 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver

Hope to see you there!

Biliana