BirdBrain Designs

Archives for March 2012

in the studio

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I managed some time in the studio on the weekend and also saw two wonderful documentary films at our local DocFest. The films, Kinshasa Symphony and West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson were both outstanding, the former a story of courage and determination in urban Africa and the latter a sensuously beautiful homage to Canada’s most well-known artist. I recommend them both.

And in the studio, the first of a series of Kenya pouches. A friend gave me the remaining leather after she had her new skirt shortened and I combined it with a small remnant I had.

The rest of the time was spent with Fireworks and I am definitely on the homeward stretch–finally.

matangwe inspiration

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Here are three drawings done by the grade 6 students in Matangwe.  It was fascinating to watch them deeply absorbed in the task of representing their homes for an audience of Canadian students. These students do not often have the opportunity to lose themselves in a creative task. The results were amazing–incorporating colour, unique design forms and flights of fantasy which reminded me of early hooked rugs and paintings.

These drawings are evocative for me–I can’t look at them without remembering the sunshine filtered through red dust, the glorious bird song and the earnest, hopeful faces. I am in the process of designing a rug with houses, as I have mentioned here before. I am sure that the drawings of these children will now have an influence on that process. I am just beginning a chair seat as a trial for the rug design–working out colours and shapes–and I hope to base it loosely on these drawings. I love the flower on the roof, the elaborate blocks and the wreath of flowers around the house, not to mention the trees and the figures of mother and cat.

My trip to Kenya has made me realize that gifts come in many ways, and often when you least expect them.