Emma Bound

Exhibition Dates: July 15 – August 20, 2016
Reception: Tuesday, July 26, 7 – 9 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK

This exhibition showcases the eclectic, imaginative and energetic work of the 2016 EMMA International Collaboration participants and invited guest artists. Featuring work in many media, including wood, fibre, ceramics, mixed media and visual art, it is a vibrant show that the whole family can enjoy.

EMMA Auctions

Ness Creek

Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Hours: 4 – 6 pm
Location: Ness Creek Festival Site, Big River, SK • Directions

Saskatoon

Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
Hours:
• Doors open at 5 pm
• Silent auction from 5 – 7 pm
• Live auction begins at 7 pm
Location: Holy Family Cathedral, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, SK

These art auctions are free and open to the public. See what artistic magic occurred at the weeklong 2016 EMMA International Collaboration. This could be the beginning of your art collection! Collaborative artwork created by international, national and local artists. Proceeds help fund future EMMA Collaborations.


Marta Blanc

www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/marta-blanc

marta_blanc1In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound.

Everything is connected together.

Tell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.

In my current work I try to express links between peoples – relations which we have.

In the network, no part is so small not to be important.

In the network, no part is so big to be self-sufficient.

In the network, any part damaged means damage of all.

in the network, any part rescued means rescue to all.

marta_blanc2What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?

There is nothing that doesn’t inspire me – hole in the road, rusted door, visible stratigraphy of rocks and earths in my hometown, infinity… and infinity of inspirations.

Who do I admire? Currently it is Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez. His very rough sculptures are more then alive. And, of course, many, many others – especially woodturners like Alain Mailland, Jaques Vesery, Graeme Priddle, Jérôme Blanc.

Where are you from and what do you love and/or hate about that place?

I am from the Czech Republic, I was born in industrial area in the west of the Czech Républicains. It was very dirty, not really healthy place to live. Now I live in Switzerland, better for body, but much less inspirational.

Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration.

First time participation in Emma Collaboration.

What are you looking forward to?Marta-Blanc_Connexions

To work and to work and then … to work. Without thinking of everyday usual problems.

What does “making collaborative art work” mean to you? Is it a struggle to “let go” at times?

It means to share my ideas with other people. And to do what other people ask to do.

And to meet my friends from other collaborations!!!

BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.

When I participate at “collaborations” – I have strong feeling that I live for these moments, I really enjoy it very much, but unfortunately, it ends every time. We are really crazy people – we pay for work and at the end we buy what we have done!


Shona Firman

www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/shona-firman

Shona-Firman_ManaiaCanoe

In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound.

This work is a Kiln cast, Copper Blue MANAIA canoe .40% Gaffer lead crystal Glass.

Shona-Firman_ManaiaCanoe_detailTell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.

My cast glass work has been influenced by NZ, Celtic and Pacific culture and imaging. Canoes, Tattooed Palm Forms, Pacific Pods, Coconuts etc. Growth and a reflection of our affinity with the sea and things Pacific. The patterns are individually carved into the wax and tell a story.

My interest in vessels and water started in early childhood.

I can remember removing the bark from our tree tomato tree to make a canoe.

Since then I’ve lived on a yacht, sailed the pacific, and researched the seafaring culture of the South Pacific.

My sculptures reflect the histories of distant cultures, united by their relationship with the ocean. They pay homage to my Celtic heritage and the culture of my homeland, New Zealand.

They convey the idea of migration, narrative, and transportation of cultural beliefs and traditions. These sculptures allude to the importance of the sea in the practical and spiritual life of these cultures.

Glass with it’s colour, transparency and reflection is an ideal medium to express the essence of water and the spiritual nature of these vessels.

The lost wax casting process allows time to contemplate the development of the form and to push the technical boundaries.

Which other artists do you admire and why?

My all time favourite Artist is BERTIL VALLIEN. With his beautiful Sand Cast glass Sculptures , and technical expertise.

Where are you from?

I was born 1940 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand.

Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration. What are you looking forward to?

This is my 2nd time at Emma Saskatchewan, and 8 times at CollaboratioNZ.

I’m looking forward to meeting up and working with colleges from all around the world whom I have met at previous Collaborations. I love making something and seeing what happens to it next, it’s exciting.

BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.

ALWAYS PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE, but in the case of Emma, you require co-operation from all, to man it.


Vanessa Renwick

www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/vanessa-renwickDSC_0027.JPG

In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound.

PostNatural History Gets A Shave is a photo I took of my daughter and my dog Fox one hot summer day.

Tell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.

This was an impromptu shot, not staged.

What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?

Speaking truth to power is inspiring. I admire Danny Lyon and Corey Arnold. They have a knack for elevating an intense reality that they live into art.

Where are you from and what do you love and/or hate about that place?

I am from Portland, Oregon. I love how many great artists and musicians live here, I love the trees, the scale of the city, the Columbia River, Mt. Hood, Forest Park, bicycling ease, excellent cheap, organic food, the rain.

I dislike the lack of diversity. I dislike the demolitions of perfectly good homes being replaced with monstrosities that only the rich can afford. I hate that some of my artist friends have to move away, as they can not afford to live here anymore.

Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration. What are you looking forward to?

This is my first time up. I am looking forward to traveling through lands I have not seen before, to meeting many others arriving with a sense of no expectations of what will become of our efforts. Creating and learning and cross pollinating.

What does “making collaborative art work” mean to you? Is it a struggle to “let go” at times?

I work with a lot of others in my film work, and give them pretty much total freedom in their process. The reason I work with them is that they can do something in a stellar way that I can not. They do not need my micromanagement on their genius.

BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.

“To young men contemplating a journey, I would say GO.” – Joshua Slocum

He was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world.