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Hi, Art!

Sunday, December 05, 2021

Hi, Art!

Sunday, December 05, 2021

Hi, art lovers!

 

It turns out last week’s newsletter could’ve been a whole lot longer. Since then, every other email to cross my desk has been about an artist marketplace. So if you’re looking for something to do this Sunday (even if that something is just loading up your Etsy cart), there are loads of sales to check out. Sift through today’s batch of eye candy for links to a bunch of in-person fairs, too.

And because we promised you eye candy ...

 
Photo of two cartoonish figurines resembling peopel wearing toques and patterned sweaters. They're in a cartoonish illustrative style. Photographed against a white backdrop they are painted white, black and red.

@jamiebennettillustration/Instagram

Deck them Halls! That’s the name of an indie craft market happening on Toronto’s Ossington strip, and today’s the last day. (It runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) Somehow, I suspect these ceramic incense holders by Jamie Bennett will be snatched up before I can get there, but everything I’ve seen on Jamie’s on Instagram is equally quirky. 

 
Photo of a white fuzzy ornament in the shape of a cloud topped with a faceless bunny and an obelisk. A red bead resembling a drop of blood or a raindrop dangles below the cloud.

@lanafilippone/Instagram

Also in Toronto: Samara Contemporary is running an exhibition of artist-made Christmas tree ornaments that doubles as a fundraiser for Inspirations Studio (which offers a variety of ceramics programs to marginalized women). They’ve recruited a pretty stellar list of participating artists, including a bunch of folks we’ve covered on CBC Arts over the years: Kendra Yee, Lindsay Montgomery, Rajni Perera and (pictured) Lana Filippone. (Gold star to Lana for this salute to my favourite contemporary artist in modern cinema, Delia Deetz.)
 
Photo of a framed painting. The canvas is square and the image depicts a cardboard for sale sign propped up against a purple backdrop.

@caitlynmmurphy/Instagram

It’s not a craft sale, but if you’re in the market for art, Toronto gallery The Plumb launched its annual fundraiser auction on Instagram this weekend. New lots will be released throughout the month, and Caitlyn Murphy is one of the contributing artists. (I just figured this painting of hers was a suitable nod to the “buy stuff” spirit of this newsletter.) 
 
Pastel drawing of Gandalf and Saruman as played by Ian McKellan and Christopher Lee. They stand in front of a psychedelic abstract background of pink, orange and gold. Flowers and stars dot the backdrop. They wear bolo ties in the shape of caroon crescent moons.

Superstarbazaar/Etsy

The 20 Days of Slice Holiday Market runs at the Slice of Life Gallery & Studios in Vancouver until Dec. 20. So if you know someone fab who could really use a print of Fab Wizards in their life, you know where to go. The artist is Madeline Perry, and if you zoom in real tight on your buddies Gandalf and Saruman here, you’ll see that they’re modelling some more of Madeline’s DIY wares. She’s selling handmade bolo ties, too. 
 
Overhead photo of a printed illustration of a cartoon crocodile in a yellow plaid overcoat holding a cup of coffee. The backdrop is blue. Paper snowflakes are scattered on the surface along with a ceramic mug.

@gift.of.gabrielle

Today’s the last day of Vancouver’s Holiday Crafty Affaire. Gabrielle Haynes will be there with linocut prints and other treats.
 
Photo of several embroidery hoops fitted with black cloth. Felt shapes have been assembled on each in patterns resembling floral metis beadwork.

@wilderfolkcollective/Instagram

Métis maker Sarah Spethmann is at the Indigenous Holiday Art Market at the Kitchener Market. These felt wall-hangings of hers are inspired by traditional beadwork patterns.
 
Photo of two sculptures on a white backdrop. They are in the shape of fantasy creatures. White and wooly they resemble sheep, but have white frosty antlers like reindeer.

@karinakalvaitis/Instagram

I wish I’d heard about this one sooner. Victoria’s Owl Designer Fair has already come and gone, but ohmigoodness, just look at these woolly sculptures by vendor Karina Kalvaitis! (She sells her critters through her website, FYI!)
 
 

You've got to see this

 
 
 
Black and white photo of Stephen Sondheim. A white man with floppy dark hair and a beard, he stands in front of a poster bearing his surname and smirks directly at the camera.

R. Jones/Evening Standard/Getty Images

Stephen Sondheim showed the world how complex and grand musicals can be

 
The legendary theatre composer and lyricist died just over a week ago at 91. In this essay, freelance critic Carly Maga pays tribute to the icon. As she writes, “Sondheim used the artform of the musical not to flatten the human experience but to uplift it. He put it to song, let it ring out into the rafters, let it start in your gut and ring out in your brain for days, weeks and years.”
 
Photograph of a hockey puck and stick on the ice. The stick has been taped with the colours of the rainbow.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

What does hockey have to do with HIV?

 
The tale of how two HIV-positive authors, decades apart, wrote stories called “Hockey Night in Canada.”
 
Illustrated diorama depicting a painted fox leaping across snowy hills. A CBC logo is projected behind it. Text reads: CBC Arts.

Elly MacKay

 

Leap into winter!

Acclaimed children’s book illustrator Elly MacKay reveals how she made this magical scene.
 
 

Follow this artist

 
 
 
Instagram

Elly MacKay

@elly.mackay
Photo of miniature wool sculptures. At centre is a cartoonish red octopus wearing a white scarf and playing a white guitar. To its right is a cheerful snowman no taller than the octopus' shoulder. empty blue bottles and a tiny pine tree complete the tableau, which is on an aqua backdrop.

@elly.mackay/Instagram

Elly's our logo artist for the month of December, and there’s plenty more to see on her Instagram. Did you spend a significant chunk of your childhood bingeing L.M. Montgomery novels? Then you definitely need to check her out.
 

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I’m Leah Collins, senior writer at CBC Arts. Until next time!

 
XOXO CBC Arts
XOXO CBC Arts
 
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