north/south series

north/south I 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south II 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

north/south III 24x36 Acrylic on Canvas

BlogThis!

Backcountry Blogging

October 19-Nov 2/2011
Purcell Mountain Lodge
The unique opportunity to care take this amazing back country lodge came up suddenly, and fortunately, my friend Mark and I were able to clear our schedules to take it! In the week that we have been here so far, the high alpine has transformed from rocky and snow-patchy, to completely covered by fresh champagne snow...in other words, a winter wonderland!

Accessible only by helicopter, Purcell Mountain Lodge is perched at 2200 meters (7200’) atop the high alpine slopes of Bald Mountain, in the Canadian Rockies. On the remote border of Canada’s Glacier National Park, there are over 3000 acres of gently rolling alpine meadows to enjoy and explore. The Lodge offers a ski touring program in the winter, and a hiking program in summer. We have been exploring the area by snowshoes, after taking care of our daily care taking duties, of course!

The Lodge is fascinating as well as beautiful, as it is operated by hydro-electric power generated by a nearby mountain stream. This small stream provides ample electricity and crystal-clear drinking water, as well as central heating and hot showers. Remote and comfortable! This is my second visit to Purcell Mountain Lodge. The first time was March 2010, when I was able to bring my painting supplies and make a number of paintings inspired by the area, including this one...

Altitude Elation II 24x32 Acrylic on Canvas $1500.00

Arctic Adventure

September 12-24
I was on an amazing Arctic expedition called Heart of the Arctic offered by Adventure Canada. Our group met in Toronto and flew to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to meet our vessel, the Ocean Nova. For the next 12 days we sailed along the west coast of Greenland and across the Davis Strait to Baffin Island (Nunavut), and northern Quebec (Nunavit). During this time we explored fjords, saw glaciers and icebergs, and picked blueberries while hiking on golden tundra. We visited remote coastal villages and watched local artists engaged in stone carving, tapestry and printmaking. We learned about traditional Inuit life "on the land" and about hunting and fishing camps. We sampled traditional "country foods" such as seal, whale, caribou and muskox, and lots of arctic fish and seafood. We viewed wildlife including seabirds, humpback whales, ringed seals and polar bears. We visited Mallikjuak Inuit archeological site in Cape Dorset and saw Greenland mummies in Nuuk. We had excellent on board lectures and presentations by experts on Inuit art, archeology and culture, Arctic biology and zoology. We had discussion and much insight from local people into contemporary northern issues due to changing climate and environment. We also had inspiring artists, musicians and filmmakers on board including Andrew and Annie Qappik, Mattiusi Iyaituk, JP Hoe and John Houston doing workshops, concerts, screenings and demonstrations. We also enjoyed the company of adventure guide and photographer extraordinaire Mike Beedell.
This was an amazing adventure and incredible learning experience!
I thank the Canada Council for the Arts for supporting my "Northern Ice" project which will use this experience and information as a base to create a series of Arctic-inspired artworks. I also thank Adventure Canada for offering such a safe, enjoyable and well staffed expedition.
I look forward to sharing my photographs and updates of this creative process through my blog, while also preparing for an upcoming public exhibition of this work.

PORTALXII-Spiral

Photo taken by Craig Douce from Rocky Mountain Outlook (June 23/2011)
at the unveiling of PORTALXII shows the spiral shaped walkway from above.

Spiral/Helix

While "spiral" and a "helix" are distinct as technical terms, a helix is sometimes described as a spiral in non technical usage. The two primary definitions of a spiral are provided by the American Heritage Dictionary:^[1]

a. A curve on a plane that winds around a fixed center point at a continuously increasing or decreasing distance from the point.
b. A three-dimensional curve that turns around an axis at a varying distance while moving parallel to the axis.

The first definition is for a planar curve that extends primarily in length and width, but not in height. A groove on a record^[2] or the arms of a spiral galaxy (a Logarithmic spiral) are examples of a spiral.

The second definition is for the 3-Dimensional variant of a spiral, for example a conical spring (device) can be described as a spiral whereas a cylindrical spring or strand of a DNA are examples of a helix.^[1]

The length and width of a helix typically remain static and do not grow like on a planar spiral. If they do, then the helix becomes a conic helix. You can make a conic helix with an Archimedean or equiangular spiral by giving height to the center point, thereby creating a cone-shape from the spiral.^[3]

Ammonite/Nautilis

The study of spirals in nature have a long history, Christopher Wren observed that many shells form a logarithmic spiral. Jan Swammerdam observed the common mathematical characteristics of a wide range of shells from Helix to Spirula and Henry Nottidge Moseley described the mathematics of univalve shells. D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson's On Growth and Form gives extensive treatment to these spirals. He describes how shells are formed by rotating a closed curve around a fixed axis, the shape of the curve remains fixed but its size grows in a geometric progression. In some shell such as Nautilus and ammonites the generating curve revolves in a plane perpendicular to the axis and the shell will form a planar discoid shape. In others it follows a skew path forming a helico-spiral pattern.

PORTALXII- Public Unveiling

It is finished...!

What a great opportunity and experience to plan and execute the installation of my first public art project! The unveiling of PORTALXII sculpture is today Friday, June 17 at 5:30-7:30PM.
Please come by if you can...

The tradition of "place marking" is simple, universal and timeless. This meaningful global human legacy includes inscribing the landscape to signify the relationship and use of the environment. Standing Stones, employed as significant place-marking vehicles, are seen in both pre-historical and modern time frames, and their purposes range from spiritual to navigational. PORTALXII design integrates three established place-marking traditions: Stone Rings of the British Isles, Inukshuk of the Arctic region, and Standing Stones of the Japanese Zen Garden. The arrangement of the standing stones of PORTALXII is designed in a spiral shape (helix) which references patterns in nature and also invites physical interaction.

PORTALXII features unique, hand-picked, locally quarried Rundle Rock from Kamenka Quarry to specifically reference Canmore's unique community and history, while also honoring the universal human need for place-marking to communicate a sense of place and relationship to the environment. This design is an engaging testament to the relationship between Canmore residents, community and environment, and offers an experience to contemplate our place within the context of human history.

PORTAL XII-Rundle Rock

Rundle Rock is the main ingredient for the PORTAL XII environmental sculpture...soon to be installed in Canmore. It is indigenous only to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and first quarried on Mt. Rundle. The world famous Banff Springs Hotel is largely built of Rundle rock.

Louis and Brenda Kamenka own and operate Kamenka Quarry, a second-generation, family-run business near Harvie Heights, which is one of only two Rundle Rock Quarries that exist today. Louis is a M.Sc. Geologist who specializes in Hand-quarried, Hand-split and Hand-selected Rundle Rock for custom architecture and landscaping projects. Louis and Brenda are supporting the PORTALXII project with a generous donation of beautiful rocks from their quarry.

Each piece of Rundle Rock records a portion of geological history which took place on a pre-historic ocean floor. Many of the rocks contain various colours, shapes, minerals, marks, and fossils that characterize the local sandstone.

The ammonite is one of the creatures whose presence is often imprinted in the Rundle Rocks. This spiral shaped shell can be tiny, yet shares the same dynamic shape as a galaxy. The universal spiral shape inspired the overall idea and design of the PORTALXII, which represents patterns in nature on both the micro and macro levels, so the materials and concept work together harmoniously!

Stay tuned for updates regarding the installation of PORTALXII public art project...

Wheeler House-Reflections: A Tribute

 

In July, 2010, 10 artists were allowed permission to access and document the Claremont Cottage before it was scheduled for demolition. This was the summer home of A.O Wheeler, a land surveyor and co-founder of the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) The house was remarkable, with a goldfish pond in the front yard where the domestic goldfish have remained in the warm spring fed pond for the past 90 years. My photo is a reflection taken in the pond, and if you look closely, you will see the goldfish in the trees and the bottom of the pond in the sky. The project was organized by Donna-Jo Massie and the link will take you to an article about the art exhibition in Oct 2010. Last week, the Wheeler house was destroyed. All artwork from this project will be purchased by the Wheeler House Foundation.

http://www.rmoutlook.com/article/20101020/RMO0302/310209993