Create, Participate, Share – Culture Days!

Wendie Donabie ♦ September 21, 2015 ♦ 1 Comment

6th Annual Culture Days Canada, Sept 25-27!

This coming weekend is a big one for Culture in Canada. Founded in 2009, Culture Days is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a national network of cultural connections devoted to providing Canadians with opportunities to participate in, and appreciate, all forms of arts and culture. Through an annual three-day national celebration each September, hundreds of thousands of artists and cultural organizations in hundreds of cities and towns come together and invite Canadians to participate in free interactive and “behind the scenes” activities to discover their cultural spirit and passion. (Source: Culture Days Website)

We’re Involved

During the summer, my jewellery business partner,Carolyn Freedman, and I received an invitation to participate in Culture Days celebrations in Huntsville (Ontario). For the 3 day event, Friday to Sunday, September 25-27, we’ll be located at the Huntsville Public Library. Carolyn chose to demonstrate the Kumihimo braiding technique that we use to create some of our beaded bracelets. Kumihimo, meaning ‘braiding’, in Japanese, has a long and prolific history in Japan. During the Middle Ages, Samurai Warriors would braid 800-1000 feet of cord and use it to join together iron plates in the creation of their suits of armour. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the technique became popular amongst weavers and other textile enthusiasts. Today, Kumihimo cords are used as ties in haori jackets and obijimes, that secure obis (kimono sashes) and also to make jewellery like our bracelets in the photo below. In addition to the Kumihimo bracelets, we’ll have a selection of our SOULL KREATIONS jewellery line on display and available for purchase.

Kumihimo Bracelets

With my easel set up beside Carolyn, I’ll demonstrate oil painting. I love oils but don’t work with them as much as I’d like because of the slow drying (oxidizing) time for this medium. Drying can take several months and while that is happening, the painting needs to free of contact with other surfaces and be as dust free as possible. For small pieces I use a large Rubbermaid container which works perfectly but I don’t have an appropriate area to hold larger pieces. This said, I’m looking forward to this weekend, working with the buttery texture and old familiar, comforting smell of oil paints. I’ve yet to find adequate words to describe the smell – it’s not like anything else. Somehow, I find it warm . . . relaxing . . . soothing. Perhaps because it reminds me of my Uncle Jack and his art studio. I have fond memories of him and his paintings.

So, what will I paint? Having just returned from a trip to Canada’s east coast, I plan to use photos from that area as inspiration. Here’s one possibility:

Cape Breton Coast

And I plan to finish with oil paints, a canvas that I started in acrylic inspired by a photo taken by Caroline Butson,  teacher of Autistic Children and founder of Tree of Life Centre for Creativity in Bala, Ontario. Tree of Life is a loving community space for exceptional children and youth with Autism to explore, develop and awaken their gifts. Caroline offers: ‘Creative Art Adventures’ classes for exceptional children with autism, ‘Discover your Life Directions’ workshops for teens and adults and ‘The ancient healing art of Reiki’ classes.

MIUSKOKA SUNSET – by Caroline Butson, August 2015

I’ll have a selection of acrylic, oil, Chinese Ink paintings on display for sale as well as blank art cards.

How you can get involved

Visit the Culture Days website and look up your city or region to find out what’s going on in your community. Then pick an event to attend. There’s something for everyone. And it’s free!

Drop by and see us

If you are in Huntsville on the weekend, please stop by to visit Carolyn and I at Huntsville Public Library, 7 Minerva St E, Huntsville, Phone:(705) 789-5232  Map 

Hours:

Fri, Sept 25: 10 am – 6 pm

Sat, Sept 26, 10 am – 4 pm

Sun, Sept 27, 10 am – 3 pm