in-door/out-door

Here is some footage, finally of my Art in the Open 2014 project, in-door/out-door!  This piece was a lot of fun to build, and even more fun to show as people of all ages got into it - literally and figuratively.  Kids especially went crazy for it.  Four different doors, with different siding and lighting = four ways to enter and exit and most folks wanted to try them all again and again!

in-door/out-door in action - monica lacey 2014

in-door/out-door, in progress on my deck - monica lacey 2014

in-door/out-door, installation at Art in the Open 2014, Victoria Park, PEI.  Photo by Mikey Wasnidge

in-door/out-door, installation at Art in the Open 2014, Victoria Park, PEI.  Photo by Mikey Wasnidge

the fall

The fall:  my favourite time of year, a time for turning inward, concentrating, resting, bundling up in cozy sweaters.  There is also a wonderful film by that title, and it aptly describes the process of letting go that I'm about to go through tomorrow as I clean out my studio and purge/sell/give-away any and all materials that I haven't used in a year!  Looking forward to the extra space - it's been getting crowded in here!

getting works ready for my upcoming show at Gallery 78 in Fredericton, NB - opens October 3

Let's see, what's new - there are a few things on my news page you can read about, and also I'll have a post very soon about my Art in the Open project from the end of August.

A new short film I made with my husband & frequent collaborator, Devon Ross, has been selected to screen at the Island Media Arts Festival in October, which is exciting, and I'll also be doing a pared-down installation of my project, The Sky is Always Moving, for a special media art night during the festival.  Video is more and more sneaking into my work and I'm excited about the possibilities!  It's satisfying too with my background working in the film industry to maintain that connection with the moving image.  I'll be shooting a new project, entitled Everything is Fine, over thanksgiving weekend - more on that soon!

i went under and i saw you there

Some more images from under the ocean...many more to come...did I mention I am obsessed?  In a good way.  A very good way.

All photos monica lacey 2014

some more time spent underwater

some more shots from under the sea, for your viewing pleasure - these have not been edited at all, the light is the way I found it.  All photos monica lacey 2014.

travels, news, and the light underwater

floating, Mallorca, Spain - monica lacey 2014

I've just returned from 2 weeks in Europe - Germany (Berlin & Hamburg) and Spain (Mallorca & Barcelona) and am feeling refreshed, relaxed, and inspired!  I love travelling and getting new perspectives - especially seeing art & design in other parts of the world.  Barcelona - though we only spent about 24 hours there - was especially inspiring, just filled to the brim with public art & incredible architecture. 

My favourite thing on the trip though, was shooting underwater - my husband gave me an underwater camera for my birthday this year & it has opened up a whole new way of seeing the world.  For ages I've loved ducking under the water & opening my eyes to see the light reflections & the sky through the surface - and now I can photograph it!  Incredibly exciting & I can't wait to keep shooting and experimenting with it.

hold your breath - photo by Devon Ross

In other great news I was recently selected for the Emerging Artist Award by the City of Charlottetown as part of their Arts Awards, just launched this year.  I'm so honoured by this & it's really encouraging to have the support of my community.  It's a busy month ahead in the studio, getting ready for different shows, but I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into the work.  Also, stay tuned for more shots from under the sea :-)

may flowers

orange nasturitum 2 - monica lacey 2014

 I'm pretty sure I have a problem:  I'm addicted to gardening.  Since the weather has started getting nice I can't seem to stay indoors, and when I'm outdoors I still want to be productive and putter around, so I've been landscaping the heck out of my yard!  It will give me some fodder for subject matter over the summer though.

These two nasturtium watercolours (they're both 22"x30") I did this month for a commission for a couple in NB - and I had to do them from photos because it's too early for nasturtiums!  I always prefer to work from life if I can, but it's not always possible because winter.

yellow nasturtium 2 - monica lacey 2014

Anyhow, Spring is sprung & it's brought all this great energy with it.  I'm working on a few short film/tv shoots here & there, and now that my grant applications are completed & delivered, I'm back in the studio to make some new work - that is when I can talk myself into being indoors!

And inspiration abounds - check out this amazing papercut artwork, the indescribable beauty of colour in this work, and this giant gorgeous mural called moonshine by Etam Cru:

April updates

Well I'm doing alright at this posting once-a-month thing!  Here's the news for this month:

I recently competed in Art Battle 114, here in Charlottetown at the PEI Brewing Company(which has a gorgeous new event space!).  It was a pretty interesting - and out-of-my-comfort-zone - experience to paint something in only 20 minutes in front of a huge crowd with dubstep beats blasting and an announcer barking into the mic!  Let's say it's very different than how I normally work in my studio...
A great experience though, and while practicing for it, I painted so many new pieces, which felt wonderful & productive.

me painting at art battle - photo credit Mo Duffy Cobb

I also just had 2 paintings purchased by the PEI Art Bank, very exciting!  The group show, Blooms, at Gallery 78, that I have some botanical paintings in, opened on April 11th in Fredericton - you can see most of the work in the show by following the link above.

Besides all that, I've been getting ready for this year's Art in the Open and another Gallery 78 show in October.  Great to be busy & have all this new energy with Spring being here - I can't wait to put my garden in!