It's been a while since we've had a neighbour and I have missed popping next door for a little friday afternoon treat.  So it's with great pleasure that I can announce that The Makk on 124 is open for business!

So far I've only tried the lobster bisque and if that was any indication of the rest of the menu then we are in for a treat.  I'm pretty sure I'll be satisfying my late nite cravings with the Bacon Date Brochette pretty soon!  

I met Stephen and Matt and Chef Kasiran when they were renovating and I think we're going to get along great.  We're already sharing some of our art with them and hopefully we'll see some space sharing ideas as they get busier and more well-known.  Already they've made quite a splash on the street and it's great to see another restaurant opening up and serving quality local food.

The Makk on 124 has it's Grand Opening this Thursday, November 15th which happens to coincide with the opening of Anne  McCartney's solo exhibit Layers of Alberta.  Not to add to their stress we've opted to have our evening catered by the equally fabulous folks from The Dish and the Runaway Spoon who begin their  movie nights again really soon and my table is booked for Love Actually!

124th street is a great place to be for small independent businesses.  From restaurants to boutiques to hair salons to furniture stores and art galleries there is a whole bunch of passionate folks wanting to share that passion with you.  If you haven't been down lately you should!  Who needs the mall when you can shop 124th street and support your friends and neighbours?

Have a great week - and see you at the openings!

Karen

My 17 year old daughter has a boyfriend.  

I'm pretty okay with it.  

He's a nice young man and she seems very happy.  And I guess it's time, she's almost a grown woman after all, but she seems so young and he breaks her heart I will break him!

It's a bit of a stretch to compare my first born child to my paintings, but there is a similar bittersweet feeling I experience when one of my paintings finds a new home and I'm sure other artists experience the same feeling.  

I sold a painting recently to a lovely couple, originally from Switzerland and somehow their story became intertwined with the story of my painting.  I was happy for them that they had found the perfect painting and it made that painting just a little more special for me which ultimately made it just a little harder to part with.  I know that painting has found a good home, it already has a special spot in their home and I know it will be looked after. 

So paintings or daughters, I'm kind of ready to let you go but forgive if I get a little misty eyed as you walk out the door.

Edmonton loves its visual artists and I love that Edmonton loves us!  This is a great city to be an artist.  The arts and culture community is diverse and supportive and there are opportunities galore for most visual arts.  Not only that but we celebrate each other and our successes in a way that inspires and moves us to keep creating and keep pushing the boundaries.  

Last night I attended the 61st Annual Salute to Excellence at Edmonton's beautiful Winspear centre.  My friend Amy Loewan was inducted into the arts and culture Hall of Fame.  Amy is one of the most humble people I know.  It was an honour to be in her company and be a part of this special evening.   Wonderful, inspiring words, music and images filled this magnificent venue and I left feeling really good about my small place in Edmonton's arts scene.

There is, however, another side to this great city that frustrates me to no end. Many of you will know that last week an art exhibition by the artist known as Daft Punk was confiscated from the NAESS Gallery at The Paint Spot.  The exhibit is now being held as evidence in a case of vandalism.  Daft Punk is a street artist who has been linked to acts of graffiti vandalism and my understanding is that the pieces on display at the Paint Spot resembled spray painted images and messages on private property so the police swooped in and took away the whole exhibit.

Now don't get me wrong I do not condone vandalism, I don't think that artists have the right to spray paint their work wherever they feel with no prior permission and however great I might think Banksy is (and I do) I have a really hard time reconciling my love of what he does with the fact that he blatantly breaks laws.  But we're not talking about Banksy here.  We're talking about a local artist who in his or her words wants "to create in a positive manner and bring a bit of a smile to people's faces."  Daft Punk also says "I don't go where I'm not wanted and I'm not here to push an opinion on anybody."  

Whether or not you like Daft Punk's art is irrelevant, what is relevant is that this artist was trying to present their art in a legitimate manner and was rewarded by having his/her entire exhibition removed.  How does that encourage street art to take a legitimate route?  Artists that were encouraged by Daft Punk's foray into a gallery setting are thinking twice about it now and I don't really blame them. 

I believe the energy and resources this city puts into programs to discourage graffiti vandalism could be more creatively spent.  Why not encourage more free walls?  Why not get rid of the grey and beige walls?  Why not encourage these artists when they seek to be recognized in a venue such as the NAESS Gallery?  A comment on The Paint Spot's Facebook page by Sara Norquay says "Wouldn't it be great to have a law that makes owners of boring walls get an artist to make them less boring".   I'm with you Sara - it would be great indeed.  

Whether you like it or not street art is a valid art form and should be given a voice and a  space.  It's very name suggests that it belongs outside, on the street.  It frustrates me that this great city doesn't seem to be willing to accommodate this art form, the hoops and red tape that surround getting permission to brighten up a dull wall or even just a little grey electrical box are so discouraging and intimidating most artists are just not going to bother.

I know we can do better for these artists and hope the discussion continues.

Happy Wednesday
Karen

I can always think of a reason for a party and what better reason to celebrate than a whole year of being in business!  Although we opened the doors a week or two before  Friday May 13th 2011 was the Grand Opening of the gallery.  This past sunday we had a great street party complete with fabulous cake from the Duchess Bakery, street buskers, handmade gifts for the mothers, wine and even a lemonade stand!

There is much to celebrate in this past year.  First we are still here! Opening an art gallery is not exactly a safe bet and there have been a few times I have stressed over the books.  A few more times when I have wondered how I'll ever get everything done and still have the energy to be a  mother when I get home.

Second we have begun to accomplish something that was very important to both Rick and I - becoming an active and caring member of our community.  124th street is a great place to set up shop.  The business owners are enthusiastic, passionate and determined.  Their support for each other and for making the street a vibrant and bustling place to shop and visit is a great thing to be a part of and I am excited by all the changes I see happening here (including a brand new outdoor market coming really soon!)  We have also tried to support various charity events, I wish we could do more, but for now we do what we can.

We also celebrate the successes of our artists.  By nature I think artists are a fairly humble bunch, they tend not to shout about their achievements and so sometimes it's hard getting details from them.  Artists like Anne McCartney whose work has been chosen for several publications this past year.  Pat Wagensveld continues to impress us and recently was presented with a lifetime achievement in the arts award by the city of St Albert.  In a rather sweet tie-in Samantha Williams-Chapelsky was commissioned to design and make Pat's award!  Teresa B Graham, Saeed Hojjati, Anne McCartney and yours truly were all juried to signature status, the highest level, in the Society of Western Canadian Artists.  There's more but I will save that for another post.  We have so much talent on our walls and many of our artists are deservedly receiving recognition for their work.

There is much to celebrate and be proud of as we enter our second year.  Thank you for being a part of our journey and I'm looking forward to May 13th 2013!

Daffodils in my home town of Cheltenham, England have been over for a while now, here we're still dealing with the white stuff (grrrr) .   When it's not snowing though I do see my tulips popping up and for a moment I am lulled into thinking spring has arrived.  

Even though I've yet to see a daffodil bulb poking through, this whole month has been full of daffodil blooms and I'd like to say a special thank you to everyone who has come out to support the Canadian Cancer Society.   Trevor Boller, Christine McCourt, Kim Schaeble and Phil Alain - thank you all for getting the word out, stepping up and taking some time out of your busy lives to fight back, you are all amazing.  And huge thanks also to everyone who stopped in to make a donation.

We've been selling potted and bunches of daffodils and pins all month (and I still have pins left so hurry in!)  So far the gallery has raised over $200, a little drop in the bucket to show our support for those living with cancer.  We still have a day or 2 to up that total so I hope you'll come in before the month is out!


Thank you all for your support.  Have a great Weekend,
Karen