PHP on display at The AG

Well, three pieces from the Preserving Harold Project are currently on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery (1080 Keewatin St., Thunder Bay). 

The show is spectacular and runs until Jan 4th, be sure to see it!

The creation of these works was funded by the Ontario Arts Council Northern Arts Program.

"Harold's House"

In my shop I don't have a white wall to photograph upon -- but I thought what an interesting context this painting is in. Behind the locked door it leans upon is my storage...

The Art of Carol Kajorinne: The Development of My Artistic Process

The Art of Carol Kajorinne: The Development of My Artistic Process:                  


 I am a multidisciplinary artist with a strong focus on metalwork.  For years, I practiced the art of drawing and painting en-plein-air; recording the sun set and rise.  Now, as I manipulate steel using a torch or forge, I transform this element of light/sun I was once studying in my paintings and drawings into the actual tool I use to create my artwork. 

    It was while working on the Preserving Harold Project (PHP) that I began incorporating steel into my artistic process.  My artistic process is an integral part of my artwork, lending to the overall essence I aim for.  The steel hangers created for the PHP were not only functional, but also decorative and meaningful; at times resembling roots which I relate to the invisible connections that hold everything together.  My mental process also developed, becoming more meaningful and present as I heated and pounded the steel and thought about Harold, his house, and family members.  The process of blacksmithing also relates to a common theme of rebirth that permeates my work, as all elements (water, air, earth, fire) are required when transforming steel.

DEBRIS: Vulnerable Voices

I'm working on a new project and "Vulnerable Voices" could potentially be a title for it.  I never know titles until a project is complete.  I commute daily 1/2hr-45min. and so I began bringing along a sound recorder in attempt to capture moments.  The idea is for me to say anything and everything that comes into my mindspace.  I think often in images, so sometimes I'll explain what it is I'm seeing.  It's awkward and at times I feel too vulnerable that I do hold some things in.  Mostly out of the fear someone in particular may hear it.  Some things I think about are bigger than me and involve others that may or may not wish to reveal reality.  It's not even that I feel they would hate what I have to say, but I do know it would make them feel uncomfortable… "My Un-comforting Thoughts" .

I have a couple of telephones set aside which I believe one was my grandparents --it's pretty antique, and another one that was my parents.  I intend to ad them into "Debris"-an installation art project I'm working on with the Satellite Studio members (The Satellite Studio Artist Collective (myself, Marianne Kyryluk, Sam Shahsahabi, and Riaz Mehmood) are recipients of an OAC Visual Arts Project grant for Debris!).

I will be adding the captured moments into one or two of these phones for people to listen in on… and the interesting part will be: if I end up leaving it legible.. obviously me… or will I distort and cover up reality? This project stems from my frustration about family and people in general and how we feed into a life of Playing Pretend.  Will I continue playing along and hide myself?  Perhaps I'll use both phones, and one will be the Pretend me talking to my Grandparents, and the other will be "Real"?  Or perhaps one will only be used that has distorted moments mixed in with legible?

The Art of Carol Kajorinne - a new blog

Well, I know I haven't updated anything about the Preserving Harold Project, but I've been busy working on artwork to sell at Art's Gallery and continually developing my display.  It's also been extremely cold up here in NW Ontario, so the Stairs are coming along very slowly... Hopefully soon I will have some photos to share with you!

In the meantime, I've been working on my online presence, and have created a main Blog "The Art of Carol Kajorinne" which links viewers to all of my projects (PHP), artwork (Pike Lake Forge), my bio, and more all in one place!

http://carolkajorinne.blogspot.ca

Pike Lake Forge

  

Well, I started a new Blog for Pike Lake Forge: http://pikelakeforge.blogspot.ca!

It was while working on the PHP that I realized my love for working with steel.  I love its functional qualities, and how you can make something so hard become soft, elegant, and organic.  

Follow the blog, and see what we're up to, what we have created for sale at Art's Gallery or as commissions for people, and watch our adventure! This Aug. we're hoping to travel to the ABANA conference in Delaware and I'm sure you'll see us posting images of the experience :)  

Thanks for reading!

Meat forks by Kriev "Flora" steel mirror by Carol.

Kriev (left) and Carol (right) forging.