moss plate.

above is a collection of moss, ferns, cones and lichens that i brought back from the farm where my dad lived. aitor and i unpacked it all when i got home. he fed all the bugs that crawled out to his carnivorous plants (thus, facilitating the circle of life) and we arranged the moss onto our bigger serving plate. i wish we could just keep it like this. aitor and i both decided that we like it quite well. unfortunately, toronto apartments with hot water heat are far too dry in the winter time for moss so these samples are soon to be arranged under glass. but for now, we have this beautiful focal point in our living space. there are these long spikey red things that even dance when you mist them with water (which we do constantly to keep them happy). some of the lichens also unfurl (or maybe they furl) when misted. i'm pretty excited about this project and the fascination/calm it is already bringing us.

what your country looks like from above.

i deeply regret not pulling my camera out during our ascent from vancouver today. the ominous fog that has been sitting over the city for this whole visit looked absolutely incredible from above. it swirls around and makes the downtown look like the emerald city poking through the mist. oh yes, vancouver, the sun is shining so bright and clear just a mile or two above you.

here is some more:

portland morning run-arounds.

after an early rise (for me, anyway) so that we could get to powell's right when it opened, we met with the book buys and then staggered around, overwhelmed. i actually bought nothing which was surprisingly easy when i thought of all the dribs and drabs of my father's that i already had to find ways to bring back to toronto with me.

after powell's, we went down to the little alberta street arts district to check in on some stores i had sold to there. i was sad to see imp going out of business (sadly, this is becoming a more common sight on my trips south of the border). i wish the owner, chris, all the best and hope the closing doesn't signal some greater worries. that store, and this whole neighbourhood, were places that my father and i stumbled into when we drove from vancouver to los angeles in the spring of 2006. you know, bittersweet stuff.

i did discover a newer space that had open on the strip, together gallery (pictured above). i was drawn in by the window display by ryan bubnis, which inhabited an aesthetic that made me feel i was at home looking at it.





the window is part of their current group show, waiting for the miracle, which is pretty spectacular. oh yes, there was also a terrarium in the window. feelings of home, again...



the woman behind the counter, i came to learn, was an artist named mia nolting. we got to chatting and after she handed me a survey to fill out i had a similar home-like inkling. some later internet stalking has confirmed my feelings. she's incredibly talented and seems to enjoy illustration, typography, lists, surveys and cussing...clearly there is some kindred spirit going on there.



i ended up going home with the book pictured above (by nigel peake) and a multiple choice diary that mia gave me. i love them both a lot. but am i supposed to fill in the diary and send it back to her? is this more of the same personal information hoarding that the surveys feed into? and what glorious/nefarious purpose will all this information feed into, i wonder?



i also got to visit office, one of my favorite portland shops to drool in. they always have great shows in their corner gallery and the shop has the magical feeling of being totally empty and totally full at the same time. you know...when the stuff for sale is arranged so carefully that it insinuates lots of space then when you look closer every single thing is deliberate and well chosen.



john and i then booted it out of the city and made our way home. of course, we had to make a stop in olympia on the way home to stock up dumpster values - the best store in town (and not just because they are my olympia retailer). i love that place.

and i am very thankful to john for redefining whirlwind with me and for treating me to a trip into the world and away from my worries (as much as possible, anyway). i didn't even have to drive once for the whole two days! and he went into a yarn shop with me. now that's a gift.

small steps south.

my mother's partner, john, has graciously offered to take me on an overnight trip to portland, oregon. this is both for me to decompress a bit and also so that we can sell some of my father's old books to powell's - the biggest craziest bookstore in the world (that i know of).

the image above is from our drive-by of seattle. we did manage to pop into the city just long enough to check in with the good folks at red light (the capitol hill location). i am happy to say they are now stocked up again with sweetie pie goodness, should you seattlelites find yourself wanting.

tonight we sleep in a weird little motel in a barren portland neighbourhood i can't understand. but we are near downtown. i already know how much i would like to stay in this city longer. but any time here is much appreciated.

lichentropy.

...the collection grows.

today is my last day on the island. i am both very happy to be moving on (given the central purpose of my visit) and sad to leave. i managed to steal a few moments between loading things into the truck to take more pictures of the amazing lichen here. it has been something soothing to focus on with all the life crap to deal with. little fungus/algae collaborations are both simple and complex at the same time - and certainly beautiful. all the pictures below are from one tree. the collection above was collected from branches found on the ground. i am excited to move these little collections (and the other detritus i am bringing home with me) into my life in torotno.











with all this stuff coming back into my toronto life with me, it's probably getting to be high time for a rummage sale.

lichenthropy.

above are some lichen-encrusted branches i collected on the one little nature walk i managed to have while here. these puppies are being carefully packed up and brought back with me for a very special purpose. it seems totally ridiculous that i am getting up to such superfluous antics while desperately trying to figure out what i am going to do with all the little bits and bobs that my father left behind but it's so much easier to deal with a thing when one has a predetermined purpose for it. and this purpose will make me feel good.



i also managed a very perfunctory visit to talisman books today. the proprietress was kind enough to come by and buy some of my dad's paperbacks and also offer us some boxes. as i was picking them up i was reminded of the amazing craft wares they sell. it's possibly my favorite craft outlet on the island because they stuff they sell is expected west coast fare while still avoiding schmaltz. there was some really beautiful turned birch bowls and platters and some truly stunning ceramics. i don't have artists names, because i was there on very important other business but if you are on pender island, you will find the store. it's at the driftwood centre. you'll end up there on way or another.

speaking of ceramics, today i happened upon toronto ceramicist krystal speck's ruminations on ecology and ceramics. it's an interesting discussion that seems very near to its beginning. i, for one, am looking forward to seeing where the train of thought leads and respect her ability to publicly question her artistic practices. i could also stand to assess the impact of the things i make. but i will swallow that pill at another time. i certainly have permission to focus on other things at the moment.

tree house and other concerns.

i lived in that tree house for a brief time once. you know, this is a very special part of the world. i am glad i have been watching so much twin peaks, so i could get properly excited about it out here. below are some pictures i took around the property.