Kirsten Chursinoff

Octopus Cloth

2009-11-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

Octopus cloth - 2009 Kirsten Chursinoff

I'm happy to report that the Octopus series is underway. I've always wanted to embrace the creatures with my fabric touch. Here's a few studio snapshots of various octopusian undertakings.

detail "Octopus" - 2009 Kirsten Chursinoff

Drawing - 2009 Kirsten Chursinoff

By drawing, re-drawing, tracing, and cutting, I intimately study each line. This prepares me for the free-motion machine stitching. Through all these step I hope to gain an understanding of the flowing lines. It gives me ideas about how the next piece should be drawn. Hopefully I'll get better at it as I keep working with the series.

Pins - 2009 Kirsten Chursinoff

Yes, I'm doing this the old-fashioned way.

More pins, Voodoo-Octo

Cuttin' it old school

Yes, hand drawn in pencil, traced in ink and then cut out to use as a template to cut my fabric. No seam allowances necessary. Appliquéd by free-motion machine embroidery. I did it the hard way. I wanted to see if the fabric would hold up to cutting without any interfacing or stabilizer of any kind. I don't recommend it...
Most of the cutting is done with my embroidery scissors. They get into those twists and turns.

More pinning and cutting

Shape against signature background

Not every detail can be depicted, so the body and texture are simplified so it can be "translated into fibre". The creature is illustrated, rather than just documented.

Even though the design of the octopus body is drawn out ahead of time there are still design decisions to make along the way. I leave the suckers to be spontaneously added near the end, and I add the eyes last to make sure they sit the way I want them to.

Legs are fiddly things, especially when there's eight of them!

More to come soon!

www.chursinoff.com/kirsten

Events - Exhibitions and Art Openings

2009-11-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Future:

2010
Group exhibition Silk Purse, February 2010
Exhibition - CCBC/Crafthouse 2010
Exhibition - Circle Craft 2010
Exhibition - West End Community Centre, October 11-30, 2010 Vancouver, BC

Present:

November 19 - December 18, 2009
Reception: Thursday November 19, 7pm-9pm
Positively Petite Miniature Exhibition
and the
Christmas Boutique (an extension of the gift shop, continuing into the lobby of the arts centre)
Place des Arts, Coquitlam
http://www.placedesarts.ca/

Past:

June 16 to June 21, 2009
Wild Flowers
Seymour Art Gallery in Deep Cove North Vancouver
Group Exhibition for the Summer Festival

May 2009
Art in the City
May 1,2 3 2009
West End Community Centre, 870 Denman St. Vancouver BC
Friday May 1st 7:00-9:00pm Gala Launch
Saturday May 2nd 10:00am - 8:00pm
Sunday May 3rd 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission is free
This is a fine arts fair with original one of a kind artwork of various media. All the artists will be present at their booths.

April to June 2009

Vancity Inaugural Art Show
New Location at Robson and Denman in Vancouver.

April 9 to May 10 2009
Exhibition
"Stories from the Robin's Nest"
Knotty Threads on Salt Spring Island, BC.

March 2009

Cherry Blossom Festival, Vancouver BC. Two venues.

February 2009

Exhibition
"Beachcombing and Berry Picking"
February 12 to March 14 2009
Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam BC.
Artist Talk, February 22nd, 2pm.

And you can always find me at www.chursinoff.com/kirsten

Events - Lectures and Slideshows

2009-10-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Thank you for inviting me to present my textile artwork to your guild, group or school.
I've enjoyed meeting all the members, guests and students.

My 2010 schedule is approaching and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in the coming the year.

2010
January 26, Lions Gate Quilters' Guild, North Vancouver
March 16, Boundary Bay Quilters, Ladner
April 20, Vancouver Embroiderers Guild
May 6, Surrey Museum, Cloverdale

2009
Fraser Valley Quilters' Guild, Delta
Capilano University, Textile Arts Program
Place des Arts, Coquitlam
Pacific Spirit Quilters, Burnaby

2008
Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts
Capilano University, Textile Arts Program
New Westminster Public Library
Textile Arts Guild of Richmond
North Shore Needle Arts Guild

2007
Vancouver Quilters' Guild

Little Cricket

2009-10-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

Announcing a new venue for my art, with a feature on the front page of the gallery newsletter.
Thanks Ron!

Made-in-BC art and craft

Little Cricket - Maple Ridge
22347 Lougheed Highway
604-476-1234
&
Little Cricket - Fort Langley
9180B Glover Road
604-881-0066

And you can always find me at www.chursinoff.com/kirsten

Blackberries, a Visual Ode

2009-09-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

"Almost Ripe" 2009 Kirsten Chursinoff

Finishing touches by sewing machine.

Photos that I've taken to inspire my work:

Blackberry flower and early berry.

Blackberries growing among grape vines at the University of British Columbia Farm.

Evergreen Blackberry (deeply serrated leaves) also growing among the grape vines at UBC Farm.

Unripe berries with the leaves starting to change into autumn colours.

Now, the following images are a sample of artwork that influenced my childhood and my current aesthetic. I've given the name of each illustrator/artist below each picture.

Janet Marsh

Molly Brett

Jill Barklem

Edith Holden

Cicely Mary Barker

Benjamin Perkins

Beatrix Potter

So, I'm not the only one to be inspired by the weedy bramble that brings late summer fruit to hedgerows everywhere.

Gifts and Local Artists

2009-09-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

"Pomegranates 2" Kirsten Chursinoff, 2009

Do you want to make your gift count? By supporting your local artists and crafters you give a gift to both the receiver and the creator. Doesn't that sound like the perfect gift?

Here in BC there have been funding cuts to many arts and cultural programs. Let's work together to keep the arts alive!

We can support art and fine craft that is made here by our skilled British Columbians. This season, let's think about our talented and creative fellow citizens. We are all thinking a little more about how we spend our money, and making careful decisions. Supporting our local talent is a wise investment in our communities.

Places to buy local art and craft:
(*places that carry my artwork)

*Crafthouse
1386 Cartwright St. Granville Island, Vancouver

*Knotty Threads Studio
111 Morningside Rd. Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island

*Treasure Cove, Seymour Art Gallery
Deep Cove, North Vancouver

*Little Cricket
102-22347 Lougheed Hwy. Maple Ridge
and
9180B Glover Rd. Fort Langley

*Place des Arts Gift Shop
1120 Brunette Ave. Coquitlam BC

*Silk Purse
1570 Argyle Ave. Ambleside, West Vancouver

Circle Craft
Net Loft, Granville Island, Vancouver

Circle Craft Christmas Show Nov 11-15 2009
Vancouver Convention Centre

Favourite
Lonsdale Quay Market, 2nd Level
North Vancouver, BC

Oh Brothers
41 st Ave, Kerrisdale, Vancouver

Starfire Studio
6607 Royal Ave, Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver

Van dop Art Gallery
421 Richmond St. New Westminster

Eastside Culture Crawl

And many, many more places...I can't list them all.

BC Arts and Culture Funding Cuts, British Columbia Canada

2009-09-04T18:10:00.001-07:00

We’re facing huge cuts to the Arts in our province. I just received two emails confirming that galleries exhibiting my work will be affected.

Rally and protest info is on the following blog:

http://www.allianceforarts.com/blog

Remember to support your local artists!!!

Heather Meadows, Mount Baker, Washington

2009-08-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

Looking for inspiration across the border. Just a few hours away.

Blueberries and heather at Heather Meadow

Aster and leatherleaf saxifrage.

Alpine ? I'll have to find out what this is! I think it is a type of orchid.
Okay, so I just found out what this is: Elephant's Head Lousewort. Pedicularis groenlandica.

Wonderful walking trails

A little further down the trail

Technically this is Mt. Shuksan, but the summit of Mt. Baker is really close. We couldn't see the summit due to the misty clouds creeping through the pass.

Devil's Club. Take a close look to see the spines!

Seymour Art Gallery

2009-06-01T13:27:00.001-07:00

I'm participating in the "Wild Flowers" Group Exhibition as part of the Seymour Art Festival 2009.
http://www.seymourartgallery.com/

As well as participating in the above exhibition, I'm now selling small gift-size fabric art ($60-$120 Canadian) at the Seymour Art Gallery shop, called Treasure Cove. The gallery and gift shop are nestled in the cozy village of Deep Cove, North Vancouver, BC.

Art in the City, and Vancity

2009-03-30T01:21:00.000-07:00

Everyone is welcome to stop by and see what's happening at Art in the City 2009!

I have a booth at this fair and I'll be there the whole weekend.

May 1 to May 3, 2009

Friday night is the opening gala. It says private above, but everyone is welcome to join us!

If you're in the neighbourhood, I also have a display of my art at the new Vancity located at the corner of Robson and Denman in Vancouver's West End. It's a block away from the West End Community Centre.

Stories from the Robin's Nest

2009-03-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Nests, Kirsten Chursinoff, 2009

An exhibition at Knotty Threads, Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island.

April 9 to May 10 2009

Knotty Threads has been accepted onto the Fine Art Tour for the Easter weekend on Salt Spring.

The gallery is open Wednesday thru Saturday from 11-5 pm until May.

During the Easter weekend we will be open the Sunday and the Monday.

Knotty Threads Studio
Jane MacKenzie
250-653-4137
111 Morningside Road, Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island, BC

or contact Kirsten
www.chursinoff.com/kirsten

See my previous post:
Knotty Threads info

Tri-City News Article

2009-03-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

The Tri-City News
Artist takes 'fresh approach'

Kirsten Chursinoff

COLLEEN FLANAGAN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS

By Janis Warren - The Tri-City News

Published: March 03, 2009 6:00 PM
Updated: March 04, 2009 11:40 AM

From a distance, it’s easy to mistake Kirsten Chursinoff’s work as a photograph or painting. Her colourful pieces — 45 of which are currently being shown at Place des Arts — pop out from the frames they’re exhibited in.

But on closer inspection, her art reveals a blend of intricate textures: embroidery floss, beads, dyed fabrics and threads woven by hand and machine to create a perfect, quilted landscape of nature.

“I think of it as a traditional technique in a contemporary, fresh approach,” Chursinoff said during a tour last week of Beachcoming & Berry Picking, her largest exhibit to date and her first at the Maillardville facility.

Her unique style has caught the eye of many artists, some of whom were at a lecture Chursinoff gave recently at Place des Arts to discuss her process, which includes fabric collage, free machine and hand embroidery, appliqué, couching and French knots.

Each piece takes, on average, two weeks to complete. “I couldn’t do it for eight hours a day,” she said. “It’s too labour intensive.”

Chursinoff takes her inspiration for an image from a photograph or painting, or sometimes from a picture or drawing she does while out on a walk, she said. Once she sits down to re-create the scene, her mind — and hands — wander and another idea manifests to the finished product. “I get carried away with the romance of the material,” the Capilano College graduate said.

And she’s conscious about the materials she uses, too: Cotton and silk threads, glass and wood beads, recycled quilting fabrics. “Things that are good for the Earth,” she said.

Chursinoff said she was happy to showcase her work in a community space, where spectators can see her art close up.

“We have just heard incredible comments and fascination about her work. It has totally enlivened the space,” said Barbara Duncan, visual arts co-ordinator for Place des Arts.

• Beachcoming & Berry Picking is on show at Place des Arts until March 14. Artists wanting to exhibit their work at the Maillardville facility have until Friday, March 13 to apply. For more information, call 604-664-1636 or visit www.placedesarts.ca.

jwarren@tricitynews.com

Beachcombing & Berry Picking Exhibition February 10 to March 14, 2009

2009-03-02T23:00:00.000-08:00

Wild Roses, 2009

Garden of Rose Hip Delights (detail)

Kirsten Chursinoff, 2009

Place des Arts
1120 Brunette Avenue
Coquitlam, BC
604-664-1636
www.placedesarts.ca

February 10 to March 14, 2009

Opening Reception
Thursday, February 12, 2009, 7-9pm
Hours:
Monday to Friday 9am-9pm
Saturday, 9am-5pm
Sun 1-5

I will also deliver a talk about my art and creative process on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at 2pm in Room 202 at Place des Arts. If you are planning to attend the lecture I recommend arriving early as there is limited seating.
Update: If you missed the lecture, please contact me regarding speaking to your guild or craft group. kirsten@chursinoff.com

Also on exhibition at Place des Arts:

Heejae Suh
Woodcut, drawing, collage & mixed media on paper

Bojagi:Korean Traditional Patchwork
Youn Kyung
Textile, acrylic & mixed media

Vancouver Aquarium

2009-02-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Jellyfish, Kirsten Chursinoff 2009

I'm so pleased to have my marine art pieces featured on the March 2009 Members News page of the Vancouver Aquarium Website.

I've also updated the first page of my website to show Anemone Tidepool II.

Kirsten Chursinoff

More marine art coming soon!

Capilano University Visit

2009-02-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed meeting the students in the first year Surface Design class at Capilano University this morning. They were welcoming, and open-to-dialogue during my presentation.

The classroom felt like home, even though I graduated from the Textile Art program way back in 2000.

Students and alumni have been busy gaining recognition in the arts community. Recently, Jessica Thistlethwaite's work was featured in the Student Award Winners Exhibit Fresh Craft at Crafthouse Gallery; and Circle Craft featured the work of Corrina Suveges in the Student Scholarship Recipients Exhibit.

On a more alternative note, I came across an exciting project called Tree Cozy on Granville Street, downtown Vancouver.

Exhibiting Outside the Box

2009-02-04T18:00:00.000-08:00

Exhibiting Outside the Box: The Pros and Cons of Mounting a Non-Gallery Exhibition

Category: Professional Development for Artists

By Kirsten Chursinoff

Many unconventional venues are now being used to showcase art and fine craft. This can be a great opportunity for both emerging and established artists, but it is important to make an informed decision.

Possible venues may include libraries, theatre lobbies, cafés and restaurants, non-art/craft retail spaces, membership clubs, community centre showcases, window space in retail shops (often during neighbourhood art festivals), civic buildings and furniture stores.

Often you will be dealing with a proprietor or coordinator who may not be familiar with the usual operations of a gallery. You may have to take on more of the responsibilities. These responsibilities may include (but are not limited to) insurance, marketing, sales transactions, hanging the show, creating signage and contract writing.

I have found that most of my experiences with alternative venues have been good. It helps if you are very organized and have an entrepreneurial spirit. You can avoid most disasters by keeping the following in mind:

Insurance
Make sure that you are insured. If the venue does not have insurance that will cover your artwork, make sure that your home or business insurance will cover your artwork while in transit and at the venue. You may be asked to sign a waiver stating that you are responsible for loss, damage, and/or theft.

Security
Are there locked display cases? What about corners that are dark and difficult to monitor? Do they have an alarm system? Is there a risk of your work being damaged? Do they have enough staff, or are you responsible for your own security and monitoring of the show?

Suitability of Venue
Textiles may not hang well in a restaurant with cooking fumes, or a café with constantly steaming espresso machines; but this setting may be fine for craft that is framed and protected behind glass. Your erotic sculptures may dazzle the late-night theatre crowd; but don’t start yelling “censorship” when the preschool-friendly community centre rejects them.

Sales
Find out how sales are conducted at the venue. Do they process the sales for you, or are you expected to conduct all transactions with your customers? If you are responsible for your own sales, you have to consider the appropriate signage to mount with your exhibition. Let customers know how they can reach you by phone and email. Place a stack of business cards nearby, and mount an artist statement on the wall.

Marketing
When you are showing your work in an unconventional venue you must use creative marketing strategies. The display may look great, but that doesn’t mean the customers will find it. Decide who is responsible for advertising and promotion before you agree to the exhibition. If you have an email list, this is the time to get it in order. Do you know how to write a press release? Be creative with online promotion. Even if the owner does some advertising, you must also work to promote your show.

Dates and Viewing Times
If the venue is open by appointment only, or has very limited hours of operation, this may be very inconvenient to your customers. Try to arrange to show your work where it is accessible during reasonable hours.

Reception
For your opening reception, make sure you are clear about who is responsible for refreshments. Will you be handling your own sales, or will staff handle the details while you mingle with your clients?

Set Up and Take Down
Find out if you are responsible for mounting and taking down the exhibition. Prepare a toolkit in advance. Are you responsible for the layout of your show, or do they have a curator or an assistant that will determine the display? Be prepared for either situation. Will the walls or shelves need repainting? Find out who is responsible for this, and what kind of equipment is available. What about lighting? You may need to supplement with some lights of your own.

Contracts and Commission Fees
Get the terms in writing if possible, and be prepared to write up your own contract if they do not have one. Make sure to include names, signatures, addresses, dates, commission fees, insurance details and arrangement for marketing and security.

Galleries and Craft Shops
If you also sell your work at established galleries and shops be sure to keep your prices consistent. You may find that commission rates vary, but that doesn’t mean your prices should.

Have fun exploring the unconventional venues but remember that galleries and craft shops are the best places to build your reputation as a fine craft artist and strengthen relationships within your community. At galleries and shops your work can be displayed under the best circumstances. Informed staff and professional sales techniques make your pieces shine, while the busy waiter (who doesn’t know anything about those wall hangings) is only worried about how he accidentally served a steak to the vegetarian at table 14.

Comments or questions are welcome.

Cherry Blossom Festival Celebrates Textile Art 2009

2009-01-18T21:22:00.000-08:00

Blossoms and Nest 2009, Kirsten Chursinoff

Here's some info about three events of interest to textile artists. Let me know if you've heard of other events that tie into the blossom-textile theme and I'll add them too!

Cherry Blossoms: A Textile Translation
Exhibition
March 28 - April 25, 2009
Opening reception March 28 from 1 - 4 pm
Mason Sewing Centre
6184 Fraser St. Vancouver BC

Invitational exhibition by Friends and Members of FibreEssence.

Blossom Tree by Kirsten Chursinoff 2009

UNDER THE CHERRY TREE

Saturday March 28
Sunday March 29
10.00am – 5.00pm

Under The Cherry Tree is the opening event for the 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival.
This festival is presented with the support of the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens and the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver. Over 2,000 members of the public are expected to attend this family friendly two day part of the festival. As well as fine crafts hand picked by Leon and Pickles, this event will also feature the cultural arts and cuisine of Japan. Demonstrations will be taking place all weekend on the walkway adjacent to the hall as well as on the stage of the Floral Hall.

The Floral Hall of Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak Street (37th and Oak), Vancouver The gardens are centrally located, have free parking and are convenient to public transit. The Floral Hall is beautiful and well managed - refreshments and music will be provided. Admission will be free of charge to Under The Cherry Tree.

CHERRY BLOSSOM SUITE
By
Judy Villett
At
Unitarian Church of Vancouver
949 West 49th Ave (Oak and 49th)

March 4 – April 5, 2009

Everyone is welcome to an ARTIST’S TALK Sunday, March 22, 1 – 3 p.m.

This series of six quilted wall hangings portrays the breathtaking emergence of cherry blossoms after the long, grey winter in Vancouver. Contoured city landscape provides great views of the rolling waves of pink, a result of extensive boulevard planting. Appliquéd and machine pieced waves of cloud, mist, blossoms and landscape are an important aspect of these pieces. Waves are also used as a horizontal quilting element to signify the energy of the earth, and how all these elements are interconnected. A veil of quilted and beaded rain angles across the winter scenes, changing to falling, painted petals in the last, late spring scene. The rhythm and harmony of nature is transformed into a visual symphony in six movements.

The exhibition is open to the public Sundays from 10–11 a.m. and 12–1 p.m. or call the office during business hours to arrange a viewing. 604-261-7204

During the same time period, Judy Villett has a collection of smaller textile pieces celebrating spring in the Fireside Room, Hewett Centre, Unitarian Church of Vancouver.

More info:
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
http://www.vcbf.ca/

Publish Your Fibre Art in Magazines

2009-01-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

by Kirsten Chursinoff

I get a thrill of excitement when I see the artwork of someone I know in print. If you are thinking about submitting your artwork to be published, here are a few things to get you started.

One of the entry points is to enter “Reader Challenges” mentioned in many magazines. Sometimes you may need to submit to several before you see results. The work submitted must follow the guidelines so read the instructions carefully. Sometimes you can send photos, but in some cases you may be asked to mail the art to the magazine. You are not usually paid for this use of your image (unless there is a prize), but you will be given credit and exposure.

Choose a publication that most closely matches your type of work. Examine back issues to analyze the style and quality of the work previously published.

Some magazines will accept print photos, but many have moved to digital submissions, so always read the submission guidelines or the challenge instructions. These will usually be printed in the magazine or are available on the websites. And make sure you send excellent quality photos.

The “Artist Profile” or “Spotlight” feature is often written by a staff writer. They may interview you by phone, or a combination of phone, email and portfolio review. Themes include: celebrating a body of work, your techniques, or the stories behind your pieces.

Feature Article: If you’re a writer, you may wish to write about your techniques or fibre related topic. This requires a focused query letter sent to the editor, outlining your specific article idea. Be clear and concise. A query letter is a “pitch” for an article, not the whole article.

Consider themes and seasons and check to see if there is an editorial calendar. Plan a year ahead. Magazines are often international in scope, so submit to American and international publications too!

Search the pages of magazines for competitions and opportunities and also seek out opportunities on magazine websites. Online versions of magazines and magazine blogs also encourage submissions.

Links:
Fiber Arts Magazine
http://fiberarts.com/submissions/submissionguidelines.asp

Surface Design Journal
http://surfacedesign.org/Journal-writers-guidelines.asp

Write an article for Quilting Arts or Cloth Paper Scissors
http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/submissions.html

General Artwork Submission Guidelines for the following:
Belle Armoir
Stampington and Co
Somerset Studio
Art Doll Quarterly
Altered Couture
http://www.stampington.com/html/wanna_get_published.html

American Quilter Magazine (see column on the left)
http://www.americanquilter.com/publications/

Machine Quilting Unlimited
http://www.mqumag.com/submissions/

More magazines to try:
http://www.interweave.com/

International Fibre Art Opportunities
http://fiberartcalls.blogspot.com/

This article was originally written for the newsletter of the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts.
http://www.vgfa.org/

Tyvek - "Innovative Uses" Feature

2009-01-07T14:01:00.001-08:00

Detail of Tyvek, heat-treated and stitched to the surface of
"Anemone Tidepool 1"

There is a new blog promoting the innovative uses of Tyvek. Douglas Khon, of Material Concepts, asked if they could use one of my images to represent the creative uses of this versatile material. Also featured in this blog, is work by Barbara Strembicki of Joggles.com and a link to more info on how to use Tyvek in artwork. There is also interesting info about recycling Tyvek here:
Material Concepts

With my work I've heated pieces of Tyvek so that it puckers and bubbles a little. It's very strong, yet it can be stitched very easily. I mostly use it to depict sea textures, bubbling waves, eggs, and general textured effects. It also accepts acrylic paint very easily and produces stunning effects.

Anemone Tidepool 1
Copyright Kirsten Chursinoff 2009

More info about this piece here:
Anemone Tidepool 1

Commercial Design

2009-01-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I was approached to design textile props which would then be computer animated. Although I was not directly involved with the project in the UK, here's an overview of the elements in my artwork that interested the advertising company, and the final result they created.

The ad as it appears in print in BBC Good Homes Magazine.

My original piece "Daisies" was the first piece discussed.

They also liked "Hyacinths"

Detail of stitched edges of leaf stalks.

Detail of stitched edges of leaf stalks. Note the stitching down the centre of the flower petals.

Detail of flower with stitching down the centre of petals.

I like the idea of using textile elements to advertise a product that will be used to condition fabrics. Their whole ad series is quite fascinating.

Coming out of the Sewing Closet

2008-12-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

Coming out of the Sewing Closet.

Okay, I’m spilling the beans (or the bobbins). I have a “toy” sewing machine. Those of you who have attended my lectures have heard the confession, but now I need to come out to the rest of the world.

For the last eight years I have been sewing on an entry-level mechanical sewing machine.

Many of my peers have sewing machines worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but I patiently work away at my little “toy” Kenmore.

I guess I’ve always been a proponent of the “It’s not the tool, it’s what you do with it” philosophy. Well, I’ve stretched that to the limit now. I’m ready for a new tool.

This little machine knows how to dream big, but not big enough.

“Kenny” roars loudly, even when he’s freshly oiled. When I step on his pedal, there’s a delay before the motor kicks in. When I’m hurrying to prepare for an exhibition he seizes up. And most embarrassingly, when I have visitors to the studio he roars even louder.

I don’t need fancy stitches, or computerized gizmos. I’ll do just fine if I can drop the feed-dogs for free-machine embroidery, and have a zigzag stitch. Also, I think a mechanical sewing machine is fine, but can I get one with all metal parts?

There are a lot of sacrifices to be made when you live off of your art. You can give up almost anything for your passion, but I think it’s time for a grown-up machine. It’s time to sew with the big girls.

The search begins.

Numen Exhibition to Feb 14, 2009

2008-12-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

Numen Gallery presents

Kirsten Chursinoff
MOMENTUM
December 9, 2008 - January 11, 2009
Update: Exhibition EXTENDED TO FEB 14, 2009
7 of the 11 pieces are still on exhibition

You are cordially invited to meet the artist
at the opening reception on December 13, Saturday, 4 - 6 pm
at Numen Gallery, 120-1058 Mainland St., Yaletown, Vancouver B.C.

For more information, contact 604.630.6927 or info@numengallery.com or go to www.numengallery.com
Gallery hours: Tue-Sat 11-6, Closed Sunday and Monday.

Image: Kirsten Chursinoff, Momentum, 2008, textile, thread, 10" x 8"

New Salt Spring Island Gallery/Studio

2008-12-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

Keep your eyes open for new developments at "Knotty Threads":
www.janemackenziedesigns.com

Lecture and Slide Show Thursday Oct. 16

2008-10-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday October 16, 2008 7pm
New Westminster Public Library Auditorium
Free Admission

Art Quilts: A Creative Journey

Join me on a creative journey. I will present slides of my artwork and speak about my processes and creative inspiration. Using techniques such as embroidery, sewing and quilting, I create west coast landscapes, flowers and abstract artwork.

Contemporary art quilts have moved from the bed, to the wall, and have emerged as an innovative way to create art. This presentation explores the creative process including ideas, colour, inspiration, and technique.

This lecture is presented along with the exhibition "Autumn Leaves and Harvest Fruit" at the New Westminster Public Library for the month of October.
All are welcome.

New Westminster Public Library
716 6th Avenue (near 8th St.)
New Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4660

www.chursinoff.com

Autumn Leaves and Harvest Fruit Exhibition

2008-09-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

My artwork will be on display at the New Westminster
Public Library for the month of October, 2008.

On Thursday October 16th, I'm presenting my lecture and slide show:
"Art Quilts: a Creative Journey" at the NWPL auditorium.
7pm. Free admission.

New Westminster Public Library
716 6th Avenue (near 8th St.)
New Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4660

Monday to Friday 9:30am-9pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday 1pm-5pm

Closed for Thanksgiving:

Sunday, October 12th & Monday, October 13th

http://www.nwpl.new-westminster.bc.ca/