Where do I begin….Emma Lake International Collaboration is simply a blast. Artists come from all over the world to spend a week creating art and combining medium. I had no idea what to expect. All I knew at the time was my friend and mentor Dorothy Gill Barnes invited me to join her there. I was game and had no idea how much I would love the experience. Here is Michael Hosaluk giving the welcome greeting. Michael is the founder of this event which evolved out of a Wood Symposium held over 20 years ago. It grew to include other artists such as blacksmiths, jewellers, woodturners, fibre artists, furniture makers, sculptors etc. etc.
All day and into the night, the creative wheels are turning.
The event is held at Ness Creek, Saskatchewan….a 3 hour drive north of Saskatoon and tucked in the boreal forest. The isolation and tranquility is perfect for creating this little magic world and community. Here is a collaboration with Neville Parker of New Zealand who created the birch bark fish.
Collaborators and new friends….Robert Lyons, Jason Nemec, Greg Wilbur, Dorothy Gill Barnes.
Some of the pieces I collaborated on.
The bark of the local willow was still peeling in July.
Dorothy and I worked on this piece.
At the end of the week all completed work is auctioned either in a silent or live auction on site. A selection of work is transported to Saskatoon for a public auction. Funds raised go toward the next Emma!
Thank you Dorothy for inviting me into this world of Collaboration.
