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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.

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All day and into the night, the creative wheels are turning.

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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.

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Collaborators and new friends….Robert Lyons, Jason Nemec, Greg Wilbur, Dorothy Gill Barnes.

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Some of the pieces I collaborated on.

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The bark of the local willow was still peeling in July.

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Dorothy and I worked on this piece.

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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.