Summer Daze

It is almost the end of June - half of this year is gone, but certainly not forgotten! I've been busy in my little corner of the world, trying to ignore what is out of my control and focusing on what is - a “Let Them - Let Me” approach according to author Mel Robbins (yes, I’m reading her book!).

Since my return from Bali in January, I finished carving and hand-printing more linocut designs. This 5x7" elephant piece was done for Wildlife SOS' annual art auction fundraiser. My 10x13" Aspens and Wild Roses design I had been working on for a long while, is now hand-printed as a varied edition using a number of different substrates, such as my handmade paper, on paper I had precoloured, and on hosho paper. The one on hosho paper I've hand coloured with acrylic inks. I matted and framed some of these recents for sale at Poor Michaels in Onanole and also for an upcoming solo touring exhibition commitment.

In March I wrote poetry in response to Winnipeg artist Genevie Henderson's body of artworks on women's issues titled "Flora, Fauna and Figure, Metaphors for Womens' Rights". In April we attended her opening reception at St. Norbert Arts Centre where poets such as myself, inspired by her work, read out their poetry. I also fell in love with and purchased one of her artworks. Moonchild will be coming home with me in August!

MY GARDEN OF HOPE AND LONGING

“Today I planted seeds of hope… and the seeds and I are filled with a longing, a desire to grow beyond the sweetness of our confines. There are no gender or equality issues here - no deciding who gets more water, better soil, a sunnier location. In my garden, we all have equal opportunity to sprout and flourish, to be kissed by bees and golden warmth, to spread our roots deeply into moist, rich soil, to blossom in all our potential glory, to push our boundaries if we choose and fully experience the blush of life with mutual love and support, compassion and kindness. The seeds and I have a vision of how magnificent our futures will be as we nurture and encourage our garden of unified diversity. “ Jan Jenkins, 10 March 2025 (rev. 28 June)

I also participated in Arts West Council's 2025 Juried Art Show which took place in Reston, MB and my work "Concrete Jungle" was chosen for their 2025/26 Travelling Gallery Show which will be touring Manitoba's Westman Region.

In May I attended a self-guided 5-day art retreat at Camp Wannakumbac with other creatives, and worked on acrylic paintings inspired by Aspens for an upcoming group art show with my Drawn Together Collective titled Making A Mark. Another artist friend's weekly Drink 'n Draw sessions at H Coffee resumed, and another group of young creatives formed Wandering In Brandon, for arty folks of all ages to gather at different locales in our City. And I've done some gelli-plate printmaking for collage to complete another project!

I also took screenprinting instruction for 5 days in June at Arts West's 2025 Artists' Retreat. Our delightful instructor Karen Cornelius guided us on screenprinting techniques using watersoluble media, stencils and botanicals. We learned to hand-cut stencils, how print both on paper and fabric items, including t-shirts and tote bags. A lively, energetic group of creatives occupied the printshack and our screenprinting adventures were a team effort. I am a somewhat tentative learner so I enjoyed the opportunity to watch and observe, and focused in trying out these techniques on paper.

And so, my creative journey continues...

In closing I wish you and yours a memorable summer and leave you with this quote: "Happiness is not the absence of problems. It is the ability to find joy and gratitude in the midst of them". ~ Unknown