Sunday, March 6, 2011

Quite the incredible day!

 Me with Nicki Ault who came all the way from Saskatoon.

With a day to think about all that took place in the
artists' celebration party for the International Women
Celebrate show, I feel so moved by the experience.
Jill Yuzwa, the Ayrspace gallery director is an incredibly
generous and gracious host.  Not long after we arrived
the went around the large gallery space introducing each
attending artist and her art.  Each woman stood next to her
painting and described her motivation.  There were so many
wonderful stories stemming from each woman's interpretation
of the event.  Some were sad, honouring mothers and friends
who were now gone, many were joyful expressions of women's
desire to be free, some were political about the oppression
women still face in parts of the world, and some were intensely
personal about lost relationships, or about wanting to inspire
a daughter to be strong and happy.

These stories also captured in the book designed by Jeanette
Vermeyden-Obbink set the stage for an evening of discussion.
I was extremely happy to meet women from all different
parts of the country, and to sign each other's books.  But the
sweetest part of the evening, in an event packed with notable
memories, was sitting with my blog friends and just revelling
in the excitement, happiness, humour we shared at meeting one
another.  It was so delightful to realize that everything I'd always
thought would happen if blogging friends got together -- did.
We hugged and laughed and talked.  Our comments on each
other's blogs, our knowledge of each other's work made the
connections in person, instant and meaningful.
At the end of the night Marcia Labelle, Jill Yuzwa and me 
getting ready to say goodbye after a great day.

Three cheers for the blog world, for Jill Yuzwa again. And to
all the women in the show thank you.  I could sit and stare at
your work for hours and hours.   Absolutely inspiring!

Have a meeting-the-people-you-admire day.

P.S.  There will be more pictures tomorrow.  My camera
work was not too great, I think I was too excited.
So I'll get some shots from Steven's camera, and show
you more of the people.

11 comments:

Linny D. Vine said...

Happy photos full of beautiful smiles!

Shelly Sargent said...

Barbara - though I'm not yet one of your blog friends, I hope to be soon. I love your work, and it was a preal leasure meeting and talking with you (and so many other talented ladies) on the weekend. It was an experience I'll always treasure, and I'm so grateful to Jill, Kim & Jeanette for all their hard work putting it together!

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Linny,

I wish you'd been there! We will meet one day and it will be wonderful.

XOBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Shelly,

It was a treat meeting you. I hope you had a great time the next day at the brunch and sorry I couldn't make it. I enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

XOBarbara

Melinda said...

So happy that you all could get together to celebrate and be with each other!

It looks as though you all were very happy. What a great time you must have had.

Best wishes to you and all women artists!

Pam Holnback said...

Sounds absolutely wonderful!

Nicki said...

Barbara, what a thrill to meet you! You are as wonderful as I expected and I am still giggling when I think of your infectious laugh!

Thank for the memories! ;o)

XO Nicki

suzanneberry said...

So beautifully described, thank you Barbara! I so wish I could have attended, it just looks like an incredible time getting to meet fellow artists. Looking forward to more photos! Thank you!

Paloma Dawkins said...

Hey!! I found your blog on Nicki's blog =) your paintings are so beautiful Barbara! You inspire me to get better, and do more work. Thanks for being so great! It was nice to meet you

Laurel Daniel said...

Wonderful time! Thanks for sending us pictures!

Liza Hirst said...

Sounds wonderful! And you look beautiful as always - you are very photogenic, my dear Barbara!
I like your chunky necklace, too.

I so wish I could have been there with you all...
Take care, Liza

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!