Last one about to get slayed to be ready for printing on MOONday. 
Speaking of the moon, I found this morning.

WAY awesome.....

MOONBOW

Source: I Fucking Love Science

What could be more picturesque than a rainbow?

How about a Moonbow? Or more correctly; a lunar rainbow!

As many of you will know, a rainbow forms as a result of the refraction of sunlight as it passes through water droplets in the sky. The refractive properties of the droplets cause sunlight to be split into a band of colours, more specifically the light spectrum. 

For a Moonbow, the principles behind its formation are quite the same. The only exception is the light source is no longer the Sun, but the Moon.

While most of us will have seen a rainbow at least once in our life time, a much fewer number will have had the pleasure to encounter the lunar equivalent. This is because, as the Moon is more variable than the sun, many conditions need to be just right.

1- Moonbows are best seen when the Moon is conspicuous in the sky, so the period around the full moon, and more particularly before and after the gibbous phase is particularly favourable.

2- Of course, the brightest Moon thinkable will not cause a moonbow on its own accord. Moisture in the air also a crucial component. The best nights to see a moonbow is when there is rain coupled with intermittent clear skies.

3- The last main consideration is the position of the Moon in the night sky. Acredited to the atmospheric optical parameters of water droplets; a low Moon altitude is desired. If the Moon is greater than 42 degrees above the horizon, no bow will form.

These three things are the basic necessities for the formation of a lunar rainbow. While they may sound like reasonable considerations individually, it is quite a different situation when you need all three of these to work together at the same time. As a result, this phenomenon is really quite rare.

The best places to witness this spectacle are said to be the Scottish Highlands and The Hawaiian Islands as well as Ireland and the United Kingdom.

So, if you ever think it is a Goldilocks night, in which all the conditions are right- get outside and see if you can catch a glimpse of this amazing phenomenon.

-Jean

Photo courtesy of Rob Ratkowski of Hawaii.

2 more complete. 1 more to go until the series is complete and ready to print.

Two woodcuts  - 18x24 and 11x16 on masonite 

Lots of music and tea today. 

Exploring the textures of nature that are embodied by the skin of the ephemeral. (trees). 

A bracelet I made from recycled leather pieces and labradorite beads.

The Tragically Hip playing a free show in Kensington promoting their new album.

Amazing show, and amazing guys.

After seeing my work at OCADU's Graduate Exhibition, I was asked to be a part of a two week festival (also to be one of the featured artist's for Industry Professional night) entitled Blackoutfest. The festival will occur once every year in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario. 

An art gathering that encompasses all forms of art; painting, music, drawing, sculpture and installation, poetry, printmaking, theatre/film and material arts (just to name a few). I have never been a part of anything like this before, so naturally, at first I was apprehensive, but once ideas started to flow, I could not wait to start making something. 

My thesis work at OCAD University discussed the issues in coral reef deterioration, specifically the Great Barrier Reef's of Australia. Still being very compassionate about our underwater gardens, I thought I would continue with the concept of synthetics. The idea of engineering artificial life to fix our mistakes and to prevent coral reef systems from extinction.

What kept this festival cohesive was that everyone had to explore a question. Mine was, should we intervene? 

Should we create and integrate?


Artist Statement: 

Decayed coral reefs are the actions of human neglect. Paralyzed by the thought of loosing our submerged world, we are desperately trying to mend our ill oceanic gardens by injecting a synthetic heartbeat to revive a once aquatic eden. But will our actions be invasive and place a permanent flatline to our coral reefs, or will it aid in it's survival?

The materials used in this installation entitled, Vacancy, reflect the concept of marrying inorganic materials into an organic environment. Recycled polymer based materials form the foundation of this sculpture that supports the notion of human interaction and how our behavior, as noble as our intentions may be, can never truly be natural. 

Vacancy Recycled Polymer, Sand, Blacklight, 4'X6', 2012

Detail of Vacancy

Detail of Vacancy

The pamphlet/catalogue showcasing all the artists involved in this two week festival.

(Crappy iphoto pic) but..there I am!

Concluding: I am pleased with the results of my installation, but more importantly the show in its entirety. I met some amazing artist's who I am currently working on collaborations with, and to everyone who came, made this an experience I will never forget. 

Looking forward to next year!

Loomin' on the porch with bees and humming birds.  

Texture.
Sand at Longpoint Beach, ON.