" A L L  L A R G E  T A S K S
A R E  C O M P L E T E D  I N  A
S E R I E S  O F  S T A R T S."
Neil Fiore

A R T I S T S  G A T H E R E D
 I N  M A R Y  A N D  G A R Y' 'S
H O M E  F O R
T H E   I D  R E T R E A T:
F R O N T  R O W:  I L S E,
S H E I L A,  J A N E T,
M A R Y A N N E;
B A C K  R O W: J A Y N E,
M A R G I E  A N D  M A R Y.

" F O C U S  A N D
M O M E N T U M
S H O R T E N  T H E
P A T H  T O  T H E
F I N I S H  L I N E."
Connie Frey

" I F  I  C A N  S E E
A N  E N D I N G,
I  C A N  W O R K
B A C K W A R D S."
Arthur Miller

March was a month of synthesis. The exhibition catalogue was becoming a reality. The final funding was secured. Many tasks were completed including the selection of photographs, writing and editing of text.

The funding for the catalogue comes from two sources, the first from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the second from the Edmonton Community Foundation. These agencies have made possible the documentation of this project. We are grateful for their support.

I spent many hours pouring over the wonderful photographs of Mario Pietromala. It was difficult to choose the formal photographs of the artists and their work because there were so many excellent images available. However, it became even more difficult to select the informal photographs that I have included in the catalogue. Mario took many photographs at our artist's retreat in February. He captured the essence of the experience. I struggled to select a few defining photographs to include in the catalogue.

Writing the curatorial statement and editing the artist's statements proved to be a time consuming task. Capturing the essential elements of the experience is more complex than I originally thought. However, it has been a useful endeavour. I am becoming clearer about what I believe to be the important threads of the experience - personal reflection and experimentation, working collaboratively with peers and, of course, the art we produced.

There was a second process underway that involved the beginning steps in integrating the experience of "Inside the Dress". I believe this will take many months, but I can already identify ways that I have changed. In talking to some of the other artists it is apparent that we have been impacted in surprising ways. We are making clearer choices for ourselves in our lives. We are simplifying in a variety of ways. We are experimenting with new materials or subject matter. And we are savouring the friendships that have developed as a result of our involvement in this project.

To that end Jayne Willoughby Scott and I made a trip to Calgary to see the Dorothy Caldwell exhibition entitled "In Good Repair." We stayed with Sheila Niles. The three of us enjoyed seeing the work of this masterful artist.

We are looking forward to seeing our work in the McMullen Gallery. Most of the artists are planning to come to the opening on Thursday, May 12th. It will be a coming together of a different sort. It will be my great pleasure to gather with these wonderful women to appreciate the fruits of our labours.




* As I promised last month, here is a 'sneak preview' of one of my "Inside the Dress" exercise pieces - this one is my self portrait: "Beautiful Flaws"



The project entitled, "Inside the Dress" is a process that will culminate in an exhibition at the McMullen Gallery. My colleagues, Jean Brandel, Judy Villett and Jayne Willoughby-Scott and I conceived the idea as a means of creating an opportunity to work deeply. The process has taken more than a year to complete, and we envision the result of collective personal work will be a remarkable exhibition!

Inside the Dress
McMullen Gallery
8440 - 112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta.

May 7 - July 10, 2005.