I know, I know, it has been forever and a world away since I posted my last update, it has been a crazy few months! We started packing up our stuff for the big move waaaaayyy back in May, I had my final solo exhibition in Japan early June and we spent a wonderful week vacationing in paradise before the big flight back to Canada.
Despite the extra safety measures and limited allowed visitors due to the pandemic, my solo exhibition was very successful. It was held at this gorgeous art gallery in downtown Nagoya located in a beautifully renovated, traditional Japanese building. I had a blast catching up with friends and collectors, at a safe distance of course! So many paintings found wonderful new forever homes, some staying behind in Japan and some going on new adventures all around the world. We even had a real Maiko san (Geisha in training) who came to visit the gallery!
After 6 weeks of being surrounded by boxes and all the craziness and paperwork of an international move we were very lucky to spend some time on gorgeous Ishigaki, a small tropical island in the Okinawa peninsula, close to Taiwan. We spent a week scuba diving, exploring rainforests, beaches and waterfalls, subbing and canoeing and eating amazing food.
So now, after a truly amazing and transformative three years in Nagoya Japan, we are back in Montréal, Canada. We survived our two weeks of full quarantine and are slowly getting reacquainted with the city. All of our stuff still has to make its way over from Japan, it will take at least another two months before it arrives here in Canada so we're living in limbo at the moment. Hopping airbnb's with just our 4 suitcases and 11 boxes of air freight. Luckily I brought my computer and some paints so I will be able to get back to work soon, I may not be as productive in this one bedroom apartment but we'll make it work :)
If all goes well I should be able to move into my new studio space by the time our boxes arrive so I should be back creating at full speed by the end of the year, right in time to ramp up production for Artist Project 2021 which has been rescheduled for April 2021.
But, even though we're in the middle of this pandemic, there are still some exciting events coming up! This weekend the Viva Vida Art Gallery here in Montréal will start a wonderful series of curbside exhibitions that will be held throughout August and September, giving everyone a chance to experience exciting new artworks while staying safe. Drop or drive by each weekend to take a peek at the outdoor installations and meet the featured artists. My work will be featured from August 21-27, I am excited to have this wonderful opportunity to catch up with all my wonderful collectors here in Montréal. I will be bringing some gorgeous Japanese hanging scrolls to the gallery for the occasion so mark your calendars!
