Greetings All!

It's past time again for my annual newsletter. Every year it seems to get going a little later! But now that I have something of a show and teaching schedule in place I thought I had better get it out to you. I spent quite a bit of time over Christmas re-working the website to give it a new look, and be able to add new pages without making it any harder to navigate - I hope you like the results. If you find any broken links please do let me know. I am still adding new pictures - so if one is missing check back in a few days and it should be there

I am still very much enjoying the pace of life in Toronto, though I have to admit that the bloom is off the rose just a little. When I first got here I was like a kid in a candy store - but as the realities of urban life set in you begin to realise all the things about the country that you miss. Fortunately Toronto is a diverse enough city that with a little effort you can find everything that you need. I am now spending most Sunday mornings walking in High Park to recover a little from the exhaust filled vegetation deprived streets of downtown. But I still go over to the local jazz club (The Rex) on a Saturday afternoon to read my NOW magazine (the local arts rag) and plan my cultural activities for the week. 

Saturday early evenings are generally spent at Gate 403's folk club where local musical friends like Jim Fay, Jonathan Lynn, October Browne or Michelle Rumball can be heard plying their diverse talents. (Sometimes I even sing a song myself!)

I've been getting more and more interested in the art of storytelling, and have even been working on a few stories. So Friday nights I sometimes go over to University of Toronto's Innis College, which is just a couple of blocks walk from my house, home to Toronto's 1001 Nights of Storytelling. 

I also spent another week at the Canadian Museum of Civilization music archives researching some of the great songs and singers that were collected here in the 40's and 50's. There is so much! Though I listened to 477 songs - I just barely scratched the surface of one collection! I have certainly got some good new repertoire - now I just need some time to learn it!

My classes at George Brown College are going well. I would like to move to a larger studio so that I can teach classes in house - but that is still in the works. I am continuing my work with the Metal Arts Guild and other local arts groups (such as Enterprise Toronto which is offering an Arts Business Workshop in March that I will be speaking at.) 

I also have a new store carrying my work! Kalupe, on Queen Street West, in Toronto has been in business since 1957. Started by Talis Kivlenieks' father, he now keeps the fires burning himself. It is a congenial home for me as Talis also uses historical artefacts as the inspiration for his work - which is stunning. If you live in Toronto do stop by. If you live in Ontario - please also visit Brenda Roy's store. Fellow An Droichead/Bridge member Brenda is a fine goldsmith, and also carries my work in her store. 

I would like to expand the number of stores carrying my work - so if there is a store in your area that you think would be good for me - please do let me know!

I have quite a bit of new work to offer you. I have expanded on my grisaille series added some new jewellery and panels (and you can see those pieces by going to the "New Work" Section of the website) - but I am most excited about the new cloisonné series I am working on based on the folklore story of the "Armless Maiden". They will be quite different than my usual work, and are an extension of my interest in working on larger more challenging pieces.  however it may be a year or more before I get all the ten planned panels finished. I will post them as they develop! I try to work on new ideas in the winter but pretty soon the pressure of producing for shows sends me back to production. 

Speaking of shows I will be in Washington DC March 8 and 9 - so please come by an visit if you have a chance! Be sure to check out my "Current Shows" page to see what I am up to this spring and summer - and look at "Current Teaching" if you are interested in taking a class.

I hope to see you all at some point this summer!

Warm regards
Catherine

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High Park, Toronto

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Spoken Word Artist Jonathan Lynn

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Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa

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719 Queen Street W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E6

Brenda Roy's Store in Alliston, ON