Opening night ... ARTiculations!

Myself & Heather taking a pose by the display with names of all participants!

I was excited to make a trip to "The Junction" this past Thursday for the opening night of the "Sketchbook Challenge" ...  the junction is a neighbourhood at the west end of Toronto that has been called the next big "hip place to live."  A place that has been very appealing to artists, and home to my friend Heather's new art store/gallery. 

A different type of opening night one would be used to, as you would normally find art pieces hung on the walls! ... here, the display was on shelves and tables and it was ok for visitors to actually touch the art! ...  as everyone flipped through the many sketchbooks, this cozy space felt a lot like a charming little library.  Buzzing still, as opening nights are, but there was an underlying sense of calm and quiet as viewing this art required a little "getting close to," a more intimate connection, as people were essentially viewers of the artists' "diaries." 

I felt that the sketchbooks revealed a lot about the character and personality of the artists ... some sketches were more rigid and in some the free and looser hand could be seen.  Some of the sketches were quite humorous and told a visual story of the daily happenings of the artist's life.  I thought that the project and event were quite successful, and as for me I will continue with my sketching.  I believe that Heather would like to make this an annual event at her gallery, so perhaps more will become participants; though if you want to draw, don't wait for next year and pick up your pencil today!

... and I found ... me!