Micro Macro

New work and Upcoming show!!

2010-05-24T11:06:00.002-04:00

Aleksandra Rdest
Swagger and Sashay

June 5th – July 17th
Opening reception Thursday June 3rd 6–9 PM

Hope to see you there!

New work on my website!

Press

2010-04-10T15:48:00.003-04:00

Digital Temple Magazine did and interview with me recently; it starts on page 142.

I have new paintings, not quite ready to share them yet:)

If you are in Toronto; Angell Gallery has a few of my paintings in a group show on right now.

Balance Rising

2010-02-05T17:51:00.003-05:00

That is the title of this small piece I did for Heartbeats For Africa. If you can, you should go, its a worthy cause. I am happy to be able to contribute.

Opening pics

2010-01-10T13:44:00.015-05:00

Here are some pics from our opening. All photography by the wonderful Skye Hohmann.
Also check out another project I'm working on http://acofo.blogspot.com/

Food by Grant with much help from Skye. Many thanks to all who helped and attended.

Upcoming Exhibition

2009-12-02T12:37:00.006-05:00

Nomads No More

On Thursday December 17^th the stark white walls of the DeLeon White Gallery will be the backdrop to the gleaming dance and layered tension of Aleksandra Rdest’s explorations of abstract archetype and the fierce reverberations of Sarah Hillock’s red back drops and sacred aurochs.

This is a show that would be best summed up as a marriage of sensations not unlike eating vast quantities of bitter chocolate and sweet chilis. The one sensation growing so strong one can no longer stand it becomes the place of comfort from which one may experience a new disparate sensation. Layer on layer of experience and emotion intermingle within these works. The joy and the pain, with the common sense to temper them both with critical humor, is evident along with the hard won chops that are needed to express these kinds of nuance.

Original compositions by Grant Curle (strings) and Roberta Hunt (piano) will be the musical fair for the evening. Keeping in line with the nomadic feel the spectrum will vary from Tango and Jazz to Roma melodic improvisation.

Foods on the table and the drinks in the back, we hope to see you there.

Opening Thursday December 17, 2009 6-9pm

DeLeon White Gallery

1139 College Street West Toronto

Exhibition continues to December 19 (three days only!)

Check out my website for some images of the new work.

Morning on the Bruce

2009-11-29T12:11:00.015-05:00

Last Sunday morning Sasha and I went for a little hike on the Bruce Trail at Mono Center. Wonderful looping trails.

Flashback

2009-11-22T17:53:00.009-05:00

Aidan McNeill recently sent me these great pics she took in the school/studio in Pouch Cove. This would have been summer 2007; G is helping me glue finished paintings on panels onto frames before they were shipped off to an exhibition.

In the Studio

2009-10-27T23:58:00.002-04:00

Just in case you were thinking it was all fun and fungi over here; here's a couple detail shots of a painting I am working on right now.

tee hee!

Hike on the Bruce

2009-10-27T23:42:00.008-04:00

Frosty Morning on the Farm

2009-10-27T23:29:00.006-04:00

I had to throw this last pic in; Sash is presumably resting/hiding in there, but the cat is still stalking her:)

New Paintings

2009-10-25T12:55:00.002-04:00

Emergent Tenacity
56 x 40 inches

Bright Shadow
40 x 56 inches

Flying and Canoeing

2009-09-21T10:41:00.012-04:00

Thanks again Ann and Keith for an unforgettable weekend!

Me elsewhere on the web

2009-08-19T14:37:00.002-04:00

Some wonderful words over at Secret Still and on NOTCOT!

Finally!

2009-08-03T22:22:00.000-04:00

New paintings on my website aleksrdest.com
Go see!

New work

2009-07-01T15:24:00.006-04:00

Dave just came and shot all my new paintings; I am so excited to have good pics of them and I know I should wait until I have those good pics BEFORE posting but I can't wait to share, so here is a sneak peak.

These two are 30 x 40 inches; acrylic on canvas.

Detail of above acrylic on canvas. These are not yet titled; working on that this week:)

Toronto Postcards: More Plane Pics

2009-05-23T19:47:00.003-04:00

Hello Blog

2009-05-14T16:03:00.020-04:00

Long time no see. Its been an eventful couple months; often little time to catch my breath let alone think about editing and posting images. But do not worry, little blog, I have not abandoned you completely. New York in March was amazing! I saw heaps of great art, met many wonderful people and received lots of positive responses to my work.
Here is a random street shot, and below is a charming cafe I found myself in late one night.
After NY I began work for an upcoming two person exhibition at Jacana Gallery in Vancouver, and a group show at Sopa Fine Arts in Kelowna. The work is coming along quite nicely but I'm not ready to post pics yet.

My parents have a little pond now, so cute; wish I could spend more time there.
Below is some moss I found in the woods by my folks place. Love the contrast and similarity between the tiny moss shoots and the trees.

Here are some pics from a recent trip to Los Angeles.
This is part of the eastern arm of the Rockies.

Canyons

The Grand Canyon: spectacular!

This is the approach to LAX. LA is so huge it just goes on and on.

Five minutes on the beach.

I have more great pics from the flight home. More soon.

Me in NY

2009-03-01T20:03:00.003-05:00

My work and I will be at the POOL Art Fair in New York next weekend:
Room #503
Wyndham Garden Hotel
37 West 24th Street
March 6, 7 & 8 2009, 3PM to 10PM Daily

I have just posted lots of images of new works to my website!

More Pocket Storms

2009-02-15T22:15:00.002-05:00

I have been painting more Pocket Storms; here is a sneak peek of one. It is acrylic on mylar at this point and about 36" wide. I've really been on a roll in the studio lately; lots more coming out. And they are evolving quickly:)

Pocket Storms

2009-01-23T20:00:00.008-05:00

4 new works on mylar, now done, from a series I am calling "Pocket Storms". 32 x 42".

Detail of below.

Detail of above.

Hello again

2009-01-10T14:41:00.006-05:00

A lot has happened this past month, holidays notwithstanding. G and I have moved into our own place! Since our return to Toronto we had been living in a sublet-ed apt/studio; we have now moved into a live/work loft. The space was wide open when we got it; we had to build the studio into it, paint everything and build some storage lofts. The past month and a half has been consumed by packing/building/moving/unpacking. I have neglected most communications, sorry to those I am taking long replying to. Its not all done but this week the studio is mostly finished and I've been able to start painting again! Which means I feel like myself again. Yay!
People who are driven to create will be able to relate to the restless energy and pent up frustration one feels when life takes over and there is not enough time for art. But, I am back at it, much relieved:)

These images are a few new paintings on mylar I am currently working on; from a series I am calling "Pocket Storms". They are approx. 30 x 40". They will still get some final glaze coats.

House and Home

2008-12-16T16:43:00.003-05:00

Here is my painting as it appears in the December issue of House and Home Magazine page 139. Speaking of home; we have finally finished moving to our new home! I will get around to posting some pics of the space; right now it is a sea of boxes.

News

2008-12-05T12:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a new mylar painting. I have been posting less than usual lately because I am getting ready to move my studio and apartment. I have been in a sublet since moving back to Toronto but now finally we are getting our own place. Yay!
You can see me on TV today for a repeat broadcast of the Polish Language program Na Luzie (I will be speaking english:) The interview airs Friday, December 5th at 2:00 PM. They begin the program with a music video. My story airs after the first commercial break. I should have posted this earlier but moving preparations and more days at the gallery have taken over my brain.
Also I have been featured on blogto check out http://blogto.com/artists/
And one of my paintings has been reproduced in the December issue of House and Home magazine. I will post a scan as soon as I have time to scan it:)

Carte Blanche Vol. 2: Painting

2008-11-13T15:22:00.003-05:00

Please come out and celebrate the launch of Carte Blanche Vol. 2: Painting; this Saturday November 15th at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) from 8 - 11pm. And there is a book signing (CORRECTION: not this) Sunday November 30, 3-5 pm at DAVID MIRVISH BOOKS ON ART in Toronto; I will be there as well.

I am honored to be included in the book among amazing painters whose works I enjoy and respect.

Hope to see you there!

New works

2008-11-13T11:14:00.007-05:00

I posted these a while ago; then I re-worked them, here they are again. They are a continuation of the Swift Shadows series. Check out my website for these and more www.aleksrdest.com

Painting

2008-10-18T19:42:00.003-04:00

New direction; sort of. New orientation.

Full moon in the park

2008-10-18T19:37:00.002-04:00

Commute home

2008-10-17T14:33:00.000-04:00

Fall: when did that happen?

2008-10-13T17:24:00.003-04:00

Its been a busy fall. The show is wrapped up now; I'll be on Omni TV's polish language show "Na Luzie" in November and my work will be featured in House and Home next year sometime. I will posted the details when I have them. I've had some major developments in the studio recently but I am not quite ready to share those yet. In case anyone has been wondering how the old dog is enjoying the city; here she is at High Park:)

Man and hound

2008-09-08T23:33:00.002-04:00

Drizzle pair

2008-09-08T23:16:00.003-04:00

Found

2008-09-06T18:57:00.000-04:00

Pair

2008-09-02T21:29:00.000-04:00

Pair of images I took the other day. This is how beautiful a parking lot can be.

City rain

2008-08-29T15:50:00.001-04:00

Weekend in the country

2008-08-18T19:25:00.004-04:00

New

2008-08-13T15:07:00.003-04:00

Brand new piece. This one is on mylar. Its about 18" square. Its called Swift Shadows. I will have a few Swift Shadows in the Postcards from the Void show.

Upcoming Show in Toronto

2008-08-10T21:15:00.001-04:00

Park Night

2008-08-10T21:06:00.002-04:00

Summer rain

2008-07-30T11:03:00.001-04:00

Home

2008-07-21T18:13:00.006-04:00

Opole, Poland; my hometown. I went there briefly, unexpectedly, recently; for a funeral. I won't go into the sad details; but I will say that I have gained perspective. Life and death matters make other concerns pale. I have been taking time to reflect and come to terms.

Since moving from Newfoundland I have been thinking a lot about the concept of home. Home is, essentially, where you make it. I didn't know when I left Toronto that I would be coming back here, but now that I have, it is like coming home. My parents house, even though I did not grow up there, is home. Going to Poland is like going home. I have no memories of living there; we left when I was two. The language is home. I have my mother to thank for the fact that I can still speak Polish and I am grateful. My vocabulary is not diverse but I can communicate. Living in Polish is like walking around in a sleeping bag: warm and comfy, if awkward:)
I managed to get out for a few walks with my Dad and my Aunt while I was there. These pics are from walking around Opole. I am interested in contrasts; visually as well as conceptually.
I took a lot of pictures; I am still going through them. More soon I hope.

Mushrooms in the lawn

2008-07-01T12:03:00.003-04:00

Summer evenings

2008-06-15T10:51:00.005-04:00

My posts have been sparse, its not that there isn't visual inspiration here, its that I tend to forget to pull out my camera while on the gauntlet that has become my dog walk. I dodge traffic, dogs, skateboarders and irate lawn owners. For the first while I found this very gloomy. I knew that being here was the right decision but I missed my thoughtful, reflective, solitary daily walks. I was jarred; I'm still a bit jumpy. I am still gaining perspective; but I am definitely enjoying the city. I love the warm evenings, strolling down Roncezvelles in flip flops and a loose skirt, going to the Gate for a cold beer and great jazz. Sunny days, the love and support of friends.

New works

2008-06-09T19:47:00.006-04:00

I just put some new works up on my website aleksrdest.com
Go see!!

And if you are in Toronto; Grant is playing at Gate 403 June 18th 5-8pm. He’ll be playing upright bass and guitar in a style that interweaves jazz and classical techniques with latin rhythms to create a distinctive sound.

Leslie Street Spit

2008-06-08T19:42:00.006-04:00

Sunday morning jaunt to the Leslie Street Spit. Did not stay long; it was very hot but found a few colourful treasures along the way. Anyone know what these neat red things are? They can not be good for this tree but I love them.

And yay for the red lady bug; those orange ones just aren't the same. I know its such a cliched image but so perfect nonetheless.

Sunny Summer Time

2008-06-02T16:22:00.007-04:00

Blooms in trees in High Park.

The studio is all set up now. Yay!

Toronto

2008-05-28T23:50:00.004-04:00

Its been a while of technical difficulties and general exhaustion after the move; but I am finally back online. Yay! G and I are in Toronto now; mostly unpacked, and thrilled to be here. Its warm and sunny with plenty of good food and great friends. Truth be told, we have not seen many people yet, still getting settled in. These pics are from a recent walk in High Park. More from me soon:)

Moving day is soon

2008-05-10T07:19:00.003-04:00

One of my last mornings in the cove. Been very busy with packing lately; almost done now.

Iceberg morning

2008-05-05T10:26:00.004-04:00

2008-05-03T18:25:00.007-04:00

This is the same berg I have posted in previous entries; seen from two different angles around the cove. There are a number of other big bergs around but this one is by far the most spectacular. You can see its peaks wearing down; the right side used to be a massive slab and now it looks quite fragile. We had a momentary break in the fog today so I ran out and shot these but its been mostly fog for a week, or two, I've lost count.
I know there have been a lot of pictures of icebergs on here lately but they are normally so rare and to have them in our own front yard is such a treat. I will be leaving this place soon, G and I are moving to Toronto! We only have a week left here. I am excited but sad to be leaving but glad to be leaving. I love this place but its time for change.

More icebergs

2008-05-03T13:12:00.004-04:00

Mmmm fog

2008-04-28T18:13:00.005-04:00

It may be cold and dark and raining; but staring into the blue of these bergy bits makes it all worth it.

Iceberg, Pouch Cove pt. 3

2008-04-28T07:55:00.002-04:00

Iceberg, Pouch Cove pt. 2

2008-04-25T08:35:00.007-04:00

Iceberg, Pouch Cove

2008-04-24T07:23:00.007-04:00

Looked out the window this morning to find a new mountain had floated into our landscape. Last year we didn't see icebergs until June. This partially explains why its still so cold here.

And I'm blogging daily photos with Skye again at Atlantic Time, which we are now calling Sometime in the morning, but the address is the same. Go check it out.

Gros Morne Green Point

2008-04-21T16:38:00.005-04:00

I'm still posting photos of last weekend in Gros Morne. Here is our third campsite. Note the little fishing huts in the background.

Exploring the rocky outcrop past the huts.

Above is the tip of the rocky point below is what you find in the pools. So many treasures of colour and pattern.

Gros Morne Shallow Bay

2008-04-20T11:11:00.006-04:00

Sarah and the sky

Those mounds behind her are seaweed! Its the coolest thing to walk on; soft and springy.

Caribou

Gros Morne Lomond River

2008-04-15T18:46:00.007-04:00

First full day there we went for a big snowshoe down to the bay along the Lomond River.

Our campsite the second night. Yes, we are on the road to the campground, and that is the gate buried in the background. There was no going anywhere without snowshoes, we'd sink about three feet. whee!

Looking back toward the Tablelands.

Gros Morne Tablelands

2008-04-14T16:40:00.007-04:00

These are the Tablelands, in the southern part of Gros Morne National Park.

Trout River Pond.

Our campsite. Sarah is wearing snowshoes; which we needed to wear most of the time as the snow is still quite deep in places. And yes it was a little cold camping in the snow but the wind was light and we could feel warmth on the breeze; which is rare where I live by the open ocean.

And there was rain but everything seems all good when the wind is not knocking you over.

Sasha and Chega in Gander on the way there.

Gros Morne Weekend

2008-04-14T08:57:00.005-04:00

Just back from a weekend in Gros Morne. Here are a few highlights while I wade through the hundreds of pics I took. More soon.

Sneak Peak

2008-04-08T10:39:00.002-04:00

Oh friends, I've been shut up in my house for some months now. Not answering the phone; barely seeing people other than G. As an artist the best thing you can do is get everyone else's voices out of your head and figure out what it is you really want to do.
I haven't shown you anything from the studio, I've been keeping it all to myself. Here is a detail shot of a large painting, still not done but so very close.

Cape Spear

2008-04-06T09:46:00.007-04:00

Sunrise this morning

2008-04-03T08:22:00.003-04:00

The calm before the storm

2008-04-01T07:44:00.004-04:00

The pack ice is coming.

Sunny day

2008-03-31T18:22:00.003-04:00

Big and small

2008-03-30T12:12:00.002-04:00

Early Morning

2008-03-26T10:33:00.005-04:00

This taken from an upstairs window of our house.

These taken on the morning walk. Numbingly cold; shockingly beautiful.

Seaside

2008-03-24T08:16:00.002-04:00

First day of spring

2008-03-21T10:03:00.004-04:00

Yesterday

2008-03-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

Freezing rain

2008-03-19T10:00:00.004-04:00

wow. I wish I could make myself go back outside to take better pictures of this. but, the ice lashing my face was way too much.
that wonderful light on the ocean and in the air is from the pack ice which has drifted into the cove. the rain is now falling on all that snow we got; and the wind off the ice is freezing it onto everything. the coating of ice on the branches is more than twice as thick as the branches.

Digging out...

2008-03-18T16:35:00.005-04:00

Mmmm

2008-03-16T21:23:00.003-04:00

When the snow is not blowing...

2008-03-16T18:08:00.002-04:00

Grid in woods

2008-03-13T15:15:00.005-04:00

Hopeful

2008-03-08T17:19:00.004-05:00

Here are some hopeful images as much of Central and Eastern Canada braces for yet another winter storm.

2008-03-07T19:22:00.003-05:00

March!

2008-03-06T16:21:00.005-05:00

Few things I came across on my walk this morning. The residue of winter lingers.

Bell Island details

2008-02-26T17:18:00.004-05:00

Bell Island

2008-02-26T17:05:00.006-05:00

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-21T08:51:00.002-05:00

Tagged

2008-02-17T19:27:00.012-05:00

I've been sitting on this post for a while now. I've been tagged by lovely Rhya.
Seven things:

1. The only lists I'm good at making are "to do" lists.
2. I've been taking photos since my early teens but it wasn't until I started doing it daily that I have really felt like I understand what I am after and how to capture it.
3. I'm moving back to Toronto in a few months
4. My work will be included in The Magenta Foundation's publication Carte Blanche: Painting
5. My solo show at the Tatar Gallery in Toronto will be next September
6. I like my shoes to be green, or red
7. I wear my sunglasses at night

rules:
1. link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

anna
jen
malani
that seems enough...

Dawn through frost

2008-02-13T14:54:00.001-05:00

From the window this morning.

Wave

2008-02-10T19:12:00.001-05:00

I took this shot the other day; the day that it was sunny.

Inky

2008-02-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

Snowy from windows

2008-02-07T17:08:00.000-05:00

Some pics from the upstairs windows this morning.

Sunny Sun Sun

2008-02-05T17:11:00.001-05:00

Ice

2008-02-02T10:36:00.001-05:00

Oh, its snowing again; I'm not complaining, but I am glad I got out this morning and took some shots of the ice before it gets covered again. Isn't it lovely?

Blue skies

2008-02-01T09:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, at Torbay beach on the way home from St. John's; so bright its disorienting after so long in the clouds.

Today

2008-01-29T18:13:00.000-05:00

So lately, with all the snowmobile traffic, Pouch Cove has sounded like Toronto when the Indy is in town. I am exaggerating only slightly. Today it rained all morning and turned the deep snow to mush. After the rain I made my way outside intending to go for a short walk but the need to revel in the rare silence drew me up into the hills above town. I made my way up a trail I had not explored before, past this lake I had not seen before.

In an area recently logged, up a hill, in the crevasse of a rock; these wonders. They are lichen I have not identified yet, they seem to be fruiting; funny thing to do this time of year.

Window frost

2008-01-28T18:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday

2008-01-26T20:59:00.000-05:00

In the blizzard, we play fetch.

Light at the end of the tunnel

2008-01-24T18:25:00.001-05:00

Its going to sound dramatic but I do feel like I can see the other end of this winter now. For a while it felt like it was just dark and cold all the time. Now the days are getting longer, the sun comes out more often and things are looking very hopeful indeed. I am working on some new paintings I am very excited about; but I'll show those later. Here's some recent pics of outside.
This was the view from our bedroom window this morning.

This was along the morning walk.

This is a shot G took of the frost on the window when we were in deep freeze earlier this week. There was frost covering almost all our windows, we could hardly see out. It doesn't usually get so cold here; I've heard the terms 'record breaking cold winter' and 'record breaking snowfall' used quite a few times this year.

The back of our house yesterday, I just love the formal properties of this shot.

Night

2008-01-19T18:57:00.000-05:00

Here's a nice little night shot. Check out Atlantic Time for more night studies, we post every Monday.

we

2008-01-15T13:58:00.000-05:00

Darkness

2008-01-13T11:12:00.001-05:00

I've been out exploring the night for my other blog Atlantic Time which has produced this offshoot; its probing the darkness. I have been facing the darkness; both literally and metaphorically. This is one of the shots from what I think will be a separate body of work from what I am doing in AT.

Website design

2008-01-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

Hey, I just finished designing/building a site for artist Catherine Beaudette, go look: catherinebeaudette.com
I enjoy design work, if you need a website or know someone who does; give me a shout aleks.rdest@gmail.com

Melty

2008-01-09T10:38:00.001-05:00

Mmmm snow

2008-01-06T15:10:00.001-05:00

Lots of snow. Its snowing now. Here's a pic from a walk in the hills behind Pouch Cove.

Iceberg ice

2008-01-04T18:53:00.000-05:00

When the icebergs were about, we attended a party; the hosts of that party had just returned from a boating trip on which they picked up some small chunks which had calved off the iceberg, chopped those up and were serving it in drinks. Everyone thought it was pretty neato to have 10,000 year old ice in our drinks; as we were leaving they insisted we take some home with us. This is one piece of that ice photographed on our coffee table.

Coast Drive

2008-01-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

Sunny days this time of year are rare and spectacular. Here are some pics from a recent drive along the coast.Flatrock

Middle Cove Beach

Middle Cove Beach from above (above and below)

St. John's harbour

Bauline

Micro Macro

New work and Upcoming show!!

Aleksandra RdestSwagger and Sashay

Press

Balance Rising

Opening pics

Upcoming Exhibition

Morning on the Bruce

Flashback

In the Studio

Hike on the Bruce

Frosty Morning on the Farm

New Paintings

Flying and Canoeing

Me elsewhere on the web

Finally!

New work

Toronto Postcards: More Plane Pics

Hello Blog

Me in NY

More Pocket Storms

Pocket Storms

Hello again

House and Home

News

Carte Blanche Vol. 2: Painting

New works

Painting

Full moon in the park

Commute home

Fall: when did that happen?

Man and hound

Drizzle pair

Found

Pair

City rain

Weekend in the country

New

Upcoming Show in Toronto

Park Night

Summer rain

Home

Mushrooms in the lawn

Summer evenings

New works

Leslie Street Spit

Sunny Summer Time

Toronto

Moving day is soon

Iceberg morning

More icebergs

Mmmm fog

Iceberg, Pouch Cove pt. 3

Iceberg, Pouch Cove pt. 2

Iceberg, Pouch Cove

Gros Morne Green Point

Gros Morne Shallow Bay

Gros Morne Lomond River

Gros Morne Tablelands

Gros Morne Weekend

Sneak Peak

Cape Spear

Sunrise this morning

The calm before the storm

Sunny day

Big and small

Early Morning

Seaside

First day of spring

Yesterday

Freezing rain

Digging out...

Mmmm

When the snow is not blowing...

Grid in woods

Hopeful

March!

Bell Island details

Bell Island

Lunar Eclipse

Aleksandra Rdest
Swagger and Sashay