My Pike Lake Forge public art proposal for Algoma Street has made it to the final round.  The proposed work includes a weather vane, cedar bench and steel panels to be designed based on community feedback.

You can provide feedback for the jury by visiting the City of Thunder Bay's Website:
http://www.thunderbay.ca/Living/culture_and_heritage/Public_Art/Algoma_Street_Sculpture_Community_Comments.htm

Photo taken during my presentation to the City.

Ilma, Vesi, Maa, Tuli celebrates our interconnected relationship with the four elements air, water, earth, fire. We, as everything, are comprised of the elements and through this project I will explore this interconnected relationship, for instance:

            We are all comprised of water.  Water is an element that affects us in ways often left undiscovered. Think of how the moon affects the tides - how does the moon and water direct our daily lives? Some questions to be explored throughout the creative process are:

            -What is our current, past and future relationship with water?

            -How has water shaped our community? Our family?
            -How has water directed us here?

            I will reach out to the community to ask questions such as these, and the collected responses will guide the imagery to be on the steel panels. The community’s input will provide a reflection of the current and diverse thoughts and beliefs of the community and will empower the artwork with a sense of community and connectedness. The team of artists who will translate the community input into images for the panels will ensure that the images selected are not solely my own, but are a diverse reflection of the community’s input.

Art Bus Launch

The City of Thunder Bay launched the Art Bus designed by Satellite Studio Artist Collective this past week. Looking forward to seeing it on the streets! Interior panels provided by CaHeP.

Who we are: YSI Collaborative

Some of you may be wondering "who is YSI?" here it is:

YSI Spirit Circles

Well, we've lead two Spirit Circles and have two to go!

In the process, YSI is documenting the project via Tumblr, so I made myself an account too. 

You can follow YSI Spirit Circles via #ysispiritcircles

https://www.tumblr.com/dashboard

or myself as

#carolinekajorinne

http://www.ysicollaborative.org/

Self Portrait Pike Lake and my Artist Statement

Self Portrait Pike Lake, May 2015

Here I'm sitting on the old white chair Mummu once sat upon.

Below you'll find an up-to-date artist statement I felt the urge to share as I begin this new journey living the space my Mummu was raised:

Carol Kajorinne: Artist Statement

            My heritage and the lands my ancestors and I inhabit are an integral part of my experience and greatly influence my art. I have been raised (and continue to live) in rural Gorham Ontario, just north of Thunder Bay on land that has been in my family for five generations. Continually I explore themes of life cycles and rebirth – how we are all comprised of the same elements and are vulnerable to the currents of change. I create emotional driven, idea-based artworks utilizing various mediums including paint, metal, plaster, found objects, photographs, light and sound. These various art forms facilitate my exploration of life and family, its internal rhythm and connections. My physical involvement in the artistic process is integral to my practice, providing deeper meaning to the essence of my work. Light, a theme I once painted, I have now translated into the medium I manipulate: using a torch or forge. The process of blacksmithing relates to themes of rebirth and connection, as all elements (water, air, earth, fire) are required when transforming steel.  As I heat and pound the metal, my hammering precision along with my intent and presence in the moment strengthen as I bring the dead material to life. I began exploring these common themes of connection, ancestry and rebirth through a documentary process in “Self Portrait as a Sauna Stove” (2010), and later in the “Preserving Harold Project” (funded by the OAC in 2012-13); marking the beginning of my journey with steel, and the forging of ancestral connections. I learn blacksmithing from my mentor Dave Hanson of Duluth (MN), through the local metalsmith guild I help found, as well as through attending conferences and workshops.

At the Festival of Trees today!

CaHeP and the Thunder Bay Art Gallery are set up ready to create some art in the Coliseum / at the CLE grounds as part of the Festival of Trees!

We have students' artwork on display too! Cahep Artists collaborated with Teacher Librarians and Classroom Teachers to lead projects based on this years chosen books.

With Maria Irwin we created whimsical wire maquettes, inspired by Frank The Architect by author Frank Viva Abrams.

Here you can see their planning of the sculptures before creation. 

Here's what's been going on with YSI:

"Winter’s been busy!

TEN REFLECTIONS SPRING TO MIND...

Gerard, an Anishanaabe elder in our community, often reminds us of the need to work seasonally - allowing our organizations and teams to follow the natural rhythms and cycles of which we are a part.

Winter was a time to hibernate and get our house in order, even as we continued to support theAlgoma nest, seed our new Young Spirit Circles initiative, brought on four incredible local Spirit hosts, and continue tending the relationships of this beautiful community." … click the link to read further: http://www.ysicollaborative.org/blog/2015/4/15/ten-ideas-pollinating-in-ysi