The show will be held from June until mid-October, 2012 at the Algonquin Art Centre, km 20 in Algonquin Provincial Park.

- Trish

Polar bear coin designed by Emily Damstra.

This week the Royal Canadian Mint released a new $20 pure silver commemorative coin featuring Emily’s illustration of a swimming polar bear. You can see it at the Mint’s  website. The card that comes with the coin includes a sketch of the bear, also by Emily.

The part of the bear above the water line is shiny, and the sky has a different finish than the water. I like the different finishes. – Emily

Polar bear sketch on packaging.

Photo: Elizabeth Pratt

There exists a great wealth of fascinating images and artifacts for anyone who takes an interest in the history of footwear.  You might think of the exotic and elegant thongs worn by the ancient Egyptians, or the slippers worn for centuries over the bound feet of Chinese women, or the beautifully crafted hide Muklucks worn by the Arctic aboriginal people or maybe the dainty silk confections worn in court during the eighteenth century.  On the minds of SONSI members who attended the last event were Ghillie Brogues, not the shiny formalized version worn today but a much older version worn by the Celtic highlanders of Scotland.

Member Hall Train was gracious enough not only to let SONSI members back to his studio but also to teach everyone how to make these fascinating shoes.  Using his skills as a designer, illustrator, model-maker, and creative master of materials, Hall was able to recreate a museum quality replica from reference images of an artifact that was pulled out of a bog in Scotland.  Using this new expertise in ancient shoe making Hall was able to guide each member through the process of custom designing the footwear to each foot.  This process is certainly accurate; using the lines and angles of the foot to create each interwoven flap, allowing the single piece of leather (though the paper and foam stages must come first for perfecting the shape) to form perfectly, without gaps or creases, over the foot.  When spread out the pattern looks like a sort of monster or squashed animal, but folded and laced in to place the look is quite elegant.

A first glimpse of the ghillie brogue, along with the knowledge that it is quite ancient might lead to thinking that it is crude compared to the masses of shiny, individually purposed shoes we possess today.  But the process of creating these shoes reveals how perfectly fitted and adapted they are; from one unremarkable piece of leather, some hard work and a little help these shoes have been demonstrated to be entirely practical for climbing, walking on trails and probably walking through the very bogs that the artifact was found in.  Do any of our masses of shoes come close to this level of efficiency?

Learning (and comparing to our own lives) a relatively ordinary part of ancient life can be very fascinating, there are some brilliant documentaries and miles of museum galleries full of artifacts for this purpose.  But learning through the very processes that would have been used at the time gives a world more of appreciation and insight even perhaps that wonderful sense of connection.  Thanks to Hall and Kathryn for such a fantastic afternoon.  Part two of the shoe making will be on March 17th, please check your emails for details.

- Elizabeth

More of Elizabeth’s photos, showing details of cutting and fitting, can be found on the event’s gallery page. – Trish

The reception is Wednesday, January 18, 6 to 8 pm. Usual gallery hours are 10 am to 7 pm, everyday.

Photo: Kathryn Chorney

An exhibit of botanical drawings by SONSI member Trish Murphy is showing at Richview LIbrary in Toronto. Some friends, including SONSI members Kathryn Chorney and Hall Train, gathered on Saturday to launch the show. Twenty-five drawings of cultivated orchids will be on display until January 30.

- Trish

The exhibit runs from January 3 -30, 2012. Richview Library is located at 1806 Islington Avenue at Summitcrest Drive, Toronto. That’s just north of Eglinton Avenue. Free parking. The exhibit is open all hours the library is open: M – F  9 am – 8:30 pm, Sat 9 – 5, Sun 1:30 – 5. An illustrated catalogue of the exhibit will be posted online during January.

Christmas Birds by Barry MacKay.

The tide of sweets and baking is ever increasing at the office, at lunchtime we all gather around the table and sample the day’s offerings while chatting about work and about personal things, the conversation tends to lead itself in any direction it pleases.  Getting to know my colleagues in this way, not by directly working with them, has numerous benefits, an experience which is certainly diminished in the world of the freelance illustrator and many of the wonderfully diverse and intriguing careers that are associated with SONSI.

On December the tenth, SONSI members met for an evening of food, portfolio sharing, and that all-important conversation.   Such a variety and vastness of information can be learnt from just one SONSI member, the areas of specialty and interest are very varied, and as we discovered, it is possible to find people with similar areas of interest.   Sharing portfolios in person is also a much more personal way to view each other’s work, as you can ask your questions and offer praise straight away.   All in all, it was a great evening of eating and learning about colleagues.

Thanks should go to all of those who attended for sharing such excellent food and portfolios.  A very big thanks should also go to Barry K MacKay for allowing us to use his beautiful painting of Pine Grossbeaks for the invitation card.

- Elizabeth

On behalf of all the members and guests who attended the party, a big thanks to Elizabeth for organizing and hosting the event.

- Trish