Newsletters

(posted on 3 Mar 2024)

Dear friends of the Blood Star,

A recent getaway to Mexico has recharged our creative and solar batteries. Mexico City is bursting with fine art and Diego Rivera's huge canvases replete with social commentary were a highlight. We've read that artists are allowed to pay their taxes by contributing their art in lieu to the state which probably accounts for the terrific collections in Mexico.

Carnaval de la Vida Mexicana by Diego Rivera, 1936

We're getting work ready for the 25th annual South Pender Art Walk coming up Easter Sunday, March 30, noon to 5. When we started the Art Walk we were just a handful of artists living and working close together and it was possible to walk to our studios; the number of creatives on South Pender has increased dramatically and you might find it difficult to visit all of us but you'll probably want to come by car or bike or maybe horse, if you have one. We hope you'll make it to see us, we're #12 on the map.

Frank has been painting a series of farm animal portraits after receiving a commission for a whimsical cow from one of his favourite collectors. Meet Bandito! And look for more work in this series at Easter.

Bandito by Frank Ducote, acrylic on cradled panel, 14 x 11, commission

Susan's thrilled with her recent success in a public art competition. Work from her photographic series Lines and Nets: A Terrible Beauty is now installed at the Aberdeen Skytrain Station on No. 3 Road in Richmond and will be there through July 2024. After serving as a juror for public art and gallery exhiibitions over the past several years, it's pretty sweet to now have this success as an artist. The Terrible part of the Beauty comes about when damaged and abandoned nets and lines ensnare marine animals. There seems to be some awareness building on the part of those who manufacture and use these goods and fledgling recovery and recycling efforts are underway. Here are two of the four images that comprise Susan's installation.

Lines and Nets I by Susan Taylor, photograph, public art installation 2024

Lines and Nets II by Susan Taylor, photograph, public art installation 2024

We've also started to produce some joint work recently, large-scale colourful collages. More on those in our next newsletter if we manage to keep working together peaceably.

We wish you good health and creative energy and hope you seize each day with gusto. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Susan and Frank

Blood Star Gallery