Making Her Mark – Overview

I saw the most inspiring show at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Elisabetta Sirani (Italian 1638-1665)

Personification of Music – 1659 – oil on canvas – Painted in exchange for music lessons.

It was all European female artists from 1400 – 1800. It included 230 pieces of art: oils, watercolours, chalk, etchings, sketches, tatting, embroidery, quill work and more.

Themes included portraits, self portraits, religion, nudes, still life, nature, home decor and more

Josefa Ayala (Portuguese circa 1630 – 1684)

The Christ Child as Pilgrim – 1676 – oil on canvas

It is the AGO’s policy that we are allowed to take pics (no tripods, flash or other professional equipment), that we may post on social media and that we do not make money from said photos.

Sarah Stone (English circa 1760 – 1844)

A Blue and Yellow Macaw circa 1789 – watercolour, watercolour glaze & black ink border on paper.

I’ve never taken pics at the AGO before, and did my best despite: lighting in general, lighting reflected in in glass & oil paints & lucite display cabinets, and my unbridled enthusiasm.

Below is an example of a cabinet encased in the joys of reflections. This cabinet is made of water colour and metallic paper, hair (hairwork), and watercolour panels.

Sophia Jane Maria Bonnell (English – circa 1748 – 1841) and Mary Anne Harvey Bonnell (English – 1748 – 1853)

Paper Filigree Cabinet circa 1789

The plan is to show more of the art in categories. However, due to the plethora of photos to comb through, It will happen between street art posts.

Anna Maria Von Schurman (Dutch 1607- 1678)

Self-Portrait -1633 – engraving on paper

Anna mastered 14 languages. Her proto-feminist treatise The Learned Maid was published in Latin in 1638

One art blogger has agreed to come on as a guest.

Katherine Read (English 1723 -1778)

British Gentlemen in Rome – circa 1750 – oil on canvas

I’m swept away.

Photos © Resa McConaghy

Have Bags Will Travel – by: D.G. Kaye

She’s travelled the world and the 7 seas!

Written in memoir style, the author instills through her mostly hilarious adventures, how to adhere to travel restrictions.

As a pre 9/11 traveller, D.G. notes that one used to enjoy (“the thrill of the journey as much as the destination itself.”) Those golden days are long gone.

Times changed again, post Covid. We all know what inconveniences, feasibly horrors, can arise during travelling. Whether journeying by plane, boat or rail, one of the obvious issues is luggage.

From Toronto to Chicago to London to Las Vegas to Paris to Greece to the Caribbean to Venezuela and home again, D.G. has run the baggage gauntlet. (“Who opens a suitcase before it gets on the luggage belts and runs over it with some unknown vehicle?”)

Seems the only place D.G. hasn’t travelled, with suitcases and carry on, is back in time.

From the 2 books I’ve read by D.G. I know she is shopaholic, with a severe penchant for shoes. (“I carefully plot out which shoes and purses will match which clothes.” & “So what if I thought I might need to change my outfit 3 times a day?”)

I get it! I’m not wearing the same shoes I wore on the beach to the club at night.

There’s even a chapter in the book: Me, My Shoes, and I where the author wins a $500.00 slots prize in Vegas, and immediately heads off to buy a purse, (“along with four pairs of shoes I’d also been sad to leave behind after already purchasing four pairs”)

One of her strongest suggestions is to buy a luggage scale. There was an airport incident when heading out to a Caribbean cruise.

“It was only after that incident that I ……. invested in a portable luggage scale.” The incident? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find that out.

This short book is a delightful read, where much travel advice exposes itself through the author’s memories. At the end, D.G. neatly sums up her essential tips. The final tip – Have Fun!

ABOUT D.G KAYE

About the Author

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.

D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Follow D.G. on her social sites:

D.G. Kaye’s blog

D.G. Kaye on Twitter

D.G. Kaye on Facebook

D.G Kaye on Linkedin

Visit D.G.’s author page and books on Amazon

Podcasts on Youtube: Grief the Real Talk

**Shoe photos taken by Resa from Cinderella’s Revenge (Chronicle Books) & “Shoes” (Workman Publishing). These photos may not be used for any purpose other than this blog post.**

Art Remembers Us

Hosted by Dan Anton, the Fourth Annual Thursday Doors Writing Challenge began on May 1st. and runs the entire month of May. 

You pick one of the submitted door photos, and write to it. I chose the image above, by Teagan R. Geneviene.

I’m not a writer, but Dan said he was open to whatever creative inspiration I came up with . I decided on a triple crown event.

One, make a Barbie Art Gown to go with Teagan’s image. Art Gowns are always made from textile trash, old clothes, curtains, NOS and anything headed for landfill. They are completely sewn by hand.

Two, photography – a fashion shoot of said Art Gown.

Three, writing. “Art Remembers Us”.

Barbie dreams of the Venetian Ball

Rebecca was Teagan’s guest for an interview recently. Click on the pic above, and go to the interview.

Should you like to take part in the challenge, or simply want to read one of the many fabulous entries, just click on the pic above!

Cheers & thank you’s to Dan for creating and hosting this fab event!