my art as social practice

Chris Bentzen is a Vancouver curator, organizer, button-maker, and soon-to-be gallery owner. A few weeks ago we sat down to talk about art, and one result is this wee video. Chris releases one video weekly featuring a local Vancouver artist. Happy to be included in the roster!

Good luck with your gallery opening, Chris.

Interview with Vancouver artist Sara Ross from bentzen on Vimeo.

Elemental : What Stories are Made of

The story of ELEMENTAL is complex and wonderful
& involves great learning for me!

WHAT IS ELEMENTAL? Through the ELEMENTAL initiative,
the Vancouver Society of Storytelling worked with 5 different communities in Vancouver from March 2011-June 2012. In workshops, each community created stories using different elements as their central metaphor (air, earth, water, fire, metal). Physical legacies and community celebrations followed. On Saturday June 9th, 2012 a bicycle/bus tour showcased ELEMENTAL as part of the 19th Vancouver International Storytelling Festival.

I was excited, proud and honoured to work alongside Naomi Steinberg, friend and community builder, storyteller and artist extraordinaire.
Naomi is an elemental force for good in Vancouver!

My task was two-part.
1. to organize a bike ride to showcase the ELEMENTAL project.
2. to create a zine / artbook documenting the project.

velodeco : make something from nothing

for the last three years i’ve had the great pleasure to create and provide the decorations for a kids bike parade. I hand-make streamers out of used plastic bags + salvaged veggie twist ties.

HOW i ride my bike all over town visiting various large-chain grocery stores where people ‘recycle’ their disposable plastic bags    i don my gloves and dig through the bags of bags    searching for beautiful colours    most bags are not desirable: thin white safeway beige yellow buy-low grey home depot yuck.

A gem would be solid red or blue sears, multicoloured record store, white and pink hello-kitty! I’ll post instructions sometime.

here’s the thing with this work. it’s not collectable. it doesn’t hang on your wall. it’s not new. is it even art? just because some kid hung my quote work on their bike for a few days and rode in a parade… i suppose the kids feel validated for loving their bikes for fun and freedom, parade viewers see the bikes and feel hopeful for the future. i feel good too. okay.

eighty nine : up to good

here come 12 old blog posts that are yet to be created    sorry for the long lapse    i guess this has been an unannounced holiday from blogging    tho not from daily creative actions

does this count?

eighty eight : Video R E L E A S E D !!

very excited to announce
the Video I directed and produced
is finally officially RELEASED.

watch the video at bcclettes.ca

eighty four : great art from sketchy beginnings

the amazing inspirational bicycle buddha Carmen Mills created this poster     based on my  sketchy fever art

Carmen is a fabulous designer and my heart is tingly for this chance to work with her

The poster is for the 19th annual Vancouver International Storytelling Festival    under the artistic brilliance of Naomi Steinberg   another bright force for connection and meaning with whom i find myself in cahoots on this project.

Ah    collaborating with stars    I asked for it    flexing my creative muscles back since post one of this blog    lucky luck

eighty one : fever drawing

a funny quick drawing that may get transformed for a Storytelling Festival Poster. yes i had a fever when i made it    and kiki designed the bird.

seventy seven : massive edge landscapes

spectacular march bicycle trip on the oregon coast with allison.   characterized by unheardof snow    extremely high winds    hail    hardy days spent outdoors exploring in the company of elk, peregrines, eagles, hummingbirds, ferns.    The spotted owl and marbled murrelet remain illusive.

seventy four : looked just like this

i did not use any effects    the sky was fantastic as i was riding home on my bicycle    i love my bike!

seventy three : strong beautiful cyclists in my life

b:c:clettes did a photo shoot on the weekend.     while getting ready i listened to a Hugo Chavez speech     and was inspired by his words:     mobilize the human spirit

thanks for taking the picture mom    i mean linda    who is lori’s mom

fifty six : beauty

this is my fierce and beautiful bike

twenty four: snowy owl

i rode my bicycle to Fraser River delta
and there saw a snowy owl (tho drawing is short-eared owl)

picked up a strong feather there
and attempt two     cut a quill pen.

this time success!!! beautiful double lines.
please click on picture to appreciate details!

here is my beautiful instrument:

note twist-tie tension

one: use what you got

Went to the studio. Made a painting with what was on hand. No judgement.