Call for Submissions: Create a Granny Square for "Shelter"

Call for Submissions: Create a Granny Square for "Shelter"

Individuals of all backgrounds and identities are invited to participate in Shelter, a sculptural component for Catch & Release, an exhibition by Canadian Artist James Fowler. The project aims to explore the culture of ice fishing through the lens of queer culture, while challenging traditional gender roles and promoting inclusivity and diversity.

You are invited to create a six-inch-wide crocheted granny square in any color of your liking. It could be a solid color, squares, stripes, a symbol, a flag. Be creative! Participants may alternatively use knitting or quilting to create their 6x6in. square. Your square will be used to create a large 'tea cozy' that will snugly enclose the large wooden structure of Shelter.

In addition to creating a granny square, participants are also encouraged to teach someone else how to make one so they can also participate. This project serves as both a finished sculpture and a social practice that promotes the value of caregiving and recognizes the often-unseen labor that goes into caring for others. Participants are encouraged to teach family members, particularly sons, husbands, and grandsons how to make a granny square so they can participate. Groups or classes are also encouraged to participate.

To participate, please mail your completed granny square to:

James Fowler
2511-25 Wood Street
Toronto, Ontario, M4Y2P9,
Canada.

DEADLINE
The deadline for submissions is April 1st, 2024. Please include the name of the participant and where they live. Your square will be documented and catalogued into an indexed online database that can be accessed through a QR code in the physical gallery where the sculpture is displayed, providing a platform for your voice to be heard and celebrated.

If you have any questions, please email James Fowler at james@iamjamesfowler.com

We look forward to your participation in this exciting project!

Breaking Away from Detailed Geometric Paintings

As an artist, I know the value of experimentation. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying new things can lead to exciting discoveries and breakthroughs in your art. This is why I recently decided to challenge myself by breaking away from my detailed geometric painting style and trying a more loose approach.

My detailed geometric paintings are notoriously time-consuming, with no real shortcuts. In 2018, I reached a new level of detailing with my painting 'Paris at Midnight.' While I was proud of the finished work, I felt that my style was becoming too rigid and wanted to break away from it.

For my latest experiment, a painting of Montreal, I decided to give myself only an hour to see what I could produce if I worked quickly and didn't treat the surface or map too preciously. I tried not to get bogged down in the details and instead focused on the bigger picture - a snowy Montreal. I also used oil pastels for the line work and the colour palette is a pastel nod to the city’s NHL hockey team.

Capital Cities: Nauru

Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, Nauru is a small island country with a population of around 11,000 people. It is the smallest republic in the world and one of the least visited countries, with fewer than 200 tourists annually. Nauru was originally known as "Pleasant Island," but the name was changed in 1968 when the country gained independence from Australia. Despite its name, the island has a troubled history due to its phosphate mining industry, which has had a significant impact on the environment. In fact, the island was once covered in dense vegetation, but most of the trees have been cut down for exporting phosphate.

Nauru National Flag

Despite its small size, Nauru has a few interesting quirks. For instance, it is the only country in the world without an official capital city. It is also home to the highest obesity rate in the world, with over 90% of the population classified as obese. Nauru is located just south of the equator and has a tropical climate. The official language of the country is Nauruan, a distinct Micronesian language, but English is also widely spoken. The currency used in Nauru is the Australian dollar.

New Work: BERMUDA

Bermuda is a group of 181 islands in the North Atlantic and offers several unique geological features. The Bermuda Triangle is an area with unexplained ship and plane disappearances, but its existence is subject to scientific skepticism. The island is also known for its extensive network of submerged caves, some of which are accessible to divers. Crystal Caves, a pair of limestone caves filled with crystal-clear underground pools, stalactites, and stalagmites that have formed over thousands of years, is a popular tourist attraction. The Bermuda Pedestal, a large, flat-topped plateau that rises about 3,000 meters above the surrounding seafloor, is thought to have formed during the Mesozoic Era. Finally, Bermuda's pink-sand beaches are created by tiny red organisms called foraminifera that live in the coral reefs surrounding the islands. These geological and geographic features make Bermuda a unique destination for both tourists and scientists.

New Work: THE VILLAGE FANCIES

In the creative world, inspiration can come from anywhere and strike at any time. It can be found in the most unexpected places and often leads to a unique departure from one's usual artistic style. Such was the case for me back in March when I experimented with paint markers in my sketchbook and created brightly colored Easter egg designs.

Initially, I did not give much thought to these designs, but I found myself returning to the page and thinking about what I could do with them. This week, I sat down and cranked out something new, taking a small departure from my regular work. The resulting piece, which I titled "The Village Fancies," speaks to my bright and cheery aesthetic.

Sketchbook drawing.
March 2022

The name of this piece is derived from a box of brightly colored fancy chocolates that I had the pleasure of experiencing during my visit to Paris earlier this year. The shapes in my design remind me of the rich diversity that makes up Toronto's LGBTQ community. The subtle value shift in the background of the piece also evokes memories of the neon and back-lit signs that shine on the street as the sun sets in the summer.

As an artist, I am always exploring new ideas and experimenting with different mediums. I do not know if I will create more pieces like "The Village Fancies," but I am glad that I took the time to step out of my comfort zone and create something unique.

Dans l'atelier... Los Angeles

As the Toronto weather gets cooler, I’m dreaming of warmer places. I started on a 4x5ft painting of Los Angeles which features of its amazing and unique neighbourhoods and some of the surrounding cities. IT even include Catalina Island, and essential stop on any visit to the City of Angels.

New Graphic Prints: Around The World - Batch One

In 2012 I started a series of original 12x12 paintings as a fundraiser for the 10X10 Photography Project. The fundraiser was called ‘Around the World In 30 Days’, in which I would paint 30 paintings in 30 days for 30 people and the funds raised supported the photographers of 10x10 and its accompanying book. Over the years, I continued to work in this size and format and have amassed a catalogue of cities.

Now, for the first time, I am releasing a short run of graphic prints of these cities. This first batch includes: Amsterdam, Arles, Budapest, Canberra, Detroit/Windsor, Ho Chi Minh City, Merida, Montreal, and Paris.

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Amsterdam

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Arles

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Budapest

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Canberra

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Detroit /Windsor

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Ho Chi Minh City

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Merida

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Montreal

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Paris

Each print is 12x12 inches, on Hahnemuhle paper, signed and numbered in editions of 25. Click here to order one for yourself or for someone special. These make a great gift for those who love to travel or have a special affinity for one of these cities.

New cities will be released in the coming weeks. If you have a city request, please feel free to send me a note here.

Happy travels!