Art Walk 2010

Since Alice was little (like she's so big now) she has wanted to be an Artist. When I learned that this weeked was Alberta Art Days, I figured we should check it out. We looked through the activities and decided to do the Art Walk downtown.

So as our NY cousins say, "we took the train into the city."and had a great time. We felt a little like tourists. Since it was Art Days, we tried to artsy up our photos.

Jackie was the main one pushing for the train. This is her on the way there. On the way back she looked a little different. A lot less clean, and a little more tired.

Me: Jackie, when you get home you will have to wash your face. You have hot chocolate all around you mouth, and mustard on your cheek.

Jackie: The mustard tells a story.

Me: oh yeah?

Jackie: A story of a gigantic hot dog, and how I shoved it into my mouth, chomp.

Below is a picture with the hot chocolate. This is Jackie's favorite effect. She loves saturated colour. (She also kind of loved that her hot chocolate looked like coffee - We got it an Tim Hortons, where all her teacher like to get coffee).

You may have noticed that my kids are sporting winter hats and warm coats. It was freezing. But luckily it wasn't raining, which it has been doing most of September. And we haven't seen any snow yet - though Grandma and Grandpa on the North of town did. Some days I worry about global waming more than others.

This is my favourite picture of Alice. So pretty and so grown up looking.

We saw 4 small galleries, 2 unique jewelery stores, and caught some live jazz. We got to walk past some artist's studios, but we didn't get to see anyone working. We did get to talk to a gallery owner and learn about some different media and she told us a little about the artists that did the pieces in her gallery. The kids loved picking out there favourite pieces and seeing how much they cost.

Jackie was determined to see the Chinese Cultural Centre, even though it was a bit of a walk. Alice was dying for hot chocolate, which was harder to find than I thought it would be. We didn't find any on the way, but we did find a hot dog and then a tiny cup cake bakery tucked away in a basement. We needed energy for our long art journey.

Jackie: Alice, do you know what my favourite kind of arts and crafts are?

Alice: What?

Jackie: Ones made out of food!

We did eventually make it to the Chinese Cultural Centre. I am ashamed that we have lived here so long and never been there. The roof alone was Alice's favourite thing she saw that day. The display on early immigrants to Canada from China was fascinating and the gift store was a real hit. The girls each got some inexpensive,but very legit looking fans. Jackie posing outside the cultural center. She as already asked if we can go back there.


Alice has been constantly opening and closing her fan since she got it. I learned she even was playing with it in primary today. Doesn't this effect make her eyes look cool?

Anyway, It was a lovely afternoon for me. I find Art energizing. I am excited to do more interesting projects with the girls. We got an excellent book from the library with some very cool ideas in it which we are going to use for " Home art school". I am making plans to do more virtual and in person art walking with her, since she still wants to be an artist.

Jackie, on the other hand, might want to be an artist or a chef.

I just enjoy her being a kid. This is a picture from Heritage park this summer.

Eve didn't come with us, instead she got to spend some quality time with Andrew. She did like modifying pictures. I like this one.

She likes this one.