Happy New Year

2020 is going to be good.
Trump will be out.
The Earth will stop warming.
And..I will write that Judy book I have been meaning to write.
Hey...it is good to have dreams.

So glad I found this.

I was having a bit a "who am I as an artist" crisis.

Maybe I had too many shortbreads over Christmas.

It feels like have had my head down for years making rug after rug and I put my head up for a few minutes and asked myself,

"Wait a minute...is this the direction I want to keep going in?"

And then I ran into this video I did for the NS Folk Art Festival several years ago and it reminded me of who I am and why I do this.

So glad I found this.

2019

I don't usually look back very much but I started thinking about how my art life was in 2019...and it was pretty darn groovy...so here is 2019 in a nutshell.

Steven Rhude and I had a talk in Annapolis Royal in February and word got out to a CBC reporter, Laura Kenins, which resulted in this....

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/think-you-know-the-story-of-maud-lewis-two-nova-scotia-artists-want-you-to-reconsider-the-myth-1.5038991?cmp=FB_Post_Arts&fbclid=IwAR2wM2OJsxYu8MechiK7YfcWvUqCoawmcbIx1TrepRgU6f9Tr33Bf-9uDJM

 In June I did my first artist residency and  spent almost a week with 14 other NS artists in the Cape Breton Highlands just outside of Cheticamp. We hiked, attended talks, and chatted, it was a really great experience and I am in the process of producing work from this.  The exhibit will be travelling the province in 2020.

In August I was an artist at the NS Folk Art Festival and was then contacted by Fog Forest Gallery in Sackville NB wanting me to be a gallery artist and had "It's All About Judy" in October.

In November I participated in the Craft NS Winter Show after a five year hiatus and will for sure be back next year. I had a lovely chat with a textile designer at the show and we are going to be working on a little project together.

Thank you everyone...all this doesn't happen without people supporting me and I truly appreciate it.

And how is 2020 shaping up?
Groovy.
:)

International Rug Hooking Day.

Hey, look at you rug hooking ...you get a day.. how cool is that.

All I can say about this is what you mean to me.


You're more than even loops or perfect finishing.
You're more than honourable mentions and awards.



You are a hook, burlap, and wool.

You are simple.
You are beautiful.

And, I am grateful for you everyday.

Judy wants to know.

I have been seeing lots of "Nova Scotia Needs Forestry" signs out and about. Judy would like to know.."What does Nova Scotia Need ?" Forestry? Rockets shooting up from Canso? More golf courses? More craft beer?

Harvest Gallery: Home

I have a couple of rugs in this show if you are in need of one..or two.
Harvest Gallery

Secord Gallery

Looking for a rug?
I have a few at Secord Gallery in this lovely show.

Thank you!

The Craft NS Winter Show was a hoot!
Big thanks to Craft NS, the volunteers, my fellow people who make cool stuff and of course, the fine people who support us and buy our stuff, thank you!

Almost ready for Craft NS Winter show.

Just doing a few last things and will be all set.
Cunard Centre
Halifax
Nova Scotia
Nov 15-17
See you there.

Freshly dyed wool...imitating life.

Craft NS Winter Show

I will have a wee booth at this show..so come on by...and say HI!

Thanks!

The opening of "It's All About Judy" was a hoot!

 Thanks to all you kind people for coming out...show is up till Nov 9th.
And...HAPPY THANKSGIVING my fellow Canadians..eat lots, be merry, life is good.

Tomorrow!

Fog Forest Gallery in Sackville, NB is pleased to welcome Laura Kenney. Her solo exhibition, It’s All About Judy - the Whimsical Wooly World of Laura Kenney opens with a reception on Thursday, October 10 from 6:30 - 8:00pm and continues until November 9, 2019. For more information please visit the website at Fog Forest Gallery or contact Janet Crawford at 506-536-9000.

Flipping Him the Bird as he Drove Away.

Flipping Him the Bird as he Drove Away.
35 X 15 in
Wool and silk on burlap
Fog Forest Gallery.
https://fogforestgallery.ca/…/its-all-about-judy-t…/artworks

It's All About Judy

Upcoming Exhibition This month, Fog Forest Gallery is fortunate to present two solo shows each featuring the work of Nova Scotia artists - Laura Kenney and Don Pentz. Laura Kenney's alter ego is ‘Judy’.  Judy is a quirky and outspoken character who lives out her Maritime life in these colourful and thoughtful hooked rugs.  Click here to see her new exhibition, “It's All About Judy - the Whimsical Wooly World of Laura Kenney”. Don Pentz has been exploring and interpreting the back country of Nova Scotia for most of his life.  His acrylic paintings are a testament to his love of place and his understanding of the land.  His new exhibition, “At The Edge-The Art of Don Pentz” can be seen by visiting this page. There will be an informal artist's reception held in the gallery on Thursday, October 10 from 6:30 - 8 pm.  The artists will be in attendance.  You are invited to drop in to view the exhibits and meet the artists. For more information or to arrange a purchase please give me a call or drop me a line. Or better yet, come into the gallery to say hello! These exhibitions continue until November 9, 2019 Fog Forest Gallery is located at 14 Bridge Street in Sackville, New Brunswick. Janet Crawford 506-536-9000 janet@fogforestgallery.ca

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Details on Fog Forest Gallery's upcoming exhibition.

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Climate Strike

No more half measures...act now.
#climatestrike

Maud St. NS

Fun at a photo shoot.

Brought some new work to my lovely photographer..things got silly.
Thank you Jody O'Brien...you're the best.

Crime Scene

There was a knock at the door..Ev answered...there was a struggle..Ev fell and hit his head and died...it all happened in that cute little house....Maud's house.

Crime Scene
22 x 45"
wool,silk on burlap

Woodland

I am happy to have a piece in Woodland.

Woodland is presented as part of inFlux 2019, a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary festival of the arts based at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.

The artists’ reception will take place on Saturday, October 5 at 5:30 pm in the gallery. All are welcome. https://www.invernessarts.com/woodland

The Folk Art Society of America

Several of us NS Folk Artists are going to be showing our work in a private event to members of The Folk Art Society of America tomorrow, they do good work..check them out.
https://folkart.org/

I feel the need to clarify.

I am a hooker.
I am not a public speaker.
I am not a teacher.
I am not a writer.

I just make rugs.

And that's what I love to do.

So, that is what I want to spend my time doing.

Making rugs.

Hurricanes are messy things.

Clean up time for the Maritimes.
#Dorian

Dorian

Dorian is heading to the Maritimes..hang on everyone.

Labour Day

Enjoy the rest Canada, before back to school and election frenzy.

To cheer you up.

The Amazon is burning.
....and Trump is a jerk.
But here are some flowers to cheer you up.
:)

Maud

Hey Maud..do you want me to keep hooking about you..or do you want to let sleeping dogs lie. A sign would be good. Love Laura

Hookers going to Church

Next Sunday a whole lot of hookers are going to be coming to this lovely church...and it ain't to repent. Congrats Remi Levesque..you had a cool idea and ran with it....more than 200 hooked cushions for the pews .. and nicely done hookers...and Happy 200th Birthday L'église historique de Barachois...see you there!
#workingtogether #artforruralNB #hookersrock #EglisehistoriquedeBarachois

Photo:  Don Lewis

Mine

When I was hooking this I was thinking about the times I have had "weird" things happen to me. This body is mine, so no, you can't squeeze past me tight in the kitchen with your wife in the next room....and no you can't hold me in a hug so I can't get free ..and no you can't sit right next to me on the bus and tell me you want to rub my feet......the list goes on....different times in my life..different men....this body is MINE.
#ishouldhavesaidsomethingatthetime

2019 NS FOLK ART FESTIVAL

So many great chats..sold a bunch of rugs..thank you!
Check out my facebook page for some puppies that didn't find homes.

I exist..the sign says so.

So cool.

It's so cool when a gallery contacts you and wants to represent you.
Feeling grateful.
Stay tuned.

Me

Fashion Inspiring Art

I bought this dress the other day..on a whim.
I love the colours.
So.
I made a hooked version.
Why?
Because my brain is hurting from politics and this is all I can handle at the moment.
That's why.

More chat about Maud.

Yo Maud ..they are chatting about you again.

Milroy is saying, "But if she was really only making paintings for sale, if she was really just cranking them out, she wouldn’t have made so many changes..."

I dunno...maybe you just changed it up a wee bit as you were bored as hell with the cats and oxen etc.
They don't want to believe that you just did it for the money or because Ev told you to...that kinda talk doesn't work in the art world.

But hey, we just make the stuff and let others chitter chatter about it, eh Maud?

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2019/07/10/why-maud-lewiss-colourful-paintings-belong-in-an-art-gallery.html?fbclid=IwAR2v0hJLvdqprNNVLxft1j2MHaEteCu5Iwb9BRWavVOJvFb2w_Rwhwi2iS

Maud...another book about you.

Another book out on Maud Lewis. This one claiming her life has been discussed more than her art...hmmmm, I don't think so..I think not enough has been made of her life. I think her hard life has been glossed over in order to sell pretty Maud cups and bags...and pencils.

" Until now, the story of her difficult life has dominated the discussion of her art: her triumph over her physical disabilities and poverty, the harsh treatment she received at the hands of her family, and her alliance by chance with her husband Everett Lewis, who enabled her successful painting career over many decades."

Sarah Milroy

Enabled her successful painting career? I don't know, according to Woolaver, Everett forced Maud to paint. Like the movie Maudie, people really want to believe there was some sort of love or great partnership between Maud and Ev when there is plenty of evidence that says otherwise....if only Maud were alive to ask...but even then, would she tell the truth.

https://shop.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/collections/all/products/paintings-for-sale-maud-lewis?fbclid=IwAR0_YQQCZZBmGiucRJiQUE7aWyYknsx9IkGEMCpP6VxlSGPmTPApmn3zrUw

The cover of this book,

Paintings for Sale

reminded me of a rug I had made...."The Other Sign". In chatting with Lance Woolaver , he talked about a sign Maud had made for the poor house, her neighbours.

My obsession with Maud continues.

Hooking in the Heat

#hothooker
:)

Dinner time at Adam and Eves.

Yo Eve, what's for dinner?
I am coming, hold your horses Adam.

Gonna be demo-ing..come on by.

I 'll be demo-ing hooking July 13th, 10-11 am at this..please come by. Will also have some rugs for you to take a peak at...see you there...don't be a square. :)

Ground Rules Residency

I had the best time with a bunch of lovely artists..in lovely Cape Breton...we hiked, we sketched, we laughed...exhibit will be next spring.
#GR2019 #iloveCBCraft
 

No need to ask, " Where is the bathroom ?" in our house.

Be Happy.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
 Be cheerful.
 Strive to be happy.
 Max Ehrmann. 1927

Good news!

I got some good news yesterday.

Hello Laura,
Congratulations! I am pleased to inform that you have been accepted into the Ground Rules 2019 residency program.

Cheticamp..here I come!

One of my favourites.

De-lighthousing.
I think I made this back in 2014..would have to check my records.
I was being super bold with the background.
It's a cool feeling when you make something you are super happy with.
A lighthouse keeper on the West Coast purchased it years ago..so happy it found the right place to be.

NS FOLK ART FESTIVAL

                                        I will be there ..with rugs for sale..lots and lots of rugs.

Rugs for sale.

http://www.harvestgallery.ca/searchresults.php?artistId=6830&start=1

Maud Kitties go to China

There is going to be a Maud Lewis exhibit in China this month....and the kitties are ready.