Miss Biliana

Looking ahead

2010-10-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

I know! It has been forever since my last post. I haven't really caught my breath since defending my thesis, starting a new job, moving (twice!) and traveling (both for pleasure and an opening). This is just a quick post to say hi to my blog and to my readers, if there are any left and to promise to be a better updater in the future.
For now, I am looking forward to settling in my new home, reading food blogs and catching up on my long forgotten blog.

2010-07-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Great article by Betsy Rosenwald on Biliana Velkova -The Musical at the summer issue of Arts and Science Magazine at the University of Saskatchewan. Thank you, Betsy!

Biliana Velkova for BV

2010-06-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

Grain Magazine

2010-06-05T15:04:00.001-07:00

Make sure to pick up the Spring issue of Grain Magazine coming out in June. My work is featured on the cover and inside.

Biliana Velkova The Musical Promo!

2010-06-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

Video by Biliana Velkova, music by Lief Mosbaugh

Biliana Velkova-The Musical, eh?

2010-05-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

Coming Fall 2010!

2010-05-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Inspiring!

2010-04-09T10:02:00.001-07:00

Tropical Bruno

2010-03-20T15:35:00.001-07:00

All Citizens presents: Andreas Buchwaldt and Biliana Velkova, "Tropical Bruno" (construction paper based wall installation), Bulgarian Easter activities & the Magnificent Sevens!!!! April 2nd, Doors 7:30, Show 8PM. $15. Call 369-2963 or email allcitizens@gmail.com for more details.

Felt Forest for Mr. B

2010-02-15T14:26:00.000-08:00

It was hard to top up an amazing glowing tooth. I surprised Mr. B with a forest made out of construction paper and felt for VDay. Who new that coloured paper can be so much fun!

2010-02-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

Is it me or does Quatchi carries some resemblance to Cheburashka?

Toothy

2010-01-26T08:11:00.001-08:00

Good gifts are worth waiting for! I just got my Christmas gift from Mr. B and I have to say I am one lucky toothy girl!

The White Show at Tartooful

2010-01-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

If you are in North Vancouver on Wednesday, January 27, come to Tartooful to the opening of The White Show. I wish I could be there!

Biliana Velkova for Revlon

2010-01-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

Biliana Velkova for Revlon, 2010
44”x44”
Digital print on archival paper

Biliana Velkova for Revlon is a continuation of my research in studying the relationship between art, marketing and authorship within the context of our consumerist and cultural milieu. Currently, I am working on performance and multi-media projects to blend the line between art, advertizing and commodity to another level; producing a body of work that utilizes tools actually used in marketing campaigns, including video ads, poster campaigns, and product launches. Reminiscent of celebrity marketing campaigns that use a popular icon to create a brand name, this work challenges this phenomenon with the creation of “media-hype” around an unknown persona that is devoid of any famous trademark. This project questions how and when a common person becomes a brand, thus blurring the lines of art, commodity, and social identity.

Holiday

2009-12-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

Holiday (Fill Your Home with the Spirit of the Season) is a continuation of Biliana Velkova’s research in marketing, appropriation and authorship issues. As advertising campaigns are borrowing from art concepts more frequently, the line between them becomes blurred. The project investigates the subliminal messages within advertising; the economic value of the holiday season; and the impossibility of achieving the life style portrayed in various marketing campaigns. Holiday will take these ideas and apply them to a non-existent storefront, at the Convenience Gallery.

Biliana Velkova
Holiday
Convenience Gallery
Dec 16- Jan 14

Reviews of Tropical Saskatoon

2009-11-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

A lovely review of the show from Luke Siemens. Oh and here is a radio interview about it I did on Bart Gazzola's The A Word.

Tropical Saskatoon

2009-11-12T16:58:00.000-08:00

“When an outsider comes to a new place, he sees the picturesque and the freakish, whereas the local sees through layers of emotion and memory.”
Walter Benjamin

One of the first things that struck me as odd about Saskatoon, when I first moved here over one year ago was the abundance in fake palm trees. Both indoors and outdoors, these plastic versions of tropical paradise seemed strangely out of place in the cold prairie environment. Furthermore, many Saskatoonians hadn’t even noticed them until I pointed it out. This made me think about the above mentioned quote and specifically how we create our own sense of place, no matter how odd or freakish that may be.

Biliana Velkova
Tropical Saskatoon
November 18-December 27, 2009
Opening Reception, Thursday, November 19, 7-9pm
Frances Morrison Library Gallery, Saskatoon, SK

Remembering the fall

2009-11-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to be able to share my memories from that day on Petya's blog.

New Work

2009-09-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Makeover Project (Seduction in Just One Click), 2009

The Makeover Project is a series of five performances done in a Vancouver shopping mall. In the span of one week, I went to various make up counters at Sears and the Bay and asked to be made up exactly as the model featured in a specific ad campaign. I focused on dominant cosmetic brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Sheisido and Dior. Immediately following each make over session, I would go to the mall’s portrait studio and get my photo taken. I attempted to copy the exact pose of the model in the ad which I was appropriating. The project investigates the subliminal messages within advertising, the representation of women in marketing campaigns, and the impossibility of achieving the standards of beauty promised by the advertising media.

Nine to Five

2009-08-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have been very silent. Yes, working nine to five and the summer in Saskatoon has taken its toll. I will be back soon!

Oh la la, eh?

2009-06-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

ReDRAWN

2009-06-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

ReDRAWN
Anna Plesset, Biliana Velkova, Carrie Walker

July 16 — August 15

Opening Reception: Friday, July 24, 6—9 p.m.
Artist Talk: TBA

A look at three artists who appropriate visual material through drawing. Anna Plesset's impeccably drawn reproductions of newspaper headline clippings not only call attention to the content of the headline, but also explore illusion, control, and the ephemeral and physical qualities of the newspaper itself. Biliana Velkova uses carbon paper to trace the covers of the tabloid magazine "In Touch Weekly". Seen together, the melodramatic statements and vague images become poster-like chronicles of pop culture fascination with celebrity lives. Carrie Walker acquires antique drawings through online auctions and then alters them by adding her own highly detailed drawings of wildlife. The stylistic and thematic differences between her work and the original create odd scenes and narratives that inevitably beg questions about the intention of both artists.

#140 - 1 East Cordova Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 4H3
Tue.—Sat. 12—6 p.m.

Tel: (604) 838-6816

E-mail: info@jeffreyboonegallery.com

2009-05-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

Might as well do it all while I am feeling in the mood for sorting. I am also going through stuff in my studio and trying to make it make sense. I am working on two new projects and I find it hard to concentrate when I have older work hanging around. It is like I change personalities every six months.

2009-05-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Packing. Sun. Garage sales. Beer breaks. Nostalgique. More sun.

честит 24 май!

2009-05-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Alphabet Day! My favourite Bulgarian holiday. And this is my favourite letter.

Another Gram Parsons night

2009-05-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

We'll sweep out the ashes in the morning.

2009-05-19T18:57:00.001-07:00

laundry, dirty martini with three olives, tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. i am home.

Bridget Catchpole's Beauty Products

2009-05-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am continuing the section "Art by my friends" with the beautiful collection of jewellery by Bridget Catchpole. The artist uses recycled beauty product containers to craft exqusite pieces that are conceptually critical and stunning at the same time. I have been a fan of Bridget's work since our student days in Montreal, where she pushed the boundaries of sculpture and jewellery making with fierce flare! Here is more information on the artist and her projects.

Giggling girls with Gewürztraminer

2009-05-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

I promise this blog is not turning into a foodie/oenophile loving forum but since I have been back here on the West Coast for vacation, I have been indulging in tons of tasting of both varieties. Miss K and I tried a great Gewürztraminer from Kettle Valley winery. I tried finding it in a goverment liquor store but they don't carry it. One has to go to a specialty wine store, but it is absolutely worth it!

correction: Miss K enjoyed a nice crisp Éphémère. but she did try and agreed with my views of the wine.

I am still a BC resident even after surviving a Saskatchewan winter!

2009-05-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am glad I was able to vote in the provincial elections today.

Update: I am saddened by the results.

Spain: A Culinary Road Trip

2009-05-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

I would absolutely love to do this one day! A culinary road trip through Spain but I might add a detour through Sicily and do some olive oil tasting.

City Self/Country Self

2009-05-11T10:03:00.001-07:00

Lately

2009-05-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Crisp clean air, wearing ballet flats, secondhand shopping at the Seniors Centre and hearing stories of Panama canal cruises, chèvre and champagne with Miss K, horse races and birthday cake, framing work, makeovers at the Bay, book launches and sushi joints, getting overwhelmed, needing to relax, kir royales in the afternoon, feeling calm.

Steamed Mussels in White Wine

2009-05-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

Since I have been back on the coast, I have been indulging in plenty of seafood. From tuna tataki at my favourite Sushi joint (Sushiyama on Broadway), to grilled salmon with maple glaze at home. I am making steamed mussels* in white wine for my mom and grandmother tonight.

* 2 lbs. mussels
* 1 cup dry white wine
* 2 shallots, chopped
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 2 tablespoons chopped flat parsley

Fill a sink 1/2 full of cold water. Add the mussels and toss them around. Pull the beards and scrape off any barnacles from each mussel (inspecting them to make sure that they are tightly closed). Discard any bad mussels. Keep the cleaned mussels out of the water in the refrigerator until ready for use. Do not keep them more that a few hours after washing. Chop the shallots and parsley. 1. Put the shallots and white wine into a large stainless steel pot. Add the mussels and cover. Steam them over high heat until the mussels have opened. Shake the pot to be sure that all the mussels are cooked. Put the mussels into a large bowl. Decant the mussel liquor into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the butter and chopped parsley. Pour this sauce over the mussels and serve immediately.

*This recipe is from Pierre's Restaurant in Harding, New Jersey

I am liking the campari orange cocktails with my mom and grandmother in the afternoons.

2009-04-21T11:52:00.001-07:00

Profile on Canada-Culture TV

2009-04-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

My work was recently featured on Canada-Culture TV, which is a online Bulgarian-Canadian TV channel. I am very honored to be included in this publication. It is great to see what other Bulgarian artists are doing in Canada. Here is the write up in Bulgarian:

Още от юношеските години, Биляна Велкова е привлечена от понятия като консумеризъм (защита на потребителите чрез асоциации), обществен идентитет и марки мания. Тя включва в артистичния си подход инстументи за маркетинг използвани често от комерсиалните продукти.Напомняйки рекламната кампания на един известен парфюм, последната изложба на Биляна Breathless (Без дъх; Бездихание), споява изкуство и комерсиализъм лансирайки един продукт лишен от идентитета на марката, замъглявайки по този начин границите между изкуство, материална култура и обществен идентитет. В този репортаж, ще откриете как лансирането на Breathless преобразява художествената галерия в консумеристично събитие привличайки вниманието на медиите и материалното любопитство за един несъществуващ продукт.

Sapor cella

2009-04-11T14:42:00.001-07:00

My friend B. has started a wonderful foodie blog called Sapor cella. Sapor cella means tasting room in latin, and I think it suits it delightfully. I can't wait for more food adventures with B. Look for an upcoming report on the new Les Amis du Fromage restaurant.

2009-04-11T09:53:00.001-07:00

I fell asleep listening to Gram Parsons and dreamed of cowboys and Busby Berkeley girls.

Almost done

2009-04-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to leave for Vancouver for a month tomorrow. School is officially done, I need to tie some lose ends and then fly away tomorrow. The last couple of weeks were a little testy but I am feeling on top if it now that it is all done. And I am getting the feeling that I am going to miss Saskatoon. What a difference a few degrees make.

Do you know what today is?

2009-04-08T20:30:00.001-07:00

It is my blog's birthday! It was on April 8, 2006 that I wrote my first post after meeting a wonderful group of shiny gold cowboy boots at the Army and Navy. It has been a great journey, I am not much of a diary keeper but this is the closest I have been to being persistent at keeping a some sort of journal. Happy birthday, missbiliana!

Sister Corita

2009-04-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

I recently rediscovered Sister Corita's wonderful seriagraphs. I had seen some of her work in an Italian issue of Vogue of all places but tonight I was looking at the Zach Feuer Gallery's website and noticed her work again. But mostly, how adorable are all these nuns working harmoniously in the studio? I wonder if these are their work habits?

Burt and Dolly

2009-04-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

My uncle used to work abroad in the 80's and he would smuggle Western films for us to see. They were badly dubbed (usually by one guy, so he did both the men's and women's parts in a very monotone voice). My uncle had a taste for musicals and old country western music, so we mostly got to see Bob Fosse musicals and Dolly Parton films. I thought everyone in America spontaneously bursts into a song, does jazz hands to express emotions and dances around chairs like Liza Minnelli in Cabaret. These drawings are from the series Burt and Dolly.

Prairie Ribbons Performance, Arts Building, University of Saskatchewan

2009-03-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

2009-03-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

Медленно минуты уплывают в даль,
Встречи с ними ты уже не жди.
И хотя нам прошлое немного жаль,
Лучшее, конечно, впереди.

Припев:

Скатертью, скатертью
Дальний путь стелется,
И упирается прямо в небосклон.
Kаждому, каждому
В лучшее верится...
Kатится, катится
Голубой вагон.

Может мы обидели кого-то зря,
Kалендарь закроет старый лист.
K новым приключениям спешим, друзья...
Эй, прибавь-ка ходу, машинист!

Припев.

Голубой вагон бежит, качается,
Скорый поезд набирает ход...
Ах, зачем же этот день кончается,
Пусть бы он тянулся целый год!

Champagne makes me giggly

2009-03-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

One critique done, two more to go and one year end review and a paper by the end of next week. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today I got a Dairy Queen ice cream sandwich in short sleeves only. That alone was a reason to have a mini champagne party at my studio. K and J came and we had a great bottle of NZ sprakling wine, very dry yet a little buttery. Yum.

Recently

2009-03-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

I know, I am super blogger today. This is what happens when one procrastinates when writing a curatorial proposal on (failed) socialist utopia and just rediscovered FB. Here is a quick update on things that have been happening recently:
Have been trying to finish the semester, I can't believe we have two more weeks left. Have been preparing for my last two crits, nothing new, drawings of Tabloid Headlines in watercolour. I feel like I am on autopilot, just trying to get to the finish line.
I am also going to be looking for a new place in Saskatoon, as my roommate is going to be doing research in Germany. What else? I might go up to Emma Lake to do a printmaking class. I am not sure as I am the most impatient printmaker and I am afraid of bugs. First signs of spring are appearing here, and that makes me very delighted.

I Cloned Dolly

2009-03-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is another contribution to my new blog series. It is a review by Karla Griffin of show that was recently shown at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery in Saskatoon.

I Cloned Dolly
Aaron Godard
Reviewed by Karla Griffin

The title of Aaron Godard’s Bachelor of Fine Arts graduating exhibition I Cloned Dolly, is a cheeky pun that points to the 1996 birth of Dolly the sheep; the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult cell. The sheep’s birth was touted as the most significant scientific breakthrough of that decade, although it raised controversial ethical concerns not only within the scientific community, but within the general public.
The reproduction of multiples from the same genetic source acts as the catalyst for Godard’s latest body of work. Like a production line efficiently producing identical manufactured goods based on a single prototype, Godard acts as the solitary manufacturer, or creator, of a mass-produced standardised dolly. Using a dolly from Home Depot that he purchased and then returned for the project, Godard explores the possibilities of accessible and seemingly banal objects, by imbuing them with complicated layers of social understanding.
Entering the gallery, viewers are greeted by what appears to be an abandoned warehouse, or broken down production facility. Dollies in varying states of completion stand alone while others seem to huddle in groups. A closer examination of the dollies, viewers are left to question what kind of manufacturing has occurred in order to produce the results that stand before them. Half formed, misshaped tires, drooping handles, incorrect proportions and missing parts, Godard’s dollies lie in the realm of science experiment gone terribly wrong, which suggests that science, like everything else, is fallible.
Through excessive repetition and incessant labour, Godard reveals a kind of Frankenstein-like love for his malformed creations. Using the dolly as a point of departure and working on a 1:1 scale of representation, he anthropomorphises these objects through the mutable possibilities of material - bringing to mind Claes Oldenburg’s soft sculptures of the 1960s and 1970s, and the more recent foam installations of Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg.
Like Oldenberg, Hanson and Sonnenberg, Godard’s pieces are all handmade, and the work suggests a kind of satisfaction with the handmade process. Using pink (Pepto-Bismol pink) extruded polystyrene foam, each dolly is meticulously carved and every detail has been acknowledged: from the grips on the handles to the tread of each tire. Inspecting the workmanship, small glitches and idiosyncrasies mark these pieces as handmade one of a kind objects; each one is unique from the next.
Taking into account that Godard has individually carved more than twenty versions of one object, in what appears to be a quest to render the perfect specimen; the fragile and flimsy quality of the polystyrene foam contradicts the solid functionality of the original manufactured dolly. However, more than that, Godard’s installation suggests not only the fragility of his art objects, but possibly the fragility of life: the fine balance between nature and science, where the pursuit of knowledge becomes the creation of monsters. Like Victor Frankenstein, from Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, Godard has “collected the instruments of life around [him], that [he] might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at [his] feet.”

“I Cloned Dolly,” was exhibited at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery at the University of Saskatchewan from March 16 to March 20, 2009.

New series on my blog

2009-03-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start a new series on my blog entitled "Art that my friends do" as a new platform to showcase some new and exciting projects. I started with Maudlin & Joy and few posts ago and today I would like to debut my friend Jason's new project Rudy and Roy. It a charming children's show and if I may say so, Jason is the sweetest ten year old with a moustache. Enjoy!

Back on FB

2009-03-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

After almost two years, I reactivated my FB account. The weird thing is that it was still in existence. It was never really gone. I am back on, hopefully it will make those cold nights a little warmer (it snowed here last night).

First Day of Spring

2009-03-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

I believe today is the first day of spring. I don't know, it is hard to say as we got another snowfall and the trees were frozen over with pretty garland like icicles. I have decided to stay home, cook a salmon, have some wine, listen to Elis Regina and read Marx.

Maudlin & Joy

2009-03-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

Glamorous, comfortable, natural. A great article on my friend Erin's new fashion label Maudlin & Joy at the Georgia Straight. Congratulations Erin! I love the old Hollywood inspired designs.

Bob Wiseman and Geoff Berner at All Citizens!

2009-03-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last night was a special night in Bruno, Saskatchewan. All Citizens presented an enchanted concert featuring Bob Wiseman and Geoff Berner. We surprised them with a key to the city, it was all very official! Thank you to Tyler for designing it, Jordan for making the carrying case, the deputy Mayor for presenting it and to Bruno's new sons, Geoff and Bob! I should clarify that I am not from Bruno but it was my honor to be included in this ceremony. But somehow Bruno reminded me of a small charming Bulgarian town.

New Hat

2009-03-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

I got a new hat today at Folks Furs, Saskatoon's finest fur dealers. Sadly they are going out of business and with that a part of local history and a great sign outside.

Tropical Saskatoon

2009-03-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

When I first moved here six months ago, I noticed that there are many indoor places trying to mimic environments that are not natural to Saskatoon. Whether it is lush astroturf greens at the mini golf at Market Mall, drywall stalactites at the Cave Restaurant or plastic palm trees at Jax nightclub, these are environments that are foreign to the city. I thought it was interesting to have such an abundance of these make believe “natural” places. Was it so Saskatoonians can escape the winter into a place with lush palm trees and play some mini golf? Or have a romantic dinner within Mediterranean like cave formations? I decided to take photographs of these environments and place them within actual familiar sites around Saskatoon. The images of the city were taken from found postcards.

Singing Telegram

2009-03-10T19:12:00.001-07:00

A secret singing valentine performance of "I say a little prayer for You" in harmony. Chocolate rose and a note saying " I met a wonderful man. He is fictional, but you can't have everything". February 12, 2009. Thank you to the Greystone Singers.

Bulgarian Lovers

2009-03-05T21:31:00.003-08:00

I just found this movie and it is also a book. "Bulgarian Lovers: Beware of Love in Radioactive Packages". I thought it was a joke but one can order it from Amazon. I am not sure if the radioactive comment is about Chernobyl, but it certainly makes for a great title.

Liberace

2009-03-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

I just posted some photos of my visit to the Liberace's museum. It is quite a large operation, it consists of two buildings on "Libearace Plaza", which a linked to an Italian restaurant which he owned. One building houses his collection of rhinestone cadillacs and pianos and the other is only for his capes and costumes. We also got treated by a one hour long concert on his famous mirrored Steinman.

Venice Venice

2009-03-04T20:32:00.001-08:00

It is nice to be back home

2009-03-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

I spent the week house sitting which was lovely but it is nice to be back home. I am sitting at home, listening to Coltrane, looking at the window and trying to read McLuhan. I am turning into a real Woody Allen geek.

Viva Las Vegas

2009-02-28T08:37:00.001-08:00

Miss K and I got back last week, so much fun! This is going to be a short post because I am running out the door but in two words: amazingly overwhelming! We saw the Folies Bergere, partied with Audrina from the Hills, won $15 at roulette and had the best shrimp cocktail in Old Vegas.

Found on my way to school this morning

2009-02-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

This Week

2009-02-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

One more week to go before Reading Break! I can hardly wait to see Liberace's museum.

Sign Broken

2009-02-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

I saw this sign today at a church by my house.

I Can Dream, Can I?

2009-02-07T21:26:00.000-08:00

I met a wonderful man! He is fictional, but you can't have everything. (W. Allen)

Bus Slogan Generator

2009-02-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Interesting site and competition by the Guardian. What is your slogan?

I can't stop listening to tacky Balkan Disco

2009-02-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know if the sudden warm front residing over Saskatoon, the impending trip to Vegas and visit to Liberace's Museum or the obsessive tabloid magazine research and drawing that is making me dig deep into my Lepa Brena and Dragana Mirković secret collections. I guess my research interests lend themselves to searching for the tacky.

About Cultural Appropriation

2009-01-30T23:34:00.001-08:00

Here is a great video of a Romanian/German artist by the name of Shantel. It is called Disko Partizani. It captures the Balkan spirit both comically and tragically. Enjoy!

PS. The photo is from a fair my uncle took my grandmother and I couple of years ago. We went for the sausages and rakia but there was a market as well. One of the "products" for sale were swords.

Tabloid Drawings

2009-01-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

I am posting some new work from the Tabloid Drawings series. These drawings are based on tabloid headlines and content from "Weekly In Touch". 24"x30" , watercolour and gouache on paper.

Miss Saskatchewan

2009-01-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

Last night's performance went really well. Miss Saskatchewan was lovely and she graciously agreed to cut the ribbon for the exhibition It's Not About the Landscape. Below is the speech I gave to introduce her. Thank you Miss Saskatchewan!

I would like to thank all of you for coming out tonight to the opening of Its Not About the Landscape. The idea for this exhibition was born out of the fact that the majority of us the MFA candidates are not from Saskatchewan and we wanted to respond to our new found home through a group show. Through this process we collectively and individually researched how we fit within this place. Whether it is a collective project involving a local neighbourhood, baking at home or outfitting for survival in the Saskatchewan winter, I believe we captured the essence of our present landscape. We are all pretty diverse not only in our use of medium but in our understanding of Saskatchewan. And whether we stay or leave Saskatoon we will always have a little bit of the prairie landscape in us wherever we go. I would like to think of us as mini Saskatchewan ambassadors. With that said, I would like to introduce to you the real ambassador to Saskatchewan, Miss Saskatchewan 2008, Janice Moorgen, who graciously agree to officially open this exhibition. Janice represented Saskatchewan at Miss Canada International 2007 and Miss World Canada 2008. She is actively involved in various charitable organizations. She enjoys acting and modeling and currently work at Birks Jewelers. I present to you Miss Saskatchewan!
Thank you.

Update: This was just posted on the University of Saskatchewan's website.

Hi Bibi, please cheer up! Kato

2009-01-16T17:41:00.000-08:00

This is the email my mom send me from our cat Kato, along with a photo of him. He wants to cheer me up after the horrible ordeal I went through the other night. On Wednesday, my friend K and I went to the downtown library from school to get ready for a meeting we had at a local magazine we sit on a board on. I felt a sharp pain in my lower right abdomen but did not think much of it. At 4:30 I thought I should miss the meeting and just go home. K left as I said I would just wait for the bus there. After she left, the pain increased acutely and I started throwing up in the library. The staff there was very helpful and asked me if I wanted an ambulance, I said no. They called for a taxi but the line was busy, so the security guard took me in his 70's car (red velvet interior, littered with coke bottles). He was super sweet and tried to keep me calm. I didn't know what was wrong just knew that I was not well. I got admitted to the emergency room right away, stripped and put on an IV. I can't remember this part very clearly as I got given morphine (three times in the course of the ordeal). The doctors run a series of tests to see what was wrong as I kept throwing up. Finally, after 6 hours they told me that I have a pretty serious kidney infection and I need to be on antibiotics. I took a taxi home, as I could not reach anyone to pick me up. It was -37 outside and I felt like hell. I have not left the house for a couple of days recuperating, drinking cranberry juice and eating soup that my lovely classmates K and D brought me. So, this is why my sweet mom is sending me emails from Kato.

It's Not About the Landscape

2009-01-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

If you find yourself in Saskatoon on January 23, you are invited to "It's Not About the Landscape" show. It is a group show of the MFA candidates at the University of Saskatchewan.

Brrr

2009-01-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

If it wasn't cold enough this article makes it even worse. The current situation in Bulgaria seems to be worsening. It will be almost two weeks since Russia cut off the country's natural gas supply. Gas is the main source of heat in Bulgaria and Russia is the one and only supplier. Russia is getting even with Ukraine, settling a new price for gas and it wants to make a point of being a powerful source shut off the gas not only to Ukraine but Bulgaria also. It will be always these little countries suffering when the big powers draw lines in the sand box of Europe. And what makes me mad is that people in Bulgaria have become so blaze about it. The shutting of heat has become a mere inconvinience, a reminder of the good old days when we had scheduled power outages to "save power". My uncle thankfully has a fireplace, so he is warm. I have not heard from him though, because he emails me from work and the school where he works is most likely closed as most schools in Sofia were shut down because of the heat shortage. The photo above is from the NY Times, the monkey looks especially sad huddling next to a heater.

First day of School

2009-01-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

Well, it started with a bang. I can't wait to dive into my work. This is the only thing to do while braving the elements. Yesterday my eyelashes froze. I have to invest in a waterproof mascara. But thats the least of my problems. My hand froze while taking this picture just for one minute.

Братя Аргирови

2009-01-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

This is an update from the last post. I got very nostalgic looking at old Bulgarian pop clips on youtube and I got to the Братя Аргирови site. They go by the name "Brothers Argirov" and are a pair of twins very popular in the early 80's. They are actually my 3rd cousins, which I always thought was pretty spectacular. And tonight they look better than ever. Aren't they cute?

Бяла тишина

2009-01-02T21:11:00.000-08:00

This is a song I grew up with, still from my parent's time but it rang so true tonight. I am back in Saskatoon, it is white everywhere, and very quiet. The song is called "White Silence" and this is what is like here tonight. On another personal note, one of the guys playing the quitar was a friend and a neighbour of ours. Бандаракът.

2008

2008-12-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here are some moments of the soon to be exiting 2008:

The year started with a fabulous trip to Mexico with Miss B
Received an offer of admission to grad school in Sask
Got promoted at work and moved to a new office
Our cat Putzka died the same day as Pavarotti
Inspector Clouseau came into our life
Received an offer of admission to grad school in Halifax
Opened Breathless show at Jeffrey Boone Gallery
Left my job
Had a cheap and cheerful garage sale and left my beloved Strathcona flat
Went to Europe, visited friends in London, uncle in Sofia and drank campari in Milan
Attended a friend's wedding in Sofia, very proud as I was the matchmaker
Moved to Saskatoon, miss K came for moral support
Started school, met new friends
Began a new body of work
Went to Toronto: Toronto Art Fair, Nuit Blanche and Stu were some of the highlights
Live Artfully happened
Continued working in the studio
Wrote the longest paper in my life
Home to Vancouver for Christmas, visited with many friends, had closure and ate tons of sushi

Looking at this list, it looks like it was an amazing year, and it was! I feel fortunate for everyone in my life and I am thankful for everything that came our way. PS. The picture is my uncle Toni and I in Milan.

Let it Snow!

2008-12-24T13:27:00.001-08:00

Completely snowed in, I have not been able to leave North Vancouver as my parents live on a steep hill pretty much on the bottom of a mountain. I have never seen anything like it but I have to say I am really liking it! I am about to start preparing the Christmas Ham (if it turns out I will post photos), will also attempt baklava as it is the Bulgarian tradition, all while listening to old fashioned Christmas tunes. I always find the Holidays tacky and it helps to intensify the mood by listening to Bing Crosby and Doris Day's version of "Baby It is Cold Outside".

Update: Here is the Christmas Ham as promised!

Inspector Clouseau

2008-12-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

Beyond words. Inspector Clouseau has been in is best behavior, so cute and cuddly!

On another note, Miss A and I went to see Milk last night. An amazing story and a beautiful and inspiring film. It rings very true today, parallel with the politics of the US election, prop 8 and the need for change of people's fears. Great film, highly recommend it!

Raccoons and salmon tacos

2008-12-19T21:55:00.000-08:00

I handed my paper yesterday and finished the online course on ethics and I am officially done. It was hard to organize and concentrate while being back and being sick but now it is really done! I celebrated with the best salmon taco on the fisherman's wharf on Granville Island and then met Miss K for a beer. My mom and granny are busy chasing raccoons on the balcony, the cat is amused and scared at the same time. Fun with family!

Back

2008-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have been back a few days now and loving it. Just looked at the weather forecast for Saskatoon and it was minus 20 but sunny. Here is plus 7 but it is raining. Regardless, it feels great! Miss A. and I took photos with Santa at the Tinseltown Mall (I almost wrote Satan, is this a Freudian slip, or what?).

A Breathless Christmas

2008-12-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

A Breathless Christmas, window installation at Jeffrey Boone Gallery,1 East Cordova Street unit 140, Vancouver, BC, December 4-January 7

A Breathless Christmas is a project loosely based on the current Hudson Bay's Christmas campaign. Typical holiday advertising creates the perfect illusion, whether is spending time with family, acquiring desired goods or achieving social expectation of what the holidays should be. A Breathless Christmas takes this concept and applies to a non-existent storefront, in a closed gallery. While the posters promise "the perfect gift" and "free delivery" they are just a façade, there is nothing behind the advertisement and behind the glass. The project is a continuation of the artist's research of marketing, appropriation and authorship issues. As advertising campaigns are borrowing from art concepts more frequently, the line between them becomes blurred.

Update: Thank you Cathy for putting it on Tartooful's blog.

Feeling wintery

2008-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

Things are calming down slowly. I have two more crits left, need to pack, do laundry, return a ton of books to the library and and I am off. Last week was very heavy on the academic side but I feel confident and good about it all. Thank you for visiting and reading and commenting on this blog, your company is keeping me sane. Talk very soon with most of you in person!

Toque

2008-11-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

My Vancouver social calendar is filling up fast, which I am very thankful for. It will be great visit friends and eat sushi and drink good wine and generally thaw out form both school responsibilities and the cold. On that note, here is invite to Toque, a lovely Christmas Fair that Miss K is a part of. I went last year and really enjoyed it. I think you will too!

Sofia Starbucks

2008-11-28T06:40:00.000-08:00

Coincidentally the first Starbucks opened in Sofia yesterday, the same day I did my presentation on brands and commodity fetishism. I have mixed feelings about this venture. On one hand, it is probably good to have one Starbucks for those in search of the familiar when in Sofia, but at the same time this is why people travel, to try something new. Bulgarian coffee houses are loud, smoky, usually the patrons all know each other as they are all from the local neighborhood. And the coffee is pretty much the same, a black short espresso. I remember when I was in Sofia with my friend Stu and she ordered a coffee with whipping cream, at my neighborhood coffee place. It didn't resemble a Starbucks order but it was a little more particular than your usual black short espresso. The lady behind the counter turned around and looked at Stu very puzzled and said: What’s the point? For those of you who read Bulgarian, here is the article:

Cheese inspired

2008-11-25T19:28:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to do a cheese tasting inspired trip. Sample chèvre, camembert and livarot throughout France, goat feta in Bulgaria, stilton in England and manchego in Spain. I have also dreamt of an olive oil inspired trip but I will leave this for another entry. Anyways, tonight I found this article, which made me realize that there are other cheese foodies out there.

Saturday Night

2008-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Last night I took myself out on a date. Dinner and a movie. Little French inspired bistro, great full bodied Sicilian wine, medium rear steak, chocolate orange torte, finished off with a rich Australian port. I miss those indulgences now that I am a student but I guess one needs it once in a while.

Even More Snow

2008-11-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

I better warn you, my dear reader, whoever you are, that I will be blogging about the weather while I am here. It is a big part of living in Saskatchewan. Today, we got the first big fall and apperantly one has to make a wish when the first big one comes. So I did. I also got a big down jacket, with a huge fur trimmed hood. It is vintage bomber style, just perfect. And so far it had been great. I will post photos soon. But for now, a photo of my favourite widget.

Post Dolly

2008-11-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

Well, she was incredible! I am still savoring the experience, the sparkles on her dress, cute Tennessee twang, all the familiar songs of course and just being near Dolly! We were able to sit really close to the stage, Miss D was about 10 meters away. Unfortunately we could not take photos, but I can assure it is an amazing experience. And if you have a chance go see her!

More snow today

2008-11-12T14:03:00.001-08:00

Wintery Widgets

2008-11-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

I am really liking the animations of my weather widget. It usually shows rain, or sun or nothing at all but today it has been very playful.What do you think this means? Bouncy snow?

The other BB

2008-11-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my kitchen, it is cold outside, drinking lemon ginger tea, talking on the phone with friends and wishing I was there and also wishing I had blue fir and poufy hair like the other miss BB. Oh, and I also wish I could start my readings finally.

It is getting cold here...

2008-11-04T08:58:00.001-08:00

Well, later in the week anyways, it is supposed to dip down to minus 13. Now, I am like a true Saskatoonian, listening intently to the weather report.

Dolly!!!

2008-11-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Guess what! I am going to see Dolly Parton! She is coming to Saskatoon on November 14, and I am so excited. As we speak I am getting acquainted with Backwood Barbie.

Trying to read

2008-10-27T21:35:00.001-07:00

I am trying to read theory on relational aesthetics. Instead I am feeling sleepy, curling my hair and making smoothies.

Ring Them Bells

2008-10-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

The air here in Saskatoon is getting cold. I got a warm winter jacket today (I am sure I will need an even warmer one in January) but this one is cute and fine for now. Grey wool bomber styler with a black trim. And to get my self warmer I am playing Liza Minnelli Broadway tunes. It always helps.

Update: I will need a warmer jacket sooner. And a lot more Cabaret tunes.

Vancouver bound

2008-10-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

I got my ticket, I am off on December 3 to January 2. So excited to have sushi, nice wine, see my family and friends and the ocean.

A Saskatoon Sky

2008-10-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

In the news

2008-10-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

A very insightful article in NY Times on the current political situation in Bulgaria and its ties to organized crime. It is sad to see that most European countries have lost hope in the Bulgarian system. This summer the EU froze a large amount of funds, which was supposed to be allocated to local farmers as aid. It looks like there will be more sanctions and the people not the "mutri" will paying for it.
I guess all the tense political atmosphere is affecting my blog posts lately. Did you vote yesterday?

The Great Schlep

2008-10-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.
A great video and cause by Sarah Silverman. The Great Schlep aims to have Jewish grandchildren visit their grandparents in Florida, educate them about Obama, and therefore swing the crucial Florida vote.

First Snow

2008-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

It snowed yesterday. As I was walking across the bridge tiny particles that were not rain were falling on my gloves. It only lasted minutes but it was a prelude of what is to come. The photo is of the Huskies mascot.