Akimblog Hamilton now online

After what feels like a long absence, I had a great time getting back into Akimblog with another Hamilton report that has now been posted for your reading pleasure. Included in this month’s round-up are quite a few stand-outs from James North this month - Jeff Nye at Hamilton Artists Inc., From the Ground Up at b Contemporary and Aluminum Quilting Bee at the Mulberry Coffee House (yes, not strictly a gallery but it’s too lovely a show to miss).

Dave Hind, Aluminum, Quilting and Society, recycled aluminum siding (photo: Stephanie Vegh)

Also included this month are two of the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s new exhibitions for 2012. Both Mark Lewis and Kristin Bjornerud didn’t open until the same day as my Akimblog deadline so I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to Melissa Bennett and Steve Denyes at the AGH for arranging a cheeky preview while installation was still in progress.

Kristin Bjornerud, When you look at the night sky, what do you see?, 2009, Watercolour and gouache on paper (photo: Mike Lalich)

I should probably also thank Melissa twice for tolerating my giddy exuberance over Kristin Bjornerud’s Safe Harbour in particular, though I’m pretty sure she fully understood my reaction. In case the Akimblog post didn’t make this obvious, I was utterly blown away by her drawings; the tight miniaturist precision is impressive enough, but to see it employed with such smart restraint is something else entirely. This is one that will definitely be worth a second (and third… fourth?) visit once the Kurulek show is up and running at the end of the month - it’s the sort of show that appeals to my inner technician and has me itching to get back to the studio even after last month’s hand-breaking marathon. If only I weren’t vacating my studio at the end of this month… but that’s another matter entirely.

From the Ground Up at b Contemporary continues until January 28.

Jeff Nye, Abandon, by the Old Dirt Road continues until February 4.

Aluminum Quilting Bee at the Mulberry continues until… well, I’m pretty sure it’s the end of the month.

Mark Lewis & Kristin Bjornerud continue at the AGH until May 21.