15May 2019 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Sunflower Project: Community Collaborations

The Story Behind the Painting, The Sunflower Project, Uncategorized, What's the Big Idea?
So last week I told you about the new painted utility box I contributed to the Marlborough community. I also mentioned the references to the sunflower project that I included in the design. Here would now be a good place to include some images of a couple of the other boxes from the project. These artists agreed to let me contribute a sunflower seed to the designs of their boxes, symbolically taking part in the project and growing it further to take root in the Marlborough community. Thanks Sharon Fortowsky and Ashley Oshiro for hosting the Sunflower Project in your projects. Hopefully we can collaborate again soon! [caption id="attachment_361" align="aligncenter" width="225"] City of Calgary Painted Utility BoxAshley Oshiro(Detail with Sunflower seed by Debbie.lee Miszaniec)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_362" align="aligncenter" width="142"] City of…
Read More
08May 2019 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Did I Mention? New Painted City Utility Box.

Commissions, The Story Behind the Painting, The Sunflower Project, What's the Big Idea?
Hi, It appears I am so behind on keeping the blog up to date! SO last spring I was given the opportunity to participate in a program bringing a suite of new painted utility boxes to the Marlborough Community in Calgary. I jumped at the chance, having spent nearly a decade of my formative years in the neighbourhood. Each artist created a design concept responding to the overall theme of home,  and to information gathered during an extensive phase of community engagement. Here was my contribution to the Curb appeal in the Marlborough Community: [caption id="attachment_355" align="aligncenter" width="161"] HomePainted Utility BoxCity of CalgaryMarlborough CommunityDebbie.lee Miszaniec[/caption] [caption id="attachment_356" align="aligncenter" width="127"] HomePainted Utility BoxCity of CalgaryMarlborough CommunityDebbie.lee Miszaniec[/caption] [caption id="attachment_357" align="aligncenter" width="169"] HomePainted Utility BoxCity of CalgaryMarlborough CommunityDebbie.lee Miszaniec[/caption] [caption id="attachment_358" align="aligncenter"…
Read More
01May 2019 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Art In Transit: Installed! (plus bonus Inglewood art)

Commissions, The Story Behind the Painting, Uncategorized
You may recall I posted last spring that the City of Calgary was interested in reproducing my little painting,  Pancake Breakfast, in the large, on glass for the 17th Avenue BRT project. Well here is the finished project! [caption id="attachment_348" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Pancake Breakfast, Reproduction of glass, Installed[/caption] I really like where it was situated, close to the Blackfoot Diner in Inglewood. When the former owner, Edna, was alive, she was known to give free meals to the homeless on occasion, so the placement of this symbol of Calgary hospitality seems appropriate. What do you think? Speaking of Inglewood and the Blackfoot Diner, (two, or rather one in another, places which meant a lot to me growing up in Calgary,) here are a couple paintings I did a few years…
Read More
05May 2018 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Talking About: Buffalo Bill

Events & Announcements, The Story Behind the Painting
[caption id="attachment_334" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Example of a header from an early Buffalo Bill Dime Novel[/caption] This is a quick announcement: I will be giving a talk emerging from my new series of paintings exploring Buffalo Bill in the context of the fictionalization of history. The talk will take place at Heritage Park Historical Village & Museum. It is scheduled  for Thursday November 22nd 2018 at 2pm. Stay tuned for further updates as the time draws near!
Read More
21Apr 2018 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Building Bridges: The Sunflower Project & the 2019 Multifaith Calendar

Events & Announcements, The Sunflower Project
[caption id="attachment_269" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wish150 Alberta MosaicDetailAcrylic on Panel[/caption] I am pleased to say that the Sunflower Project is growing yet again! The wish 150 Alberta Mosaic Sunflower has been selected by the Multifaith Action Society for inclusion in their 2019 Multifaith Calendar. The 2019 theme is Coming Together: Exploring New Connections. As the  aim of the sunflower project is to create bridges of good will and the growth of positive action, I felt that the Sunflower Project would be a great fit for the Multifaith Calendar. I am also honoured to be recognized and included as an artist of no faith (by choice), by the inclusion of my work in the calendar. " Founded in 1972, the Multifaith Action Society (MAS) is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to the…
Read More
23Mar 2018 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

The Sunflower Project: Inspired Actions – Kelly Small

The Sunflower Project, What's the Big Idea?
[caption id="attachment_269" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wish150 Alberta MosaicDetailAcrylic on Panel[/caption] A letter from a member of the Sunflower Project: I happened to sit beside Debbie.lee and her friend as we made art at Rumble House one evening over a year ago. Towards the end of the evening, she mentioned she was an artist and told be about her website and sunflower project. I was intrigued and inspired! At the time, I had been doing some soul searching after being a stay-at-home mom for 5 years and having done a fair amount of artistic journaling that year as a way of expressing my grief after my Mom passed away in February 2016. I would look at the sunflower seed painting she sent me, pinned to the bulletin board above the sewing area…
Read More
09Mar 2018 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

This Weekend! March 10 -11 2018, Canada West Artist Drop In:

Events & Announcements, The Story Behind the Painting
Canada West Artist Drop-in Heritage Park Historical Village, Gasoline Alley Museum. Journey of A Lifetime Exhibition (January - April 2018): Saturday, March 10, Sunday, March 11 11:00 AM-2:00 PM FREE with paid admission to Gasoline Alley Museum [caption id="attachment_225" align="aligncenter" width="242"] A Level Playing Field16 x 20 O/C[/caption] The Canada West series are a group of oil on canvas paintings created by artist Debbie.lee Miszaniec. The works revisit early 20th century Canadian advertising posters that were intended to encourage immigration to the Canadian West. Each painting interprets the source image through juxtaposition, modification, or both. Debbie.lee is a life-long painter, a student of art history, culture and society. Visit the Journey of a Lifetime exhibit and join the artist for a session of informal dialogue and gain insight into this colourful…
Read More
16Feb 2018 by DebbieleeMiszaniec

Event Announcement: Mini Artist Talk/Tours

Events & Announcements, The Story Behind the Painting
[caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="242"] The New Homeland16 x 20 O/C[/caption] This is a quick announcement to let you know that March 10th and 11th 2018 between 11 am and 2 pm I will be at Heritage Park's Gasoline Alley giving mini artist talk/tours about my Canada West paintings and how they relate to their exhibition, Journey of a Lifetime. The talks are not posted to the website yet, but will be free with admission to the exhibition. Find out more about the exhibition here.
Read More