Moynahan Studio: alley project

Showing posts with label alley project. Show all posts

Friday, June 30, 2017

June Anniversaries

In June 2015 I met an incredible group of Ottawa artists with whom I sketched the alleyways of Ottawa. It was a wonderful summer that culminated in an Alley Art Show during Chinatown Remixed.

In June 2016, I collborated with Jason Cobill and Maxime Gautheire-Kwan and many other artists to create the "Ottawa In Colour" colouring book. We had a book launch at the Chapter store located on Rideau St. in Ottawa. A definite highlight last summer!

Here are my tweets celebrating the anniversaries this week and I am reposting the video "Forgotten Spaces" about our Alley Project 2015.

Ottawa Urban Sketchers - Alley Project 2015 - My tweet

Forgotten Spaces - The Documentary

One of the highlights for me in 2015 was sketching 'forgotten spaces' once a week with a group of amazingly talented Ottawa artists. Each week we would explore a new alleyway in Ottawa. At the end of summer, we had a show and our work was featured at Chinatown Remixed (appropriately, in a special alleyway).

I am looking forward to a 2016 summertime return to Ottawa's alleyways.

Here's the documentary "Forgotten Spaces" by filmmaker Justin Nalepa. (You can find Justin at Jackpine)

My sketch of our outdoor art show "Forgotten Spaces"
Our alley leader, Colin White, sketching in the bottom frame

Photos of the Chinatown Remix Art Show
"Forgotten Spaces"

My last sketch of an Ottawa alley (summer 2015)
Chinatown Remixed - September 19, 2015

DigiFest

Saturday, September 19, 2015

"Forgotten Spaces" at Chinatown Remixed!

The summer 2015 Ottawa Alley Project has ended and I miss it already.

Artist/illustrator Colin White conceptualized the Ottawa "Alley Project" after leading an Ottawa Jane's Walk called "Illustrating Change on Bank St." with Liam Mooney.

Throughout the summer, a group of artists, illustrators and urban sketchers explored and sketched many of the alleyways in Ottawa. This has culminated in a show on Saturday September 19, 2015 as part of Chinatown Remixed on Somerset Street West entitled "Forgotten Spaces"

Here are some photographs from the show "Forgotten Spaces" that was held appropriately in Ottawa's Chinatown in a small alley between Monopolatte and the Spa building during the annual Chinatown Remixed. (#9 on the map)

Wheatpasting art for Chinatown Remixed "Forgotten Spaces" venue

"Forgotten Spaces"

Folks enjoying the sketches

Colin White - "Forgotten Spaces" creator

I have been blessed to meet the following amazing Ottawa artists (and many others) this past summer while working on this project:

The Artists

Marc Adornato http://www.adornato.com/home.php
Emma Cochrane http://emmacochrane.ca/
Kristina Corre http://goodthingsottawa.ca/
Cindi Foreman http://moynahanstudio.blogspot.ca/
Stephen Frew https://stephenfrew.wordpress.com/
Beccy Murphy https://www.behance.net/BeccyM
Anthony Parravano http://www.anthonyparravano.ca/
Chris Roussakis http://www.roussakisphotography.com/
Mawt Trood https://www.flickr.com/photos/trude_514/albums
Colin White http://www.colinwhite.ca/

Special edition Chinatown Remixed Phoenix
by artist Kristina Corre of goodthingsottawa.

Best Instagram (screencapture) from @colinwhite

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Alley Project Week 9

For Week 9 of the Alley Project the location was in behind Barrymore's and included the alleyways that run from Gilmour to Somerset St West.

I chose the space above for my first sketch. It had just finished raining and the pavement was still damp.

First graphite wash sketch

These alleyways were familiar to me. I have walked them many times and I previously sketched one of the facades (below) and blogged about experimenting with printmaking using styrofoam relief methods.

July sketch

There is something quite beautiful about this view (above) and I particularly liked how you could see through the rear door all the way to the front at Bank Street. I think it is one of my favourite spots.

My next sketch (below) of the back of Foster's Sport Centre was another quick black & white using the General's Sketch & Wash #588

Foster's Sports Centre

The clouds were incredible as I packed up my gear to move to my next location towards the back of the demolished Duke of Somerset building. I had to take a picture!

Incredible clouds

My art journal page

McLaren & Bank

Back of Somerset House

The back of the Somerset House (or Duke of Somerset) is beautiful and sad at the same time. The Duke of Somerset building has sat empty since 2007, the same year it partially collapsed.

Ottawa’s heritage committee approved renovation plans in October 2013 that would see part of the building restored and part replaced with glass but there were no signs that anything has changed at all.

I couldn't help but wonder as I was sketching, whatever happened to the beautiful mural that was painted in 1991 by American artist Robert Dafford. (http://www.robertdaffordmurals.com ) that was at the back of the building? (Robin Kelsey wondered the same thing back in 2007 and you can read about it here: http://www.robink.ca/blog/somerset-house-mural/)

Only a small section of it could still be seen from where I was sketching.

It was a great night of clouds and sketching alleys and reflecting. I am really enjoying this Alley Project and so grateful to be part of this great group of folks.

Alley Project Week 10 is scheduled for the market laneways and alleyways and I won't be available but I am looking forward to week 11.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Alley Project Week 8

My art journal with my three sketches

For Week 8 of the Alley Project the weather was beautiful and there was a great turnout of sketchers with some new folks. The location was Bank and Sunnyside and the alleys were wonderful. The alleys were filled with great colours, great mural art and grafitti and lots of greenery.

I loved the way the sun setting in the west was lighting the alley.

The alley "walk through"

My twitter collage

My second sketch: ink and wash

Lots of greenery at this end of the alley

Door reads: "Probably Bad Guys"

My first sketch: Loved the red fence with the green oak tree

As we were getting ready to leave, two dogs on a rooftop starting barking at us until we all started taking their pictures. Then they started wagging! It was a great finish to a great night.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Ottawa Alley Project Recap

Artist/illustrator Colin White conceptualized an Ottawa "Alley Project" after leading an Ottawa Jane's Walk called "Illustrating Change on Bank St." with Liam Mooney.

In early summer, Colin organized group sketching sessions that were both supportive and social. These sessions have become, for me, a welcomed weekly sketching evening in the company of some incredibly talented Ottawa artists.