An Invitation to Inner Excavation

 So my sweet friend Liz wrote a book a couple years ago, called Inner Excavation  which is about exploring who you are through photography, poetry and mixed media. At the time, there really wasn't anything quite like it out there. I ordered my copy directly from Liz and she not only signed it, but because I pre-ordered it, it had pretty postcards and secret message tucked into it. Delightful!

The book is really beautiful and it's the sort of thing you can read over and over and have a different experience of it every time. It's like a gift that keeps on giving.

Recently, Liz came up with the idea to host an "inner excavate-along". What this is is a chance to join a community of creatives who are all going to read and work through the book together and share what comes of it with one another on a special Flickr group. 

Now here's the beauty part: Liz is offering this experience as a gift. The only cost to you is the purchase of the book, if you don't already own it. That's pretty amazing, since it's going to span 7 weeks over the summer!

When I bought Inner Excavation, I wasn't a photographer. I really loved and admired the photographic work of all the artists in her book, but I never thought I could be artistic with a camera. How things change! Even if YOU don't think of yourself as a photographer, (or a poet!) I'd like to encourage you to challenge yourself this summer and join the inner excavate-along. You really have nothing to lose and you might just learn something about yourself along the way.

Liz has posted the details here. She's also done a video post answering some of the questions people have been asking about the project here. If you need to order the book, NOW is the time to do it-we begin on June 11th! Hope to see YOU there!

29 Days of Magic

I'm gearing up for another fabulous course with Vivienne, which starts in a matter of days! I am so excited about Montage, which is about working with video and stills to tell your own story. I'm a little nervous because this is a bit outside my comfort zone, but I'm excited to learn new things. The desire to learn new things always trumps the nervousness though, thankfully!

Meanwhile, I've been working on a few more photographs. The one above was taken at Burnaby Village Museum. I loved the look of the prices poking up inside an old cash register. I took this one while I was there for the End of Day Celebration. Once upon a time, I was a volunteer tour guide there while visiting BC on summer vacation. It was fun because I got to dress up in 1920's costumes every day for a month and teach people from around the world about local history.

This shot comes from the Downtown East Side. Vivienne recently held a class at Opus (a local art store) on double exposures and I discovered the lane ways nearby were full of graffiti. You'll remember me saying that my new benchmark for true friendship is that a real friend will say "YES!" when you say "Let's go shoot in a filthy alleyway." Curiosity also trumps trepidation.

May has been such a crazy month. I feel like I've lived 1000 lifetimes in the span of the last 29 days. Seth commented the other day that I must feel changed. Yes, in many ways I do. I'm still processing everything I learned and thinking about the important stuff. Really, it was almost too much goodness to take in at once.  

Yesterday was also a wonderful day. I had the pleasure of meeting Andrea Bundon, who is a PHD student at UBC. She launched a blog about disability and sport, called Athletes First some time ago, as part of her research. I've been following along, learning alot from the posts and people's responses and I've commented myself from time to time. Andrea asked me if I would be willing to do an interview with her about the my participation on her blog and what my thoughts were on a number of topics related to disability and spot. I was happy to help.

It turns out she's an incredibly interesting and lovely person and I had a great time having a very thoughtful discussion with her. It's always wonderful when you connect with other kindred spirits! (She's also a prairie girl!) I came away feeling like I'd learned so much and I'm excited to see where her research takes her. Andrea has kindly invited me to do a guest post at some point and I'm really excited about that!

Funnily enough, my day wasn't over after Andrea and I talked for 2 hours. Tiina, who is working the the MS Society's local chapter contacted me last week asking if I would be willing to do an interview. They want to feature me as a member of distinction on the MS Society website. So...there was two more hours of interesting conversation with Tiina who is also lovely. It was wonderful spending time with her.

I feel deeply grateful for everything that has happened in my life in the last 29 days. At times, I feel kind of emotional about it. Like I said, it's been alot to take in and I'm still processing. It will be good to turn inward for the next while and work on Montage. I think the timing is perfect.

Beautiful Mistakes

Tying up a few loose end, from the Rick Hansen relay in this post.

The day I shot this photo, taken on Thermal Drive, as Rick Hansen was wheeling his way up, Vivienne posted about beautiful mistakes. Ordinarily, I would have deleted this photograph because it was blurry. Fortunately, I read Vivienne's post before I looked at what was on my memory card and as a result, I saw this image in a completely different light. I think in it's own unique way, it captured the feeling of that moment perfectly. It's become one of my favourite memories from that day.

 There was also this shot, taken at the summit of Thermal Drive, when the relay paused for about 15 minutes, so Rick Hansen could address the huge crowd that had come to watch him conquer the infamous hill once again. It's another beautiful mistake that was meant to be. If you could actually see my brain taking a snap shot of that moment, this is exactly what the memory would look like.

And lastly, I wanted to share this photo with you. When I was on the shuttle bus, riding to where my relay start point was, I spotted this sign and pointed it out to the others. Wendy stopped the shuttle, so we could get a photo. I didn't have my camera with me-my husband had it so he could get photos of me, so Wendy kindly sent this to me the other day. It was really sweet of the church to think of us. It meant alot to us.

Okay, I think that's the last of the photos now! I'm finally all caught up!

YOU RULE!

Photo Credit: Linda Woods

Sisters Linda Woods and Karen Dinino have done it again! Their latest book, YOU RULE: The Art of Taking Charge is a no nonsense guide to using creativity in the form of art journalling to help define how you'd like to be in the world and it's right on the money!

What I love about it is how funny and honest it is. Linda and Karen share some of their hard won life lessons and tell it like it is. They encourage you to figure out what really matters and then create a visual reminder for yourself. I read their book and was so inspired, I immediately created my own life rules, which they will be sharing on their blog soon!

You can purchase and download a copy of YOU RULE for your e-reader here. Don't have an e-reader? Linda to the rescue! She explains how you can download Kindle for free and how to use it. If you simply have to have it in hard copy, you can do that too! There's something for everyone!

So what are you waiting for? Go get a copy of YOU RULE, get empowered and MAKE ART!

Challenging the Myths: Disability & Art Opening

This morning, I'm backtracking to Thursday, May 17th, to the opening of the gallery show. This is the beautiful gallery at Leigh Square where the exhibit was held. The official opening coincided with the Rick Hansen Relay making a quick whistle stop in the square.

I love when galleries put a huge decal on the wall with the show info.  I don't really know why, I just do.

My artwork ended up being displayed in a large glass cabinet, as you first come in the door. Mine are the pieces framed in black. I'm not sure who the small painting belonged to. The gallery has a ton of windows, so there was alot of glass and light, which when combined did not make for great photos. Reflections were inevitable.

These are the work of William Skuse. He had alot of work in the show, all similar and yet different from one another. What I love about his work is the geometric patterns he comes up with, combined with the use of colour. He does his pieces using a humble set of markers. It reminds me of those giant posters they used to make in the 70's with wild pictures you'd colour in. I love that his work reminded me of this.

This is my favourite piece in the whole show. It belongs to Fred Collins. Sadly, this photo does not do it justice. Let me see if I can explain it a bit. What I believe he's done is start with a wash of water colours on water colour paper. Once it dried completely, I think he went over the base layer with a fine tip black marker, drawing meandering lines which were no more than 1/8 inch apart. The lines are very wabi-sabi and intersect randomly. Once he'd covered the entire piece with lines he want back and added bits of additional colour using markers. It clearly took some time to create this piece-it measures 22 x 29 inches and it's extremely intricate.

The show runs till June 10th, so there's still time to see it. There are 12 artists with a diversity of artistic talent being featured. If you missed the article in the Tri-City news, it's here.

I just wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all my friends and family who took time out of their busy week to come and see the show. I appreciate the support. You guys are THE BEST!

EDIT: This just in!

Late last night, our local newspaper was left on my doorstep. I just this minute looked at it and imagine my surprise when I saw myself in the paper! (Bottom left!) Twice in less than a week! WOW!

Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, Final Day & Concert

So this post brings us to the final day of the Rick Hansen relay. Day 273 took place yesterday in Vancouver, with the final End of Day Celebration at Terry Fox Plaza, in front of BC Place Stadium.

There was an entire school from Chilliwack who were bussed in to sing. These are the kindergarten kids in their paper crowns. Adorable!

Leading up to the final medal bearer and Rick arriving, they were showing footage of the relay from across Canada on the big screen.

Vancouver Mayor Gregore Robinson and an MLA from Richmond watch Rick's arrival.

This is the media crowding in around Rick. If you look at the centre of the photo, you can just barely make out his knees. They were actually standing on the ramp he was trying to wheel up to get on stage. I have marveled alot the past few days at his ability to gracefully handle being mobbed. Being in a crush of people freaks me out. He's far braver than I am!

Finally, they moved off the ramp so he could wheel up on stage.

BC Premier Christy Clark.

Some of the Vancouver Police department were on hand. I was surprised there weren't any RCMP officers present-they usually show up for big events. I guess because Vancouver has their own force, they were the ones invited.

 Rick and the end of day Medal Bearer, Amanda.

  

I wanted to recognize an unsung hero of the relay. This is the official photographer who has worked super hard, coast to coast capturing the memories for all the Medal Bearers. Her job is largely invisible (when I spoke to her, she said she actually kind of likes it that way) but her work was important to each and every person who was a part of this incredible journey. She's our Difference Maker. 

These are a pair of the gloves Rick wore during his Man in Motion World Tour. Wow, just wow.

They had a huge set of banners up for people to sign, so I added my name.

We don't often see police horses in the downtown core. The last time I saw them was during the 2010 games. In the summer, the mounted division of the VPD patrols Stanley Park on horseback, but it's a bit early for that here yet.

Terry Fox Plaza. It's fitting that Rick's Journey always ends here. 

Later in the evening, I went to the Rick Hansen Celebrate 25 concert. It was fabulous. What none of us knew was that it was being taped for television and will air on June 24th. It was an amazing night. Shawn Koyczan (if you watched the 2010 Opening ceremonies, you'll remember his stirring poem, We Are More.) performed with Don Alder, an amazing and gifted acoustic guitar player. (Look him up on iTunes-you won't be sorry!) Shane KILLED IT with a poem about Rick Hansen's life story. I can't wait to hear it again with the tv special airs. 

Sarah McLaughlin was beautiful and Jann Arden had everyone laughing. It was a night to honour heroes, the Difference Makers. The whole thing was just so amazing-not really something I can adequately convey in words. You just had to be there.

At one point, there was some information up on the big screens and it said that if Rick sustained the same injury today that he suffered when has was 15, chances are, he'd walk away. THAT is how far spinal cord research has come and that's happened because of him. 

1 country

600 communities

7000 Difference Makers

273 days

1 medal

= Inspiration from coast to coast to coast!

Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, Part 4

So, after we took a group photo at the End of Day Celebration at Burnaby Village Museum, Rick half turned in his chair and spoke to me. He put his hand out and thanked me again for being a part of the relay and for the work that I do. I was glad I had my sunglasses clips on because behind them, my eyes were full of tears. I leaned down and thanked him for including me in the relay and then, I realized I had something else to thank him for. 

I took a deep breath so I could get the words out and thanked him for the nomination by his foundation for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. I explained to him that it would be an honour under any circumstances to be nominated, but having that nomination come from his foundation was doubly meaningful to me. I told him I hadn't heard anything since the initial email in early February informing me my name had been put forward and he crossed his fingers and said "Fingers crossed that you get it!"

WOW! I was kind of reeling from our exchange, so I stepped back and a fellow Difference Maker came up to him and asked to get a photo with him. A light bulb went off in my head: when was I ever going to get this chance again? So after she was done, I politely asked him if it would be okay for me to get a photo with him as well and he said yes, almost before I could finish asking. I handed my camera to a Difference Maker standing nearby and Rick reached out to put his arm around my shoulder, so I crouched down and put my arm around him.

 I am so glad I have this photo. It means everything to me.

It's a funny thing when you admire someone so much and then the moment comes and you finally get to meet them. You always wonder if they are going to be who you think they are, or if you're going to be disappointed-people tend to build famous people up in their minds and they almost never turn out to be who you thought they were. I can honestly say that with Rick Hansen, what you see is what you get. He exudes kindness. When he shakes your hand, he looks you square in the eye and you know that he is 100% present in that moment. He really sees you. He is humble and genuine.

I don't have many personal heroes and the ones I do have I admire because they are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things with their lives. They people of great kindness and compassion, people who have shown great courage in the face of soul crushing adversity and who have used their lives to better the human condition. They are people of substance whose living examples have guided and informed my own life. Rick Hansen lives at the top of that list.

And speaking of lists, I can officially cross another very big thing
off my life's to-do list now:

-Meet Rick Hansen

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, Part 3

So after launch with the family and a brief stop at home, I headed over to the Burnaby Village Museum, for the End of Day Celebration.

There was lots of entertainment-a band and a children's choir, both of which were very good. By this point in the day, I was quickly running out of steam, so I found a quiet bench where I could sit and enjoy the music while I wanted for the final medal bearer and Rick Hansen to arrive.

While I was sitting there, a member of the relay team, Lisa sat down beside me to take a break. We had a really great conversation about how I'd gotten involved in the relay and what life was going to be like for her once Wednesday rolls around and she doesn't have to pack up and hit the road anymore because the relay's over. I have to tell you that everyone I met from the Rick Hansen Foundation was helpful and really friendly. They are a great group of people-clearly the foundation attracts and hires the best!

 Eventually Rick and the end of day medal bearer arrived. There was a pretty good crowd, but this End of Day Celebration felt pretty intimate. 

Rick gave a short speech thanking his personal Difference Makers-people who were present at the End of Day Celebration who have stood by him, encouraged and supported him in his life. There was his high school coach who urged him not to give up on his dreams of being an athlete after his spinal cord injury and the university professor who had the vision to accept him into the physical education program at UBC, allowing the opportunity for Rick to be the first person with a disability to graduate from the program. There were also friends who accompanied and supported him on his original Man in Motion World Tour, all those years ago. All of them participated in the 25th Anniversary relay.

Here's our group photo. I am right behind the podium that holds the official medal in the centre. As it turned out, after we were finished, Rick turned and spoke to me. (I'll blog about that tomorrow.) I am really glad I went.

Here's the motor home the official photographers ride around in, in the relay convoy, just ahead of whomever is carrying the medal. It's quite the rig!

Each of the Difference Makers was given a keepsake medal, made by the Royal Canadian Mint, to continue to inspire us to keep working to make positive change in the world.

Remember I said Rick had signed the ribbon? Well here it is!

It really is a thing of beauty.

 The ribbon also has "Difference Maker" written in braille on it. The raised dots are rubbery, so they stand out from the ribbon. 

 The medals are double sided, just like the official one.

The swooshes kind of remind me of the branding for the 2010 Games. You can learn more about the medals here.

In addition to the medal, they were also giving out limited edition pins to medal bearers and their families. These will be treasured as well!

I have one more Relay post, tomorrow and then Tuesday night, I have a ticket to the big wrap up celebration. It's a concert featuring Sarah McLaughlin, Jann Arden, The Canadian Tenors, David Foster, Shane Koyczan & many more! David Suzuki is one of the presenters. It should be a very good time!

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, Part 2

So right after I finished my leg of the relay, we jumped into the car to race up Thermal Drive and find a place to park before the hill was shut down for the relay.

We parked about two blocks down from the place where the relay would be stopping briefly at the summit. I wish there was a photo that could accurately translate how punishing a hill Thermal is. It's 1.6 km long, with winding switchbacks. When I drive up it, my foot is to the floor and the car is wondering if I'm serious. 

When Rick initially faced this hill 25 years ago during the Man in Motion World Tour, the route planner had made a huge mistake. They'd mapped out Rick's route, simply by marking off what looked like the quickest way from point A to point B. They almost cancelled when they realized the error, but Rick decided there was no better way to illustrate overcoming adversity. With that, history was made. 20 years later, Rick tackled Thermal Drive a second time, beating that hill handily.

For this section of the relay, there were medal bearers from several local schools doing a portion of the climb. 1600 students turned out to support their DIfference Makers and to cheer Rick up the hill. All the kids had signs that said "We're With you Rick!" I have one of those signs sitting here in my studio now.

Our local news anchor Steve Darling from Global showed up. We just happened to be standing where the news wanted to set up their cameras to catch the event. I had a nice little chat with Steve while we waited. I also ran into Kelly, an Olympic swimmer whom I'd met during the 2010 Olympics. She worked for VANOC and was involved with overseeing all the Blue Jackets at the Stadium during the Games. She's now working with the Rick Hansen Foundation for the relay.

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart (that's him on the left in the grey blazer) also arrived and watched from our vantage point. See the sea of humanity winding up the hill? Rick and the medal bearers are in there somewhere!

Photo credit: RHF

There he is, along with medal bearers and endurance athletes!

Photo Credit: RHF

Coming up the hill!

Finally the tide of people reached us. It's so steep, Rick was moving very slowly, but with incredible force to make his ascent. You can see the relay team with their hands linked in an effort to give him space to wheel, so he doesn't lose his momentum. As the crowd reached us, we were swept up the hill with them. 

Here we are at the summit, where a stage was set up so Rick and a few local politicians could say a few remarks. I couldn't see the stage at this point, but I could hear what was said over the loud speakers.

Afterwards, Rick graciously signed autographs. Most of the kids were having him autograph the signs they'd been holding. I don't know how I managed to get so close, but suddenly I was right in front of him, so I took off my personal medal and asked him to sign the ribbon, which he did. He then looked me right in the eye and thanked me for being in the relay and for the important work I was doing. WOW! 

They were giving out these pins, which I thought were great. It was amazing how everyone made that journey up the hill with Rick-it really illustrated the idea of "many in motion" like nothing else could. After driving up and down Thermal for years, thinking of him every single time, it was really quite moving to witness him wheeling up it in person. He managed to reach the top in just 30 minutes. Incredible! The legend of Rick Hansen deepens.

Things wrapped up at the summit, so we hopped back into the car and took a short break to go out to a family lunch to celebrate.

More to come!