MariaSaracino's Blog

Hockey Night in Canada

Posted on March 12, 2015 by mariasaracino

Do Canadians love hockey? Well, for some, it’s what defines them as Canadians. They eat, live and breathe hockey. It’s our game. We invented it. We take pride in it. We turn out some of the best players in the world.

Knowing this, it only makes sense that I include hockey in a Canadiana series of sculptures I’m working on. Currently I’ve done two pieces that explore our passion for the sport. This first piece is called “Hockey Night in Canada” and looks at the social aspect of hockey – how we gather to watch the game. Our obsession with our teams and the highs and lows of a goal. For my family, we are Ottawa Senators fans. Right now, they are struggling to stay alive and qualify for the playoffs. However, one of the big games coming up will be against their nemesis, the Toronto Maple Leafs. I’m hoping this is the scene that will play out in living rooms across the city of Ottawa.

The passion for hockey begins early in childhood, learning how to skate right after learning how to walk for some. “6am Hockey Practice” is an early morning ritual for many Canadian families. You can stand in front of community arenas in literally every town and city in Canada, no matter how big or small and see this same scene. It’s just Canadian! . . . By the way . . . that’s a Tim Horton’s dark roast coffee in his thermos cup 🙂

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Posted in Art, Art Awards, Art Dolls, art exhibits, Art shows, Artists, Figurative Art, polymer clay, Uncategorized | Tagged arenas, art dolls, art exhibits, art galleries, art shows, Canadian, Canadiana, figurative art, figurative art dolls, figurative sculpture, hockey, hockey night in Canada, hockey passion, hockey practice, Maria Saracino, orange art gallery, ottawa, ottawa art galleries, ottawa art scene, ottawa galleries, Ottawa Senators, polymer clay, polymer clay art dolls, polymer clay figures, polymer clay sculptures, sculpture, Senators, sports, Tim Hortons, Toronto Maple Leafs | Leave a comment

Women of Distinction

Posted on March 2, 2015 by mariasaracino

I was recently asked to contribute a figurative sculpture to the Women of Distinction Breakfast in support of the United Way women’s SPARK Giving Campaign in Ottawa. I’ve given a lot of thought to what character would be appropriate and relatable for this group of powerful, community-minded women. The image that kept coming to mind was J. Howard Miller’s wartime poster “We Can Do It!” Here’s my version – she’s 17″ tall and is sculpted from polymer clay and textiles. Hanging from her belt is a hand crafted saw from Germany and her hair is made from a fine cotton wool from Italy.

“We Can Do It!” is an American wartime propaganda poster produced in 1943 for Westinghouse Electric as an inspirational image to boost worker morale. The poster is generally thought to be based on a black-and-white wire service photograph taken of a Michigan factory worker named Geraldine Hoff.

The image was rediscovered and was used to promote feminism and other political issues beginning in the 1980s. It was also called “Rosie the Riveter” after the iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. The image made the cover of the Smithsonian magazine in 1994 and was fashioned into a US first-class mail stamp in 1999. It was incorporated in 2008 into campaign materials for several American politicians, and was reworked by an artist in 2010 to celebrate the first woman becoming prime minister of Australia. Here’s the campaign poster for Australian President, Julia Gillard as Rosie the Riveter.

Norman Rockwell also create a version of “Rosie the Riveter” which appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on Memorial Day, May 29, 1943.

From politicians to Beyonce, from war to feminism, Rosie has been an art icon around the world and a symbol of women’s rights. Go Girl Power!

You can read the whole story of Rosie the Riveter at http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/rosie-the-riveter-1941-1945/

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, art exhibits, art shows, Arts in Ottawa, clay, doll art, feminism, figurative art, International Womens Day, J. Howard Miller, Maria Saracino, norman rockwell, one of a kind doll art, orange art gallery, original doll art, ottawa art scene, Ottawa Events, polymer clay, Rosie the Riveter, Saturday Evening Post, sculpting, SPARK Giving Campaign, strong female, United Way, wartime propoganda, We Can Do It, Westinghouse Electric, What's going on in Ottawa, women, Women of Distinction, Women's Day | Leave a comment

How Long Does It Take

Posted on February 27, 2015 by mariasaracino

The month of February has been a whirlwind of activity and excitement. I had a successful first time solo exhibit at the Orange Art Gallery and the chance to meet so many new people who have been curious about polymer clay. That’s been great because next to creating art, I love talking art, explaining the medium, the process and the inspiration behind what I do. The question asked most often by just about everyone is “how long does it take to make one of my sculptures?” Here’s the answer and the topic of this week’s post.

I hardly ever start and finish one piece at a time. Usually there are at least three sculptures on the go in various stages of completion, spread out over the course of several weeks. A start to finish estimate would be 20 hours for a single character or up to 60 hours for a more complicated multi-character piece. There are some variables that require more time, for example if I’m making furniture or accessories, or if the positioning is difficult. But next to the actual sculpting, creating the body and the costuming is the biggest chunk of time spent on the sculpture.

One of the reasons I work on several pieces at the same time is because I need to walk away from the sculpting or the composition and look at it again with fresh eyes. This is especially true with portraits or commissions – that’s why I always ask for 4 to 6 weeks to complete a commission. When I’m so focused on a task, like most people, I get tunnel vision. By taking the time to step away and come back to a sculpture I can see what needs to be tweaked or changed and often it’s so glaringly obvious that I can’t believe I missed it earlier. The other issue is deciding when the piece is finished. Most times a sculpture will remain on my work table for at least one more day after I first think it’s finished. This gives me a chance to give it one more look over and touch up before it’s moved out of the workshop completely.

If there are few distractions, I can usually create 4 to 6 new sculptures in a month. My studio is in my home, and it’s equipped with a TV, music, computer and telephone, so it’s very comfortable to spend a lot of time there. I work on average 10 hour days. I say the word “work” very loosely because it’s not work for me . . . I’m very grateful to have found my passion and to be able to do this full time.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, art awards, art dolls, art exhibits, artists, creating, exhibits, figurative sculptor, figurative sculpture, how long does it take, living doll, local artists, Maria Saracino, one of a kind art dolls, orange art gallery, original art dolls, Ottawa art, ottawa art exhibits, ottawa art scene, ottawa artists, ottawa fine art, polymer clay, sculpey, sculpting, sculptors, sculpture, what to do in ottawa | Leave a comment

First Impressions

Posted on February 16, 2015 by mariasaracino

People always ask me where I get my ideas from. Of course, as part of the baby boomer generation, my own experiences often come into play, afterall, my husband and I pretty well line up with the trends and patterns of the largest demographic group in North America. I think that’s why “The Selfie” was so familiar for people who saw it – it resonated with my generation and the generation ahead of us who are trying to make sense of the technology revolution.

However, the most abundant source of ideas comes from simply observing. These observations go in my “Idea Vault” and sooner or later become the next sculpture.

“First Impressions” and “Retail Therapy” are examples.

With shows like The Apprentice, Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank, as well as a slew of successful young entrepreneurs, a new generation has evolved that follows the mantra of “look successful and you will be successful”. What you wear, what you drive, where you live will all impact the trajectory of your life. Today’s 30 somethings have sophisticated tastes in clothes, cars, food, wines, travel and just about everything. Technology has opened the doors and exposed all of us to things we would have never known only a short time ago.

Retail Therapy is another piece that describes our fascination with “things”. I’ll admit I love shopping and I love a good bargain, but today’s consumer is obsessed with labels and status. Some people call it the Kardashian effect. The opening of the Tanger Outlets in Ottawa was proof with opening day traffic jams that blocked off the Queensway. That was the inspiration behind Retail Therapy. People are definitely more in touch with fashion, accessories and my weakness – shoes. This is not necessarily a bad thing – one less person wearing pyjama pants to the grocery store is okay with me.

A new observation that has developed from this very trend in consumerism is the need and lack of skilled tradesmen. Recent reports indicate the shortage is at an all time high and is the next Canadian crisis. Apprenticeship training and certification are more in demand than ever and the opportunity for women in the trades is growing.

There you have it . . . the “Idea Vault” just got a new deposit.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, art dolls, art exhibits, art shows, artists, figurative sculpture, Maria Saracino, orange art gallery, original art dolls, ottawa art scene, ottawa artists, polymer clay, polymer clay figures, sculpting, sculptors, sculpture | Leave a comment

Life’s Simple Pleasures

Posted on February 5, 2015 by mariasaracino

Tonight is the opening of my solo exhibit at the Orange Art Gallery in Ottawa. Months of planning and long hours in my studio have gone into this exhibit. The result . . . I will be presenting a collection of 24 original sculptures, 12 of which are brand new, never been displayed. Also included in the exhibit are a series of 20 relief portraits called “Expressions” and 12 small characters in the “Life’s a Swing” Series. All the pieces fit in with the theme . . . “Life’s Simple Pleasures”. I’m hoping this three week exhibit will brighten our outlook and lift our spirits during the winter doldrums. Some of the sculptures in the collection are also part of a sub-theme on Romance and cover everything from young love to love remembered.

If you haven’t checked out my facebook page, please take a look and like the page – photos of the opening will be up tomorrow as well as more photos of the sculptures. http://www.facebook.com/saracinocollection

You can also preview some of the new pieces at http://www.orangeartgallery.ca

Now I’m off to get ready for the ball – look for my updates tomorrow!

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It’s Carnival Time!

Posted on January 25, 2015 by mariasaracino

If you are from New Orleans, Carnival season starts right after the Epiphany on January 6th, with most of the celebrations concentrated in the two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. In Brazil, Venice, even in Quebec City, Carnival runs from January 31st to February 17th, 2015, the last day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. This day is also known as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday and Giovedi Grasso to name a few.

Carnival is a time to celebrate and have fun. A common character during this period is the jester. Their hats, sometimes called the cap ’n’ bells or cockscomb are usually floppy with three points each of which there’s usually a jingle bell at the end. The three points of the hat represent the donkey’s ears and tail worn by jesters in earlier times.

In societies where freedom of speech was not recognized as a right, the court jester – precisely because anything he said was by definition “a jest” and “the uttering of a fool” – could speak frankly on controversial issues in a way in which anyone else would have been severely punished for, and monarchs understood the usefulness of having such a person at their side. Jesters could also give bad news to the King that no-one else would dare deliver.

In literature, the jester is symbolic of common sense and of honesty, notably King Lear, the court jester is a character used for insight and advice on the part of the monarch, taking advantage of his license to mock and speak freely without worrying about being thrown in the dungeons or even executed. Only as the lowliest member of the court can the jester be the monarch’s most useful adviser.

These are some of the jesters I’ve made over the years.

Happy Carnival!!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art dolls, art exhibit, art show, brazil, cap n bells, carnival, carnivale, cockscomb, court jester, fat tuesday, figurative sculpture, giovedi grasso, jester, jesters, king lear, mardi gras, Maria Saracino, monarchy, new orleans, orange art gallery, original art dolls, pancake tuesday, polymer clay, quebec city carnival, sculpey, sculpting, sculpture, shrove tuesday, venice | 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day

Posted on January 21, 2015 by mariasaracino

With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, I’ve included the subject of romance in my exhibit at the Orange Art Gallery in February. Afterall, one of life’s simple pleasures are those beautiful, spontaneous, heartfelt romantic gestures that make you fall in love with your partner all over again.

The modern St. Valentine’s Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. As per one legend, the holiday originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration that was observed annually on February 15. But the rise of Christianity in Europe saw many pagan holidays being renamed and dedicated to early Christian martyrs. Lupercalia was no exception. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned Lupercalia into a Christian feast day and set its observance a day earlier, on February 14. He proclaimed February 14 to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century. It is this St. Valentine whom the modern Valentine’s Day honours.

For the exhibit I’ve created five sculptures that explore the topic of love and romance, from young, new love to a nostalgic look back at what was once a great love.

For more information on the exhibit “Life’s Simple Pleasures” please visit the gallery’s website at http://www.orangeartgallery.ca

Photos

Canoedelling
The Anniversary Dance
Love Letters

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art appreciation, art dolls, art exhibit, artist dolls, cart collection, clay, contemporary dolls, figurative sculpture, life's simple pleasures, love, Maria Saracino, national capital network of sculptors, orange art gallery, original doll art, ottawa art scene, ottawa artists, polymer clay, romance, saracino collection, sculpture, valentine's day | Leave a comment

Life’s Simple Pleasures Exhibit

Posted on January 12, 2015 by mariasaracino

The Orange Art Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario is hosting an exclusive exhibit called “Life’s Simple Pleasures”. From February 4 to the 22nd, the gallery will be showcasing over 30 sculptures by Maria Saracino that celebrate the simplicity and rewards of everyday life. With Valentine’s Day landing right in the middle of the exhibit, there will be a collection of works that fall in the “Romance” sub category – after all, romance is one of life’s sweetest simple pleasures.

Here’s an example from the Romance collection. This piece is called “Love Letters”. 15″ tall, this character is reminiscing over the letters of her young beau. Many years have passed, but the words still bring her back in the moment.

Also included in the exhibit is a series of 20 relief sculptures called “Study of Expression”. Here’s a picture of the series, but it’s even better in person. Each portrait is sculpted directly on a tile that sits in a 10″ x 10″ frame. Whimsical characterizations of the people in our lives, if you have the opportunity to visit the gallery you’ll probably recognize some of them. There’s even an example of a portrait commission in this series.

Maria will be doing a demonstration and offering some hands-on mini-workshops on the first Saturday of the exhibit, February 7th from 1 to 5pm. I hope you can make it, but for those of you who live too far, keep checking this blog and the various social media sites for photos of the new pieces.

http://www.saracinocollection.com http://www.facebook.com/saracinocollection http://www.orangeartgallery.ca

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art appreciation, art collection, art dolls, art exhibit, art exhibits, art scene, art shows, demonstration, dolls, facial expressions, figurative, figurative art, figurative art dolls, figurative sculpture, gallery, life's simple pleasures, National Gallery of Canada, one of a kind art dolls, opening receiption, orange art gallery, original art dolls, ottawa, ottawa art show, ottawa artists, polymer, polymer clay, romance, saracino collection, sculpting seminar, sculpting workshop, valentine's day, vernissage, what to do in February | Leave a comment

Figurative Art

Posted on January 2, 2015 by mariasaracino

I recently discovered an artist website located at http://www.figurativeartist.org Naturally the name intrigued me and after learning more I applied to become a member. This is a juried and curated site and I’m very honoured to have been accepted to be part of this group of artists. The site is devoted to creating connections between artists and collectors, galleries, students and art lovers. The art of the human form united this talented group of contemporary international figurative artists. A few of my favourite figurative sculptors are presented here, including Joe Fafard, Richard and Jodi Creager and a new discovery for me, Zarko Baseski. You can find me on this site in the alphabetical listings or on the Gold Artist Listing for Sculptors.

The human figure has always been a common subject of visual art. The earliest known representations of the human body come from Europe and date to between 25,000 and 12,000 years ago. In almost all cultures around the world the human figure remains central to both spiritual and decorative art to the present day. When I first started sculpting in polymer clay, almost 20 years ago, I focused on getting the facial features and the body proportions right, but the characters sometimes were stiff and lifeless. Since then I’ve concentrated on the emotional connection and giving the illusion of catching people in a candid moment in time. I want the audience to see and feel something familiar, something that reminds them of their own experience.

This is a work in progress called “The Anniversary Dance” which will be part of the “Life’s Simple Pleasures” exhibit at the Orange Art Gallery in February 2015.

Scrolling through the Figurative Artist’s website I was happy to see a quote by Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch because I have this on my studio wall as inspiration – “No longer shall I paint interiors with men reading and women knitting. I will paint living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love.” This quote is a reminder to be conscious of the story behind the sculpture and to find a way for the audience to see it too . . . sometimes I get it right.

Posted in Art, Art Awards, Art Dolls, art exhibits, Art shows, Artists, Figurative Art, polymer clay, Uncategorized | Tagged art dolls, art show, artist, artists, collectors, contemporary artists, doll artist, edvard Munch, exhibition, figurative, figurative art dolls, figurative artist, figurative sculpture, figurativeartist.org, galleries, gallery, international artists, Joe Fafard, life's simple pleasures, national capital network of sculptors, National Gallery of Canada, one of a kind art dolls, ooak, orange art gallery, polymer clay, Richard and Jodi Creager, sculpture, Zarko Babeski | 3 Comments

The Legend of La Befana

Posted on December 28, 2014 by mariasaracino

Like children everywhere, Italian kids look forward to the arrival of the red-suited Babbo Natale on Christmas Eve. However, this relatively modern tradition pales in comparison to the anticipation generated by the arrival of an old witch in early January. On the eve of the Epiphany, the old, tattered and soot-covered Befana flies around the world on a broomstick and comes down chimneys to deliver candy and presents to children who have been good during the year. For those who have fallen a bit short of model behavior, la Befana will leave lumps of coal.

La Befana has been an Italian tradition since the thirteenth century and comes from Christian legend rather than popular culture. Although there are several versions of her story, my favorite is that la Befana was one of the inn keepers who turned Mary and Joseph away on their way to Bethlehem. Later she was approached by the Three Wise Men who asked her to lead them to the stable where the baby Jesus lay in a manger. La Befana was too busy cleaning her house at the time (that’s why she carries the broom), so she declined the offer to go with them. Very soon she realized that she had made a huge mistake, so she gathered up a bag full of gifts and sweet treats and set off alone in search of the baby Jesus. Though she followed the same star as the Magi, she was unable to find the stable. Undaunted, la Befana continues to travel the world over to this day searching every house for the Christ child, leaving gifts for kids along the way. On January 6, the first day of Epiphany, Italian children hold their breaths as they search their stockings for a sign that they have been good that year.

Instead of milk and cookies, Italian families often leave her a glass of wine and a plate of sausage and broccoli. The arrival of la Befana is celebrated with traditional Italian foods such as panettone (a Christmas cake) and marks the end of the long and festive holiday season in Italy. In Italy there is a saying ” L’Epifania che ogni festa si porta via” which roughly translated means “The Epiphany takes away all festivity”.

A beautifully illustrated new children’s book by Maria and Isabella Centofanti has recently been released that tells La Befana’s story. It’s available at http://www.italianchildrensmarket.com

And she’s not just Italian; in a similar Russian folk tale, an old woman who declines traveling with the Magi and then follows them afterward is dubbed Babushka. Although they look similar, the word babushka refers to an elderly woman. Babushkas in Russia seem to represent a totally independent part of society – they know everything and are good at giving a piece of advice whether you’ve asked for it or not. Here’s a beautiful portrait called “Babushka”, by Russian Artist Irina Gaiduk

Excerpts from this blog are taken from http://monteverdituscany.com and http://www.slate.com

Don’t forget to visit and like my facebook page. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/saracinocollection or my instagram page at mariasaracinoca

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, art collectors, art dolls, art exhibits, art show, babushka, Centofanti, christmas, christmas figurine, clay, epiphany, figurative art, figurative sculpture, figurative sculptures, holiday, italian, italian childrens market, italian tradition, January 6th, La Befana, Magi, Maria Saracino, museum of civilization, national capital network of sculptors, National Gallery of Canada, one of a kind, orange art gallery, original art dolls, ottawa artists, Panettone, polymer clay, presenza exhibit, russian, stockings, The Night of La Befana, Three Wise Men | 8 Comments