December 28, 2009

November 30, 2009

JUMP Math

The new edition of workbooks 1 and 2 are now finished! The redesign includes a cleaner layout which is easier to navigate, and a unique family of artwork which is consistent and recognizable. Check out the little people! The books were definitely a lot of fun to work on :)

Selected pages are posted here.

JUMP Math offers workbooks for grades 1 to 8 with each grade divided into parts 1 and 2. They include units on Number Sense, Patterns and Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Probability and Data Management.

"JUMP Math is a numeracy program started in 1998 by mathematician, author and award-winning playwright John Mighton. We are a federally registered charitable organization based in Toronto, Canada.

JUMP Math believes that all children can be led to think mathematically, and that with even a modest amount of attention every child will flourish. By demonstrating that even children who are failing math or who are labeled as slow learners can excel at math, we hope to dispel the myths that currently prevail. We offer educators and parents complete and balanced materials as well as training to help them reach all students."

November 22, 2009

Cyanotypes

I tried out a second workshop to find out more about the Sunprints I made a couple months ago. The instructor was Sally Ayre who makes gorgeous cyanotypes on several layers of silk. We were able to use some of her negatives and our own materials. The images had considerable more detail and contrast than I had expected. Preparing your own paper is much more advantageous than buying the pre-made kits. The possibilities seemed endless and this technique felt really in-tune with how I like to work which also incorporates the natural objects I already use in my artwork.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/sets/72157622858110474/

Pinhole Camera

Gallery 44 has some fun photography workshops. Last weekend I made my own pinhole camera to step back in time to learn the basic processes used when photography first began. It was rough, holding our tinfoil boxes still and making guestimates on the length of time the photo paper would be exposed for. It was also refreshing, using the sun instead of a button, going into the darkroom instead of on the computer, and waiting for the image to emerge magically instead of already knowing what it looks like! The unexpected inconsistencies of wide-angled distortion and textures were quite imperfect but very much welcomed.

The experiments:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/4126225655/in/set-72157622733622065/

Whodunit?

I was invited to this year's gala as a participating artist in the evenings exclusive silent auction. The fabulous party included delicious catering, wine and a live auction, raising thousands to buy new equipment for the college. All the work can be previewed online.

"The Whodunit? Mystery Art Sale is OCAD's signature fundraising event. It’s an exhibition and sale of hundreds of pieces of original art donated by artists who are famous and not-yet-famous, including well-known and celebrity artists, OCAD faculty, alumni and students."

http://whodunit.ocad.ca/info.htm



November 12, 2009

October 29, 2009

Art Off The Lot

I will be part of a new art exhibition happening this November. One of my images is in the advertisement below :) The venue will take place inside the old Crysler Dealership, a bright place to see art while it gets colder outside. Please stop by to say hi at booth A20!

Here are the details:

Art Off The Lot
Canadian Art Exhibition

Located at the vacant Chrysler Dealership
1030 King Street West, Toronto (at Shaw Street)

November 5th: Opening Night 7-11pm
November 6th: 11am-8pm
November 7th: 11am-8pm
November 8th: 11am-6pm

"ART off the Lot is an artist represented exhibition bringing Canada's best and brightest talents to for everyone to experience. Join us for a weekend of amazing art. Whether you are an experienced collector, a first time buyer or just wish to take in a little culture or cappiccino at our onsite cafe - its a great way to spend an afternoon."

CRAFT off the Lot is the following weekend!

To see more information, please visit the website:
http://www.artoffthelot.com/

October 04, 2009

Artistry Cards

Exciting news! I’ve been chosen to be one of the first artists to represent a great new line of ecological greeting cards, called Artistry Cards.

The company was formed to seek out talented new Canadian artists and publish their images on greeting cards, which are available at www.artistrycards.com. 5% of the sales of my card will go to Creative Works Studio, a charity which offers healing, and recovery through creative arts. Creative Works Studio provides an oasis from the daily rigors and challenges of life for people living with a mental illness. What’s more, the company uses all recycled and post-consumer stock and ecologically friendly printing methods.

Great for Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, thank-you notes or really any occasion, Artistry Cards is a great way to give back to your community when giving greeting cards. I hope you’ll take the time out to visit the portfolio, where I’m featured with three other talented artists. Here’s the link:

http://www.artistrycards.com/ACOO3_Pam_Lostracco/ACOO3_Pam_Lostracco.html

September 14, 2009

Sunprints

I spent Sunday afternoon in my backyard taking advantage of the sun to make these fun prints! I experimented with a Sunprint Kit... just place an object on cyan-coloured paper, expose for about 5 minutes, rinse in water, then the blue-on-white image slowly reverses into a white-on-blue image! I used dried and fresh flora with some interesting forms. The flat money plant seeds and pine needles worked best since they are opaque and press well against the paper. The shadows of orchids and basil obviously didn't produce the same contrast. Lots of fun, I want to do more!

The whole series is posted on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/sets/72157622369987490/

September 06, 2009

Cream The Urban Dairy

Enjoyed a sunny bike ride over to Leslieville to visit my friend Danielle at her new ice cream shop. Also had to see my logo design in action, on the business cards, tshirts and window! More photos are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/3892365963/in/set-72157622276369080/

Cream offers a selection of homemade flavours that rotate every day. The store was busy and all the customers looked very happy :) I tried the avocado-brie-tomato-bacon crepe sandwich followed with a scoop of vanilla toffee chunk. It was so deliciously icy and creamy, I can't wait to go back and try more of the many selections!

To read a review:
http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/cream-urban-dairy

August 09, 2009

Square Foot Show 2009

Another AWOL exhibit of hundreds of square feet! Show starts this Saturday, I'll have 3 up somewhere...

Join the facebook group:
AWOL Gallery Squarefoot Show

or get more info:
http://www.awolgallery.com/square_foot/

July 27, 2009

New Work

Have a look at my most recent drawings:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/sets/72157621353093741/

and paintings:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamlostracco/sets/72157613551969264/



May 07, 2009

TOAE 2009

Great news--just found out I'll be at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition this summer! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more info on this year's show. I'll be at booth number 323!

Nathan Phillips Square
Friday July 10th: 10:30am - 7:30pm
Saturday July 11th: 10:30am - 7:30pm
Sunday July 12th: 10:30am - 6:30pm

www.torontooutdoorart.org

Cell Art at the Rivoli

Last fall, I made two pieces of art from photographs of heart stem cells. This Saturday, the images will be projected at the 2nd annual Grown-Up Science Fair!

The Rivoli
334 Queen Street West
Saturday May 9, 2009
Starts at 8pm and after-party in the back room with live DJs from 11:30 pm - close
Presented by the Treehouse Group

"Join us on May 9, as part of the city-wide event Science Rendezvous, to peruse science fair projects from a wide assortment of Toronto's best and brightest. Artists, government workers, teachers, lawyers, musicians, and maybe even some real scientists, will all try their hands at employing the scientific method to find answers to all manner of burning questions, big and small. Some great prizes will be given away, and it will be an excellent opportunity to see creative problem-solving in action."

More info at:
http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/treehouse_group.html



T-shirt at Hardboiled

Hardboiled Inc. is located in Kensington Market and silk screens the best looking T's in town! Come on by and find my "helicopter" design which is now selling at the store!

A cute quote from their site:
"Hardboiled Inc. is a collection of t-shirt designers and printers who find great joy in creating unique t-shirts with original designs. T-shirts that look good. T-shirts that feel good. T-shirts that make strangers stop you on the street and say "Hello. I like your t-shirt. Let's go see a movie.""
www.hardboiledinc.com

May 03, 2009

Culture Works at the Big on Bloor Festival

My poster is up in store fronts on Bloor!

"On Saturday June 20, 2009 from Christie to Lansdowne along historic Bloor Street, The BIG Festival celebrates local business, community, arts and culture with a unique street fair featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions. Closed to traffic to celebrate summer in the city, Bloor hosts up to 600 tables that will be used for projects, commercial sales, garage sales, food and information.

Bloor Improvement Group is a dynamic volunteer coalition in Toronto, advancing the economic, physical, cultural and social life of the targeted local Bloor Street by creating opportunities and events that improve and celebrate the area."

www.bigonbloor.com

"Culture Works is a feature DIG IN event of the BIG Festival located on Bloor between Dufferin and Lansdowne."
www.digin.ca

January 24, 2009

Design Hope Toronto Auction

Design Hope will be auctioning paintings based on the theme of SHELTER and one of my paintings will be up for bid! The event is open to the public on February 6th. I'm told the evening will be a lot of fun so feel free to come by and I hope to see you there!

See all of the 2009 artists here:
http://www.designhopetoronto.ca/2009_lostracco.html

"Design Hope Toronto is a volunteer initiative that raises funds and awareness for local organizations dedicated to helping the homeless.

The fourth annual Design Hope Toronto event will take place from 7-10 pm, on Friday, February 6, 2009. Venue this year is St. John's Parish Hall, 186 Cowan Avenue. Mark your calendars and be sure to come out to our annual auction in support of PARC/Edmond Place. This will again be a great evening of food and drink, a chance to socialize, and bid on unique artwork in support of a good cause."