11. The Artist Is In
The Artist Is In, May 2013, James North Studio, Hamilton
The Artist Is In is a public performance installation of art and craft. The ARTIST IS IN was first performed in Hamilton at the James North Studio in 2013 as a month long installation and has since travelled to a handful of galleries and art shows in Toronto, Burlington and Hamilton.
The Artist aka Lisa Pijuan-Nomura is excited to be a part of Luminato Festival 2022 from June 10 to 14 between the hours of 8pm to 12 am. In an attempt to demystify the work of the artist, she is taking the work out of the solitary studio space into a very public “studio”. While creating her work she will record the time it takes her to create each piece which will then determine the price of the piece. Upon completion of each piece it will be documented, matted and placed on the “gallery wall” available for sale.
During the installation the Artist will follow all of the Rules.
The Artist welcomes conversation, questions and collaboration.
For more information about the Artist please visit StudioBeulah.com
THE RULES OF THE ARTIST
1. The ARTIST aka Lisa Pijuan-Nomura will spend time in the Artist is In Studio from 8 pm to 12 am on June 10 to June 14.
2. The ARTIST will create work that will be available for purchase. Each piece will be priced according to the amount of time it took to create the work. The ARTIST will charge $1 per minute. You can order pieces on social media networks or email the ARTIST at studiobeulahart@gmail.com
3. After completion of a piece it will be mounted on a background and will be displayed prominently in the ARTIST’s work space.
4. The ARTIST is entitled to have one 20 minute snack break and one 5 minute bathroom break during the 4 hour shift.
5. All work created during this project will be recorded digitally and manually in a log book.
6. All work - even work that the ARTIST is not happy with must be placed on the display.
7. The Artist will provide daily updates on the social media feeds.
8. The ARTIST - in her updates will be honest and transparent about the progress of her project.
9. If upon arrival of the ARTIST’s shift you see a “Quiet Shift” sign please do your best to engage the ARTIST in such a manner. Sometimes art making is hard work and quiet is necessary. Alternately, the ARTIST might want to play. Please follow suit.
10. Feel free to engage the ARTIST in forms of email and hand written notes. You may correspond with her at StudioBeulahArt@gmail.com or send her snail mail at 62 Beulah Ave, Hamilton, ON L8P 4H3. You can also talk to her or leave her notes on her desk.
10. Con Palabras
With words.
To anyone who knows me, you know that I like to talk a lot. I sometimes get overexcited and talk too much. In my work as a storyteller, this works. But I also know that in order to be an excellent storyteller, you must be an excellent listener.
When I applied for the Luminato Festival, I applied with an idea for a project that would be multidisciplinary in nature. It would feature mixed media collage art bigger than I have ever created, It also would include the creation of a one woman show that combines song, story and movement.
The themes that I have been exploring have been aging, invisibility, gender and popular culture.
The world would have us think that as women age we become frail, forgetful, absent minded, kooky people, and a part of that is truth. My memory went out the window when I had my uterus removed. BUT I also know that we become stronger, wiser, and more aware of the world around us.
I want to create art and words that shares this experience of change and aging. I am asking the question of where do we fit in as we get older? Are we valued in this quick, always online, survival of the fittest world? Are we valued for our experience and knowledge, or just set aside so that the younger and stronger might take our places.
One of my favourite people lived until he was 98 years old. My grandfather Tonet was strong willed, independent and stubborn. He walked everyday to keep his heart healthy, he wrote letters every day to keep his mind healthy, and he said that if he remembered to do it then his memory was intact.
Telling stories is something that I do, and as I seek out stories I will continue to listen to myself and those around me and to write and walk and remember.
9. Catch Up
I’m not going to lie. I am writing this on May 5th.
I had a bunch of prompts all lined up and then Covid hit us last week. I have an 11 year old who has been sick since last Thursday. And so, I got behind. At first I was bummed out and then I was just like, hey, you know what? I am just going to post tomorrow, and then I started feeling sick. And so tomorrow became tomorrow became tomorrow and so, I am now feeling a bit better and while I have some energy I am going to post.
I am not going to push things. I don’t think that creativity, or life work that way. But I am also aware that you need to set time aside to make things happening.
In the mean time, meet Leonard. I have been hanging out with him a LOT this past week.
8. Sin Palabras
Sin Palabras. Without words.
I know that so far, most of my posts have been stories/words with a few images. On Wednesdays I am hoping to post photos/videos. There will be no introduction, just an image that is proving important in my day to day work of creating.
7. Tuesday Is book day
I am a bookseller.
It’s something that I have been doing for about 34 years in some way or another. For a while in my 20’s I was an assistant manager, I worked in big bookstores alongside independents, and for the past 9 years have worked at Epic Books in Hamilton.
On Tuesdays you will find me doing my weekly shift at the popular Locke St in Hamilton. It’s always exciting because Tuesdays are the new release days where I unpack many boxes of new books. It’ like Christmas.
I love books, and although I have had a challenge reading during the pandemic it’s something that truly makes me happy. I love going back and finding wise words from people who live very different lives from me. I like finding friends with fictional characters, and I love travelling to magical places.
I also like true stories, that are somewhat parallel to my experiences, which make me feel less alone.
As an artist, I find reading is something that helps me imagine when I am not actively in studio.
Some of the upcoming books that I am most excited about are:
What books are you looking forward to? It would be amazing for you to share some of your favourite books!
6. Monday Morning Making Time
I believe that every week is an opportunity to start over. To do what it is that you want to do. I also believe that setting intentions on Monday mornings is a good way to move these intentions into action.
When I was living in Toronto, before having a child, I would set intentions by myself. It worked but felt like a lonely endeavour. I wanted to create with others. After a few years of solo planning, I decided it was time to invite some of my favourite people to join “The Creative Group”, which is the worst, most uncreative name ever, but it worked ;-)
This group would gather, we would share how our week was, talk about some of our challenges that happened that week, spend time working on a group creation and then finish our time together off with a delicious meal. We would take turns planning what our crafts were and we created everything from Artist Trading Cards, to dioramas for Dia De Los Muertos, to a giant collaborative painting. We met most weeks for about a year or so, and it was one of most inspiring groups I have had in my creative life.
After we moved to Hamilton, I really missed the group, but everyone I knew was so very busy and it just didn’t seem to happen. When the pandemic hit, I heard from so many of my creative friends that they really missed the connection that gathering in person gave us. After having a few of these conversations, Monday Morning Making Time was born.
Every Monday morning from 10 am to 11 am, I host a handful of creative people for an hour of making, setting intentions, and being in community via ZOOM. I like to say that it’s a community of makers creating together, separately. Every session has a warm up - 50 minutes of independent making and then a check out where we state our intentions out loud. We listen to music for a bit, and then we create in quiet. It’s always inspiring, gentle, and such a good way to start a week.
Amber Wood of Lightbulb Heart says “The Monday morning practice of Making Time sets up my week. It is a reminder that I am a creator and that making (of any kind) is central to who I am. My favourite parts are the impromptu chair dances when a particularly energizing tune plays and sharing what we’ve made and what we’re carrying with us into our week. I’m always inspired by a poem, painting, or art journaling another creator has made during our time together and the mutual outpouring of joy, commiseration, and genuine support from the group has made a true community. I have deep gratitude for these folks, and for Lisa holding space for us and guiding us with such light and encouragement.”
I encourage you to check out our meeting (check out the Shaker Tier on Patreon for more info) or to create your own Monday Morning Meeting Group! Making in community, and planting creative seeds is the best way to find success with our creativity. Have the best Monday!
5. scanxiety
UPDATE: I am happy to announce that the scans were clear. It turns out that I have dense breast tissue aka very lumpy boobs.
I have already written five different blog posts. The subject matter covered everything from creativity at night, music inspirations to the best glue to use for collage. It’s been a lot. But none of them have really been what I wanted to write about today. The past week and a half has been fraught with anxiety. Actually…SCANXIETY. It’s the fear of scans that many cancer survivors experience when they go for yearly tests.
For those of you that don’t know, I am a cancer survivor. I had stage 1 Breast Cancer 6 years ago in 2016. Every year I get a mammogram, and a month ago they found some dense tissue that needed more tests. Tomorrow morning at 8:45 am I will be going for another mammogram and an ultrasound. For the record, they are mostly doing this just in case, but still, there is always a nagging thought of what if?
What does this mean for today? Well, it meant that much of my thoughts were occupied. It meant that trying to create was a big challenge. And it meant that I just had to realize that today would be a day that I needed to rest.
Sometimes people use art to heal and I think that is great. But sometimes, when your full time work is art making you need to take a break. Today was that day. I napped and played with dogs, and started a book called Bittersweet by Susan Cain who wrote the excellent book Quiet, about introverts.
If you have the inkling to send some good vibes my way tomorrow morning, I would love it.
I define bittersweetness as the state in which you know, you accept, and you truly inhabit the idea that life is always simultaneously joy and sorrow, it's light and dark.- Susan Cain, Bittersweet
4. 10 things about lisa
I love lists and when I don’t know what to write, I turn to the magic of lists. They have an incredible way of getting right to the point, and they are incredibly fun to create. I keep a list of what helps me when I get creatively stuck in my journal. It mentions things like dance, walk in nature, call a friend. They are simple, BUT they work. When I am in a bind, I go to that page and just pick something off the list to do.
I have worked in bookstores for 34 years. When I was younger, I was very klutzy, and was often tripping or stubbing my toe badly, which meant that there would be no future in me working in a restaurant with hot foods and liquids, and plates that broke when dropped. When I was 15 I was hired at Coles in Bramalea City Centre. I immediately knew that I would work in bookstores for most of my life. Books don’t break. You can find me on Tuesdays at Epic Books in Hamilton.
One of my favourite books is The Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death by Daniel Pinkwater. So perfect.
I love animals. I have two cats and two dogs. They are funny, weird, and loving creatures that make my life better.
I am self taught in most of my art forms. I am a bit allergic to school and find it hard to stay the course when someone else is in charge. I love certain teachers but have found it better if I am self directed and look to others with specific questions. I didn’t graduate from high school and I was one credit short. I sometimes wish/dream that I will go to university so that I can share and talk about art all day long, and then I realize that I DO talk about art and books and creativity all day long!
Artists whose work I love include Lynda Barry, Maira Kalman, Iris Haussler, Questlove, Louise Bourgeois and Bobby McFerrin.
I am 50 years old. A lot of people point out that I don’t look 50 but I am. Sometimes I forget this and think I am younger, but then my body reminds me that I have been here for 50 years. I am proud of this, and feel like it’s an honour to grow old. Not something to shy away from. The focus of my Artist Residency with Luminato Festival is aging and invisibility, which I will definitely talk more about on the blog in future posts.
I have a ridiculous obsession with stickers and bullet journals, which in my opinion is the perfect space for the stickers to live. I subscribe to Pipsticks, a monthly sticker subscription and am happy to give away stickers to anyone who would like some. If that might be you, message me and I will send stickers your way. They remind me of when I was little and had a sticker album and would share with Tracy, my best friend. They are joy in little sticky form.
I am a cancer survivor and have a show called PityFace that I might tour far and wide. PityFace is that moment when someone tilts their head, and lets out a slight squeal accompanied by the most pitiful, poor you, look. PityFace doesn’t offer help, or solace, just focuses on how sad it makes the person doing the PityFace feel. PityFace sucks, but the show shares how I think that you should cancer patients, or people who are sick. Just ask them how they are, if you can help and let them know that although you might not know how to comfort them that you are there. Clearly I have a LOT of thoughts about this.
I believe anyone can be an artist. It will take a lot of time and practice, but if you make it a priority and work towards your vision I know that you can do it!
Ghostbuster donuts from Grandads are the yummiest treat ever.
3. A few new pieces
When people ask about my creative process I let them know that what I do is for the most part improvisational. When dance was much of my artistic practice, I was happiest when I improvised. A lot of people think that improvisation is easy, but I disagree. In order to make the best of improv, in my opinion, it’s best if you give yourself certain parameters before you begin creating. For me, in movement, that might have been using floor patterns together with circular movement while exploring themes of fear. Three parameters could have me going for hours, and from one idea, a next idea would come and so on and so forth.
I create the same with collage work. I don’t think up of what I create until I sit down in my studio. I have a colour palette, a theme and one or two images that I would like to use in the piece, but nothing more. And with that, I can just let myself ease into putting paper down and trusting that somehow it will connect and become a cohesive piece of art that means something to me.
These pieces were created with magazines that are from 1922. I have been thinking a lot about what life looked like for women 100 years ago. And I am partnering these with images of plants and weeds. I don’t always know what they mean, but somehow, it just feels right. Enjoy.
2. Feel the Fear
Max returns to one of his favourite artists booths. The last time we met Stephen Hasegawa, Max drew in his log book. Three years later here Max is adding another drawing to Stephens book!
Yesterday when I published my announcement of doing this 100 day project I freaked out.
I mean, I am someone who starts a LOT of things. Sometimes I finish things, and sometimes I don’t. I had this horribly feeling that what would happen if I only posted for 7 days. What if I ran out of feelings and thoughts. What if I sucked at being good as an artist? What if I forgot how to create collages? What would happen if I failed?
I think it’s something that is on the mind of so many artists these days. Let’s be honest, for the past 2 years there hasn’t been much live performance happening, and if you don’t do something regularly, well, it could be bad. I need to remind myself, that it’s important to be honest here on this blog. I am not documenting all of this to show you how EASY it was, or how GREAT I am. I am doing it to mark a time in my life where I went big, where I felt supported as an artist. I am writing about a time where I was surrounded by 4 other artists and a team of other supporters who wanted me to really take chances.
My question to you is what happens when you fail? Do you just throw in the towel and give up? Does it make you try harder the next time?
I ended up going to The Artists Project in Toronto. In times where I find myself overwhelmed with doubt, I seek inspiration. It was wonderful, if surreal to be at an in person art event for the first time in 2 years. I was inspired by Sandra Tarantino, Genie Kim, Stephen Hasegawa, Sara Purves, Danielle Cole and Aggie Armstrong.
Sometimes when I am feeling afraid I hang out with my son Max, who is an 11 year old artist who is wise beyond his years. Watching him talk with senior artists and letting them know what it is that he loved so much about their art buoyed me. On our ride home I told him how proud I was of him, and he said that he was proud of me.
I am still afraid of failing, and not sure that I can always do what I set out to do, but as long as I try to do the work, something will come up. It might not be perfect, but it will be something.
1. 100 days of Air
On February 1, I found out that I had been chosen out of 85 applications to be an Artist in Residence with the Luminato Festival. I was humbled, intimidated, excited and ready to spend the next 6 months working on a large scale project of performance and visual art together with 4 other artists from the GTHA (Greater Toronto Hamilton Area).
I have decided that as I move into the last three months of the residency, it’s time to share some of my process and thoughts about the work that I am doing.
Sin/Con Palabras - Without/With Words is a multidisciplinary exploration of aging, gender, invisibility and the roles we all play. I am working with 100 year old papers, creating 5 ft x 5 ft mixed media collage pieces, designing and handstitching a paper dress, creating performance pieces of movement, sound and story.
My creative calendar normally schedules that I create performance pieces from January to June, and then visual art from June to December as I host markets and art shows. In this project, I look forward to creating art in tandem, the story next to a collage piece next to movement and back to the visual. I hope that the final piece will be an installation of sorts that combines video, with an art installation and a performance piece that audience can walk through. When or when that will be presented, I don’t know, but I will hope to share how I get there on this blog.
I want to document my thoughts and feelings about my process, the daily work of an artist, those who inspire and those who help along the way. I will share books that I read, movies I watch and other artists whose work feeds me. Some posts might be long and wordy, while others just might be a photo of something that strikes me as important. It’s been a rough 2 years for so many, and I want to share what it feels like to move back into creating and performance, both virtually and in person.
I do hope that you will join me on this creative journey. I love creating. I love being in community. Feel free to reach out, to comment and to ask questions. I look forward to sharing the next 100 days of Sin/Con Palabras.
Lost in thoughts
As a woman who has been put into surgical menopause, I don’t get a lot of sleep. I lie awake much of the time, thinking and wondering, lost in my thoughts as the sun begins to rise.
I think about possibility and about what the day might bring.
I think about the art projects that I have planned and the website that needs updating.
I think about whether or not my son is going to have a good day of remote learning, or perhaps it won’t be good, and I will navigate a 10 year old boys rage of being isolated and feeling alone. It will usually involve video games, an episode of Drag Race and some breathing exercises to calm everyone down.
I wonder whether or not I will take that new course that i saw online last night.
I wonder what music i might listen to once i get to the studio, IF i ever get to the studio.
I wonder if my cancer will ever come back. Since having breast cancer, and then a radical hysterectomy, I have found that my body is getting lumpy. Last week I had another ultrasound. The result, a slightly smug nurse declaring, “to be honest dear, you’re just getting to that age, where it’s going to be all lumpy!” She smiles and walks away.
I read an article from this weeks New Yorker Magazine. My dear friend Corin bought me a year long subscription, and I love it. It keeps me connected to a city that I love, although i have never lived there. Many of my dearest friends live there, and I can’t see them right now, but reading the New Yorker makes me feel like I am still connected.
I read 25 pages of a book because my dear friend Corin invited me to be a part of a 25 page a day challenge to read daily. He says it’s important to remember that your reading mind needs to be exercised, and I remember a bookmark my 96 year old grandfather gave me when i was a teenager. “Reading is the mind what exercise is to the body.”
Finally I look for a good poem to write in my journal. I have always loved poetry, and i believe that in order to get to the heart of a poem you must actually write it down with your own hand, because, your hand moves, your arm moves, your shoulder moves, and then your heart is moved.
My mind is busy when i wake up. I get lost in thought and possibilities. I get lost in fear and hope. I get lost in the opportunity of a new day.
And THEN, I take a shower. The water, lukewarm at first, calms my mind, as the temperature rises, my mind quiets. I let out a deep sigh, and for a few moments I sing. Or perhaps I should say, I SOUND. I just make sounds and a bend my knees as i inhale the sweet lavender soap that I love so much. I soap up and i just feel the water on my back. In this moment, wet and naked, I feel calm. It’s in this moment, that I find what will be my day, what will be my work, and will hopefully give me some joy.
Quote: Feeling lost, crazy and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty and reason. - Alain de Botton
Book I am reading: My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki
Film: Louder Than A Bomb Documentary
A letter to you
I made a doll yesterday. I spent 5 hours, painting and sewing and decorating a little strange art doll because it felt good. Her name is Lexi the Hexipus. She was meant to be an octopus but i made a mistake, hence Hexipus, my new six legged best friend.
For the past 3 weeks I have been taking time to create with my family in an attempt to find creativity together and to get away from non stop screens, the never ending covid news and to just find some fun. I signed up for a year long Mixed Media Class with the artist Carla Sonheim who is known for creating creatures out of blobs. Every two weeks I get a lesson and a prompt, and it’s good. It’s like a perfect sweet peach in August that tastes like sun and you can’t ever have enough. Carla’s way is soft and generous and I wish that every art teacher was like this.
On March 12, 2020 I underwent a radical hysterectomy to remove my uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. One of the side effects of my cancer medication was endometrial cancer and upon finding some worrying symptoms, it was time to get the lady parts out of me. The surgeon said that she would never forget me. She said that we went into surgery with me making everyone laugh, and then 3 hours later they came out and the government had announced a lockdown for 2 weeks. It was surreal. I had been prepared for a long recovery and knew that I was going to stop doing a lot of the things that I love, but i really didn’t expect the world to join along with me.
Most days I would sit in my little library looking out at the window as dog walkers and joggers ran past. I didn’t have the focus to read or write or collage or clean. I was pretty stuck. So I just took care day by day by day.
It’s almost a year after my surgery and I am getting back to a good routine that includes homeschooling a reluctant reader, doing daily collage work, coaching creatives, writing a new one woman show and working at the local bookstore one day a week.
Four years ago, after I finished breast cancer treatment, we decided that we would renovate that falling down two car garage in our backyard into an art studio. It would be the place where art exhibits, workshops, classes, and performances would take place. And now, it’s the place where me and my family make art. All three of us are artists, Dave is a photographer, Max draws and creates beautiful watercolour portraits and me, well, i cut and paste and tell stories with old papers, photographs from long ago and handwritten letters. We call our little piece of heaven, Studio Beulah and hope you will come and visit one day.
I used to have a blog and I think it’s time to start another. As a storyteller and an artist, one of the things I like to do is share what inspires me, whether it’s an interview with a local artist, or some links to great music, or a list of some of my favourite kids books. Sometimes I might just muse about the world around us. And let’s be honest, right now, in February of 2021, in the middle of a global pandemic and lockdown, the world around us is pretty strange.
I think i will end each post with three things. A quote I like, the book I am currently reading and the latest film, music or podcast I love.
Quote: My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. - Maya Angelou
Book: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Film: Soul
The beginning
It all begins with an idea.
We moved to Hamilton in January of 2012. When we told people they thought that we were crazy. But we were tired of the busy Toronto streets, the on top of each other living quarters and just felt like there wasn’t enough space for the three of us. And so, with a one year old, two cats and 70 boxes of books we moved to the West End of Hamilton.
Our new home had a two car garage that we imagined would one day become our art studio. We moved in and time passed, and soon the two car garage became a place where boxes were stored, and where mice took residence. I rarely went into the garage, but after a cancer diagnosis in 2016, I was reminded that life is short, and knew that if this run down building were to ever amount to anything, I should get planning and that is exactly what I did.
I wanted a basic space that was created for all year access, and allowed me to get back to my practice of making art, and of creating one woman art shows. I wanted a place to collaborate, and I wanted a space to be inspired.
After a month and a half of hard working construction workers, intense rains, and cement shortages, on June 17, 2017, Studio Beulah was born. A spacious, multipurpose studio was where we taught classes, held readings, and presented artists. It became home to the Mighty Brave Youth Arts Collective that hosted 2 art shows a year. It was where yoga classes were held and creativity coachings happened. It was a space where my whole family created art, together.
Cue March 2020, and the pandemic hits and all of our plans fly out the window. After some rough times, and a lot of scheming, StudioBeulah.com was born.
Welcome to our little studio online. We hope to host art shows, and performances and talk about books and art and community. All the things that we love. We hope you join us and look forward to the day that we can gather in person again! In the meantime, let’s make art, read books and be inspired!