President David Chatson welcomed us to our regular meeting at the Crown Plaza KW (in the Aqua Lounge). In Secretary Cam’s absence, he also took on the role of Secretary.
President Dave named Jim Phillips and the On-Line Auction Committee as as bell ringers. As noted at the last meeting, we unfortunately have a bit of an overlap with Car Draw, and have to give some thought an action to securing auction items and sponsors.
We had several members provide stories with respect to Car Draw ticket sales. While we have not been breaking ticket sales records at the market, sales have been going reasonably well. Visiting Rotarians are willing participants, including a Rotarian from Uganda who has a couple of children attending university here, and another university student attending locally, but who just completed a Peace Scholarship position in England. She was interested to learn of Ernie Ginsler’s role on attempting to secure a similar program in Waterloo.
Barry MacLeod will meet with those selling tickets at next Monday’s meeting.
Martin Jones reminded us that we will resume our Nutrition program at Forest Hill Pubic School at the end of the month. We are taking on a second day (both Thursday and Friday), so there is room for additional participants. Just email Martin.
PDG Bill Proctor reminded us that we have until this Friday to register for the one day District Conference (Peace Through Music) to be held at the Living Art’s Centre in Mississauga on September 23.
Julie holds the 2017 Kitchener Artist in Residence position (January to December). This position is awarded by application, and Julie is its first ceramic artist.
Julie works for the federal government in their climate change and environment group. In 2014 she decided to combine her passion for mosaic art and her former job into creation a series (20 and growing) of climate change mosaics.
Julie’s project, entitled, Climate in Pieces: From Art to Action will engage the community in an open dialogue about the environment using a series of mosaics. You can follow her on her blog, and read her bio at: https://goo.gl/v3NB9U
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Julie noted that she does not obtain her mosaic pieces from Michael’s or another craft store, but rather creates her own pieces from items that she owns (dishes, old boots, insulator, asphalt) or has found in nature (shells, coal, rocks). She spends her most enjoyable time with her hammer and hardy.
Residents of Kitchener have the opportunity to create a small modular mosaic symbolizing their commitment to take one practical action to reduce their carbon footprint. These community-made pieces will be used to create a larger mosaic representing the community's collective effort to protect our natural environment. To date about 2,400 pieces have been created.
Julie’s philosophy is that an artist is responsible to know what she is “talking about”, and has therefore spend a lot of time researching her topic. The artist should then take a position, in this case make a commitment to make some impact on climate change. She also does not believe that an artist has not done a good job if she has to explain her work.
After numerous questions, President Dave thanked Julie in our normal manner.
