leanne sjodin: painter & poet

Dancers

2011-10-29T11:27:00.001-07:00

Of Swamp Sisters

2011-10-29T11:26:00.001-07:00

Ten Pounds of Heartache

2011-03-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

I love these faces.

Art

2011-03-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Preview to Ten Pounds of Heartache

2011-03-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

I measure every grief I meet
with analytic eyes;
I wonder if it weighs like mine;
or has an easier size

Emily Dickinson

Opening Reception at The Fort Gallery March 11th 7-9pm

The 10lb Challenge

2011-03-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

The artists of The Fort Gallery have been presented with a ten pound challenge! The task is to select ten pounds of one material and one fixative and create art. That's it!

Although somewhat sadly, I have finally had to rule out my plan to collect ten pounds of feathers and affix them in resin. . .sigh, . . .

Given that, I found a new subject: heartache.

Visit The Fort Gallery March 9- 25th to see what I and all the artists have come up with.

Opening Reception . . .

Works in Progress!

2010-12-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

Upcoming Exhibition!

2010-09-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

I am excited to hold a dual exhibition with artistic wood turner, Colin Delory at our newly joined collective, The Fort Gallery! Situated across from a historic cemetery blanketed with Victorian headstones the gallery is host to over a dozen contemporary artists.

From November 3rd until the 22nd we will host "Dwellings" in this historic village familiar to me as my home town. We dwell in our neighbourhoods and in our memories. Sometimes in our dreams or for too long in an affliction.

The opening exhibition will be held on November 5th from 7pm - 11, it's my birthday! Come celebrate with me in quaint Fort Langley.

Row of Pink Houses

2010-09-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

What if all the houses were pink?

blue laneway

2010-07-19T14:38:00.001-07:00

yellow row

2010-04-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

poor little house

2010-04-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

pink dust and other dreams

2010-04-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

New works at Turks on The Drive

See Works at Tutta Mia! (posted August '09)

2009-08-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

Tutta Mia - an innovative clothing, jewellery & accessory shop on Victoria Drive(at Victoria & Charles) that supports local artists! Stop in to try on a new locally designed dress, be dazzled by the jewellery and view the artwork.

Current Exhibit - July/August '09

2009-07-08T08:07:00.001-07:00

See new & old works at Turks on Commercial Drive!

2009-01-04T08:50:00.001-08:00

2009-01-04T08:42:00.001-08:00

the air is cold
i don't want to go anywhere
today everyone
disappoints

forgive me
soft words are crusted

snow is covering the roads and walkways
everywhere
wires weighed down by weather

2008-10-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

it is early morning
and light is only beginning to slip over the silhouettes of home

i stand at my window looking out over the back lane to the house across the way
surrounded by a tall fence with grape leaves trailing its porch rails

an elder couple lives there
from this fourth floor i've seen them

on Fridays they light candles
flames flicker into long evenings
they dine with place mats and full sets of cutlery
He often putters in the kitchen
She waters foliage on the back deck

This morning their long white shade is drawn three quarter down
and in the window i see a reflection
of my own worn out apartment
and the figures of two people
crouched, sitting legs stretched
underneath the overhang below my view
in the back driveway
near the garbage cans
and recycling

i am watching
their reflections move
unknowing of my gaze

in silence as the he of this two
takes a blue thick elastic from a partly torn pocket
rolls his sleeve
binds his arm
and beckons his veins to open

city poem

2008-09-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

black crows
rain and rain
magnolia blossoms
peppercorn streets
flint for hymn
-- arias in this hearbreaking city

Check out the Gabriola Art Tour - Oct. 11, 12 & 13th

2008-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

(Link to info here)

Sometimes it's good to switch gears. Take a break from the frenetic rhythm of city living. We live in such a beautiful province, our ocean coast so softly scattered with lush islands. I plan to escape to Gabriola over Thanksgiving and check out the many artisans living and working on "island time." Maarten Perera, owner of The Slice of Life Gallery, has been kind to include a couple of my works in his exhibit "A Murder of Crows - and other Crimes." I've thrown a few poems his way too and hear he is painting/creating a backdrop for the one I call Rain. Coming soon by the way, the rain that is - sigh, how i do "love this beautiful, heartbreaking city.

2008-07-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

on an empty stair
outside a door with chipped paint
and a crack in the glass
a woman sits

she hasn’t put food out for the cat
for over a week
but still
she cares

a man walks by
flicks his cigarette
puts the ember out with the heel of his boot

she feels sorry for the dying light

"In the Neighbourhood" at Turks coffee shop on Commercial Drive

2008-06-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to present "In the Neighbourhood" currently exhibited at Turks Coffee Lounge at 1276 Commercial Drive. Linda and Brian Turko are keen supporters of local artists and I am thrilled to have my first solo show hanging in their cafe. Turks is a community unto itself. Stop by to see this art show, drink some damn good coffee,and pick up on the local vibe. "In the Neighborhood" will be running until July 31st.

(See the slide show for a sample of some of the artwork currently exhibited)