Setsugetsuka

For everyone we met last night, (and I apologize if I approached you more than once) here is the FACEBOOK LINK TO EVENT

or you can read the information here:
A Debut exhibition by Ashley Quan, A Fibre major entering her last year at ACAD.

The event will take place at the Engineered Air Theater in the Epcor center (it has its own entrance on 9th avenue SW). Doors will open at 7:00pm and the show will start at 7:30pm. The opening act will be a breakin’ performance by local crew Grim Reminder, followed by the main performance by 5 amazing local dancers, and concluding with a mini fashion show. It is recommended to arrive early as the seats will be first come first serve, and artwork and show information will be arranged around the venue.
Tickets are $10 at the door. There will be a bar located in the lobby, and unlike other theaters you are allowed to bring your drinks into the theater to enjoy during the show or while you are just looking at the displays.

Setsugetsuka is a body of work that has been in process from beginning to end for about two years. The name Setsugetsuka comes from a series of paintings by Tokugawa Nariaki at the LACMA which represent the feeling of this show: in a word, in a phrase, in a poem. Quoted from the plaque accompanying the paintings:
“Setsugetsuka is a timeless Japanese poetic phrase symbolizing three of the four seasons (winter, autumn, and spring). Here ( to view the original paintings follow this link https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGkV9DYqWFf3p6qG4o6ESTFAVIXd2L-9OdrLtXOsID3XMF4-_MEKlrrvr7GzAK44D1p9Ck1FM2970I3AT5f7Q3VR2pwYaCtkn-XdlcS1FrIA0TmeMgGMD7jDeEiL5Hz7AtKRRsjZA-A/s1600/DSCF1128.JPG), each character is written in black ink, in archaic Chinese style. This combination of Chinese-style “power” and Japanese-style “delicacy” in one work is extremely unusual and visually arresting.”

This series of work is a representation of my heritage. I am half Chinese and half Irish, and I have been looking to hold onto my Asian heritage while living in a western world. This created the idea of using traditional Asian techniques/imagery as the foundation for the pieces. The main pieces are pieces of silk that are hand dyed using a painting technique of bokashi, which is a Japanese term meaning from this color to that. The imagery used is inspired by Japanese print artist Kastushika Hokusai’s series of flower prints where he successfully portrays the idea of movement and atmosphere in the prints. The performance is to create an idea of atmosphere where the silks represent the seasons that spin around leaving the viewer lost in the center. Each dancer is also a representation of an animal living within their environment, a Japanese crane, frog, octopus, monkey and a woman. Their spirits dance with each other creating harmony and balance.
The jacket collection is based on traditional Chinese imagery silk screened onto linen which are then transformed into jackets. This story is about women escaping the ball to meet her lover and being caught in her love affair.

Thank you for your time and interest, I hope to see  you at the event.

So it all sets into motion.

Now that it is August things are really moving.  The event is now out there with a facebook event as well as some advertising.  today I have been working on the music and trying to make a check list because the next few weeks is going to be a little insane.  tickets should be released by the end of the week.  I am really nervous right now but luckily I have a wonderful support team helping me out.  Now if only I could give away the sewing and construction haha.  Today is also the first day I go back to work, and this week I only have one day off. This slightly adds to the stress a little bit, but I do need to be able to pay for the venue, and save for my next trip to LA. wish me luck.

Post-LA

So life continues after LA it seems.

After LA I flew to Vancouver for the circle prinz competition where I won the sticker contest (click the link to see my winning submission).  Thursday I met up with my friend myles and had an awesome time going around the city and seeing the sites.  My hostel was pretty cute I would say.  There was a vintage desk that I really wanted to bring home with me.  As more friends arrived in the next two days I got to party/eat with some new friends and go to the beach to celebrate a kids first birthday with old friends.  I ended up missing the circle prinz event! I know, ridiculous since thats why I went to vancouver. I kinda wish I stayed in LA that extra weekend.

 Met up with my parents in Van for my last night and then we drove off to Kelowna to visit with my Aunt and a cousin.  Kelowna was small (it has only one shopping mall) and the beaches wern't as nice as LA or Van, but it was nice spending time with family.  My cousin and I tried to get mani/pedi's but of course it had to be a long weekend and everything was closed.  we accidently wandered into a "gentleman's relaxation and massage" place that was furnished with leather couches, a big screen tv and stripper poles with a mirrored background, with rooms I couldn't see behind this. oops.  After a few days in kelowna it was time for the drive back to Calgary, with a pit stop in revelstoke to visit another cousin and her baby.  

Many hours later of me trying to sleep but really just thinking of him to try and pass the time we are back home.  Its kinda weird because the whole time of thinking of going back home I kinda pictured everyone from LA waiting for us.  Back to reality.  First night in Calgary and best way to spend it? go to Shiboya and bubblemania. New fav drink at bubblemania: nectarine/lychee with green apple jellies. yumm.