<![CDATA[M Whale Design - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[M Whale Design - Blog]]>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:50:22 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Between the Lines; phase 2!]]>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 02:11:53 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/between-the-lines-phase-2

It has been a busy week with 2 presentations. "Between the Lines " kicked of its two year tour of Alberta thanks to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts travelling program:

TREX develops exhibitions of artworks by professional artists from all over Alberta so they may travel across the province. The exhibitions travel to schools, libraries, healthcare centres, small rural museums or galleries and other public venues. The program's mandate is to provide every Albertan with the opportunity to enjoy visual art exhibitions in their community, supporting and promoting Alberta art.

I'm so excited because that was the dream for me...to share the beauty in ageing.

]]><![CDATA[Unique opportunities...]]>Mon, 10 Mar 2025 02:48:16 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/unique-opportunitiesBecause my residency this past summer was in the heart of a hospital, the gallery put a call out to staff interested in sitting. I was surprised to receive notice that two of my favorite geriatricians were game for a sitting! I must confess, I was a bit nervous as I had known them through their work as a gerontologic nurse and respected them because of that. They were both very gracious and it turns out, very human;)

Adrian revealed he learned bee keeping as a youth and continues tending them to date hence the honeycomb design. He grew up in the same neighborhood as the legendary design artist, William Morris so I took the liberty of including those lovely leaf motifs.

Angela has a passion for the arts combined with our shared interest in older adults, it was an easy and thought provoking sitting.

]]><![CDATA[Love for skating...]]>Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:34:43 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/love-for-skating

“Prairie Girl”

Skates
Swims in prairie lakes
Plays piano
Moves
Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Penhold.
But Vancouver! A mistake – rainy.

]]><![CDATA[Lidjia's Poem]]>Sun, 23 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/lidjias-poem

The McMullen Gallery staff were great to work with. They were very supportive of the concept and was most interested in the process rather the end product.

I took advantage of that and challenged some of the sitters to create a 'poem' based on the story\conversation that was recorded during the sitting.

I was so impressed with the time and care Lidjia took to create her poem.

There were so many gifts in this project;)

Born in Reutte, Austria
To parents who lived in Croatia
With a grandfather who hung her shoes with care
To bring luck to those who entered there
With parents who spoke no English
A move to Canada at 14 months was tinglish
Sesame Street became her saviour
Teaching her to speak English with flavour
Growing up with two brothers who did no wrong
Lidija needed to be strong
Playing volleyball and folk dancing
Winning awards and life was prancing
Bachelor of Commerce was her Major
Life threw in a different wager
Recreation Therapy became a passion
With love of the Elderly in her fashion
Now a mother of two young men
She says she would do it again
Giving a compassionate hand
This is just on brand

]]><![CDATA[Betty; a dedicated person]]>Sun, 23 Feb 2025 18:50:49 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/betty-a-dedicated-person

Betty was the person person to respond to the call from the McMullen gallery for sitters.

She was very engaged and felt she could have the portrait as a momento of her long career in nursing.

From facilitating the growth and development of the STARS program to surviving the COVID crisis in her intensive care role, Betty is an outstanding nurse and human being.

]]><![CDATA[Phenomenology of the Sitting]]>Sat, 04 Jan 2025 22:29:27 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/phenomenology-of-the-sittingPhenomenology is the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view ( for me, the artist, it is the 'flow' of the sitting). The central structure of an experience is its intentionality, ( I hope to capture the essence of the sitter in that moment combining what I see and hear and feel) its being directed toward something, ( to direct it toward the viewer) as it is an experience of or about some object. An experience is directed toward an object by virtue of its content or meaning (which represents the object) together with appropriate enabling conditions.
This is EXACTLY what happens during a sitting. It's so great to have it down in words;)

]]><![CDATA[Culture Change?!]]>Thu, 09 May 2024 15:15:27 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/culture-changeI attended a conference in Ottawa last week (May 1-3) called "Walk With Me: Changing the Culture of Ageing in Canada". I am a new member to a group called 'CAARE' (Canadian Ageing Action, Research and Education) for mental health group supported by Saint Elizabeth Health. Interestingly, this same conference was hosted by Edmonton in 2016.

I was fortunate to play a role as an 'expert by lived experience' contributing to a presentation that sought to encourage participants to consider a more inclusive approach to research and knowledge transfer by engaging with regular people like me. Their goals are to mobilize priority research questions on ageing ( already established through an in-depth survey); create public awareness, communication and call-to-action resources to recruit diverse members; and co-design self-governance and external engagement tools.

That's sounds overwhelming but bottom line is that the CAARE Group demonstrates how authentically engaging with ageing Canadians can affect change in the culture impacting ageing.

The focus seemed to be on longterm care (LTC) as most of the attendees were apart of that ecosystem. I was initially disappointed as I know that 90% of older adults live in the community setting. My colleague was quick to point out that the impact of the pandemic on LTC (both residents and staff) was horrific and the pressure from governments to change was great. That made sense.

That plenary speakers were inspiring to all sectors for sure! I have a new idol for leadership; Nouman Ashraf (snoumanashraf.com). He calls himself a 'pracademic' fascinated by leadership that enables impactful practices across organizational contexts:
"I believe that leadership work is people work, and that we must engage with others to achieve a more inclusive, sustainable and purpose-driven future".
Dr. Allen Power believes we must shift how we think about and treat dementia. He is working on a new book that I await;)

The event was inspiring and thought provoking for me as think about the next adventure in my life trajectory.

]]><![CDATA[Beyond Wabi Sabi]]>Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:15:56 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/beyond-wabi-sabi7863938People become increasingly unique the longer they live; emotionally, intellectually and physically.

]]><![CDATA[The beauty of use...]]>Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:01:15 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/the-beauty-of-useThe way we age is not unlike that of a revered piece of pottery that has survived the ravages of use, cracks and all.

The ‘beauty of use’ can be witnessed in old people as well; the patina, the textures and the incredible lines.

I explore this idea through a small body of work that will be at the Walterdale Theatre from Feb. 7-17 with an opening on the evening of Feb. 6.

]]><![CDATA[Beyond Wabi Sabi]]>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:40:10 GMThttps://www.mwhaledesign.com/blog/beyond-wabi-sabiTraditionally, “wabi sabi” is applied to inanimate objects but my lens includes human ageing.

A small body of work inspired by a recent trip to Japan will be on display at the Walterdale Theatre February 7-17 during performances with an opening preview the evening of Feb. 6...

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