Making It Happen!

Things are happening! And it’s a good time to be a part of Cimpoe Gallery. I’ve decided to take November off from shows, mostly because they have been quite exhausting for me, and also because there is so much prepping that there is no point burning out. Peter has joined an intensive new physio program. It kicks his ass every day but he thinks it is helping, especially on the mindfulness side. And I somehow found myself a fun new place to hang out for parts of the week (lol). Make It founder Jenna Herbut has decided to give this old gal a chance and invited to be a part of the Make It team! It is an environment of rock stars in every sense of the word. I’m doubly excited to be moving forward in this new phase in my life. After a long time feeling unhappy, I finally get a chance to do what I love. And in the service of things that I am truly passionate about. Supporting artisans and entrepreneurs as they Make It Happen!

And speaking of Make It Happen, I managed to get Peter to swing by the book launch for a bit. Fun evening full of happy and supportive people. Check us out! We almost look like we belong (hehe).

-Ileanna

'tis the Season

Sexy Halloween close up. Can you blame us? We love the holidays. It’s been a non stop horror fest at our house, all month long. It’s been a combination of the old classics (bride of Frankenstein, Creature of the Black Lagoon), some campfest classics (Island of Dr.Moreau) and then some under appreciated gems (Jennifer’s Body! Personal Shopper!). And let’s not forget the television horror. Simpson Treehouse of Horror episode have been streaming alongside some King of the Hill, Family Guy and those great Bob’s Burgers episodes. We managed to get through a few seasons of American Horror Story which was interesting revisit. Horror House, Asylum and Coven still hold up really well, all things considered. And I’m surprised at how behaved we have been vis a vis Halloween candy. I can honestly say we have not been indulging much. Is this what it is like to grow up? I just don’t enjoy the cheap milk chocolate anymore. I’ll take my sugar via a glass of wine, thank you very much :)

Hope the season treats you well! Stay safe out there. The chill is finally upon us. The leaves have turned. The next time I hit you all up, it will the official beginning of the holidays! But let’s keep that on the down low (lol).

-Ileanna

No Days Off, Bro !

Working it ! And somewhat killing it (lol). Peter still can’t do any lifting so he’s got me doing double time as I work these events. Set up is a bitch, if I can be so bold, but I’ve got it down to a science. Sometimes Peter joins me in the day and chills out since this is something his Doctor has approved. It’s good for him to get out and try to get back to a normal routine. And it’s been recommend, above anything else, that he do things that bring him pleasure. It is complicated but we have adjusted well to our new respective roles. I have taken over all Cimpoe Gallery duties and I am invigorated with both purpose and joy. Other aspects of my life have come together in a way that has surprised and delighted me ! Sometimes you put something out in the universe and the universe hits you back :) Witch destiny? Peter says so. We joke, of course (but then again…witches get shit done …). How does that song go? Witches! Are doing it for themselves !!!

I guess I’ve got the Halloween spirit coursing through my veins :)

-Ileanna

Home Harvest

Happy belated Thanksgiving ! I meant to get this post out before the weekend but time just got away from me, the way it is prone to do. We had a great thanksgiving! I made my out to V-CON and took in some of the nerdy science fiction/fantasy madness. I got to chat it up with absolutely amazing vendors and I am excited to see some of them again at future shows ! Artist were out in full force with wonderful and whimsical collections. Walking among the pieces only reminded of all the absolutely amazing crazy talent that exists all around us. We need to remember this as we move about our surroundings. Vancouver can sometimes feel oddly small compared to Toronto. East Coaster philosophizing? But Vancouver is smaller and significantly more intimate so it can sometimes feel lacking of varied creatives but this is only the case if we walk around with our eyes closed. There is so much out there. We are out there. All of us, collectively, who dare to live alternative and creative lives. Painters, dancers, artisans and crafters. Actors and decorators. Let’s celebrate these creative and crazy types. I don’t know where I would be in the world if I didn’t have a place among the mad scientist :)

On a more personal note, we had a great little thanksgiving on the Cimpoe family side. We tried out a turkey brine which turned out absolutely fantastic ! Moist and succulent was the name of the game. Peter has really taken to cooking since his back injury. He has been anxious and stressed out on even the best day but he discovered - quite accidentally - that cooking and baking helps him relax. It helps to take his mind off his problems, putting into perspective teaspoons, tablespoons and measuring cups. I can say with completely honesty that I totally approve of this hobby. Coming home to house smelling of homemade Belgian waffles or buttery oven roasted potatoes suits me just fine. Keep at it, bro !

All the best to the creative (and un-creative!) mad hatters out there ! We journey together. We hope you had a great Thanksgiving :)

-Ileanna

Neon Retrospective

What is it we talk about when we talk about pop culture? It’s been something that my brother and I have been discussing for a while. Fandom and all those thing are loved; beloved. Nostalgic memorabilia, comic books, playful mementos of all things past. Since starting Cimpoe Gallery, we have immersed ourselves in this world and walked alongside those who too feel the weight of the past. And it’s been a great journey. Truly. Aisles containing callbacks to our childhood. The X-Men and The X-Files. Anthologies of stories that used to creep us out. Or else video games and arcades. 80’s and 90’s retro bursts of neon colours. But nostalgia is a strange thing. It is bittersweet, fleeting and in retrospect, a thing that never was because it never quite existed. We find ourselves moving away from pop culture and I am sure that many of you have noticed this as well. The stones that we used to carve our brand have slowly eroded and been replaced with thicker slabs of marble. Fitness pieces. Illustrations celebrating passion and strength. And then Peter went back to the place where he first started, years ago. When we were still in Ontario and he was attending the Academy of Realist Art, he painted pin ups on the side. He did it for fun. He did it for practice. It’s a different time now. He paints between bouts of extreme pain and discomfort. He pains lying down until the pain is too much but he paints. His mind focuses as best it can on those things that mean something. The future is a complicated thing for us now but the past doesn’t hold the same comfort either. We wonder if it ever did. The things we loved growing up should perhaps stay in the aisles of our mind. Pop culture meant so much to us but I’m not sure we can stay true to it. We want to move on from the past. We want to look forward to a better future. We want original works that we can license out in order to create a proper name for ourselves. And we want tomorrow to be brighter than anything we have experienced so far.

Many of you ask how Peter is doing and I can tell you that he is trying. Every day he tries. Injuries that at first seem like they should be an easy thing to overcome have a way of changing and revealing something more sinister underneath protected layers. There is a lot to unpack. It is a lot to overcome because this is not what was expected. And the body and mind are fragile things, connected by an even more fragile string, and once broken it feels almost impossible to put back together. But I can assure you that Peter gets up every morning and he tries because he will not become a shell of the person he used to be. It will take time. We can take a step forward and then two steps back but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t progress. We cannot allow weakness to betray all that was built. So stay the course alongside us. We aren’t sure what tomorrow will look like but the fight is what matters most. This is a bleep in the history of all that will be accomplished. Continue to reach out with your kind words. It has been a spectacular show of faith and strength. Witchy good will, all around :)

Sidenote: If you have emailed Peter in the last two months, you may have noticed that I am the one replying. Except for doing things that feel comfortable to him, and doing things that make sense for his body and mind, Peter has taken a steps back from Cimpoe Gallery. This has been the case for a long time but I thought I would make it official. I tried to put a positive spin on things in the hopes that we would be in a better place by now but it is complicated. And besides, admin has never been Peter’s strength :)

-Ileanna

Also American Dad. So much American Dad. Laughter is the best medicine. Legs and the Wheelman All. Day. Long

Strange Bedfellows...

Frieda Kahlo on the brain. Frieda Kahlo in our bones. Peter has learned to paint lying down. It’s nice to see him paint. These past few weeks have been incredibly difficult. Difficulties are hard to talk about it, especially in an intimate place such as this blog because the nature of the blog was to always talk of all the great things we were achieving as we figured out how to get Cimpoe Gallery off the ground. And I remain positive. I am positive that we will come out of these dark times stronger and better than ever! And Peter will come out of these dark times stronger, having gone through these terrible tribulations. His injuries were bad enough to rob him of some of his physical strength, and sadder still was how his mind has been affected by all this trauma. He was broken in every sense of the word. Broken in both mind and spirit. But we talk often of Frieda Kahlo. We talk often of how greatest can come out of physical pain. Good days and bad days are to be expected but they do not make out the whole of our future. The brightness of his talent is the things that scares people. It is a natural thing, I suppose, for those with nothing to try to take down those whose brilliance scares them. But it’s hard to bring down witches :) This is what I tell Peter when he feels down. We are witches. We are beyond the things of this world. The best days are before us. Cimpoe Gallery’s best days are just up ahead, just within our grasp. Get better. Send Peter your absolute best wishes. Remind him to remain strong and concentrate on his healing. Like Frieda. Like those before him who too suffered pains of the body and pains of the mind, its about what we make of the darkness that matters. This too shall pass.

Frieda, surrounded by birds. Not so unlike our own birds, walking all over Peter as he paints lying down.

Live deliciously, my friends :)

-Ileanna

Body Break !

Labour day long weekend ya'll :) I spent much of last week and the weekend going around New Westminster, Maple Ridge and Port Moody. The air is crisp now as we head into fall. The days shorter and skyline dotted with changing colours of the trees. It's been an eventful few days and we have a lot of crazy prepping to still get done before the holiday shows. The following went out for Fitfest and I can't believe how fantastic it turned out. Love the old school pomp and circumstance of this piece! And the cheeks! Rosy and ready for the weekend. Keep your eyes out for this flyer since it should be going up really soon. 

-Ileanna

Vintage and Handmade ~

Rainy Saturday in Gastown yesterday ! Cimpoe Gallery made its first ever appearance at the Vintage and Handmade market. The smell of fall was in the air as I loaded into the Woodward Atrium in Gastown. One of vendors was wearing a hat and gloves and I regretted not bringing my own ! But warmed up quickly and we were all off to the races. Unfortunately the traffic couldn't quite keep up with my enthusiasm (lol) as it turned out to be a slow event but sometimes these things happen. I got to work alongside some great vendors that I have worked with in the past (which is always super fun!) and met some new people I hope to work with again in the future. Cimpoe Gallery is off next weekend (working, don't get me wrong, but not working any events). We will be at it again on Sept 8th for the the Fort Langley Art Market! Join us then. I hope Peter will be better and he will be able to tag along. He is still dealing with his back injury which makes these events that much harder. September will be an interesting month. The plan is to try new things! There is noting like September in the city :) So here is to healing, trying new things and the changing of the season. 

But the end of summer blues are starting to hit me :( No denying it. This is the beginning of the end.

-Ileanna

Art Crawl Madness

I needed that glass of wine after the Langley Art Crawl. It was the most fun! It was a beautiful day. The vendors were out in FULL FORCE. The crowds were in a buying mood. I set goals for myself and achieved every one of them. I met some truly great people who I know I will met again at various events. It was a true pleasure. It was a good day:)

We'll be at the VHS market this upcoming Saturday August 25th ! Join us at the fabulous Woodwards Atrium in Gastown for a day of music, food trucks and artisan vendors of all sorts! We will bringing originals with us for the FIRST TIME for this outdoor event so someone might come away with something truly special :) Some of the original pieces have never been printed. 

Yeah. I went a little crazy with the Bob's Burgers stuff. But how could I resist!? We watched this episode before leaving and watched it again when we came back. "Mama better see some PAINTINGS!!!"

-Ileanna 

August Dance Party !

We got to party it up in Coquitlam this past weekend for the Kaleidoscope festival ! The music was so good ! We got to hang out with some vendors from previous events. It rained a bit towards the end of the day which was a downer but not enough of a downer to deter the crowds. Peter managed to hang out for a few hours as well. His back is still on the mends. He is doing everything he can not to push himself too hard. We have some pretty big event coming up in the fall and winter so he better get well STAT ! Honestly, this summer has been so crazy for us. Did we ever hit the road and hit it hard. And we learned so much! We have one more summer event lined up which is the Langley Art Crawl happening this upcoming Saturday August 18th.  Join us for one last outdoor event !