Thomas Merton once said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Art is a great unifier. It can bring people together in a shared experience where everyone takes away something a little different. For the first time, in our lifetime, people around the world are impacted by one common element – COVID-19. Many artists have been hit hard by the pandemic. Galleries have been closed for months. Outdoor art shows have been cancelled. Buyers often want to see artwork in person to make buying decisions in order to get a sense of colour, texture and scale.
The news is not all bad though. As a country, we have all come together like never before. Businesses, large and small are doing what they can to support causes that are meaningful to Canadians. Belgian Moon, for example, is supporting creators from coast to coast by commissioning their projects with one objective in mind: to remind Canadians that we’re all #UnderTheSameMoon. Each project is unique and aims to inspire positivity, all while giving artists the platform to bring art into the world when it’s needed most. Everyone can use a little inspiration right now. We are sharing the stories of some of the featured artists and their projects below. Learn more about #UnderTheSameMoon by following Belgian Moon on Instagram.
Montreal, Quebec – Cécile Gariépy
Cécile Gariépy is an illustrator based in Montreal. She has a passion for images that tell stories. Her work has been featured in publications like The New York Times and Esquire UK. For her particular project, she was asked to create a colouring page that is available on her website. You can download the page, channel your inner artist and pass the time while we are still physically distancing but socially connected.
Vancouver, British Columbia – Tierney Milne
Tierney Milne is a Montreal-born designer and artist currently living in Vancouver. She studied psychology and illustration/design and these pursuits inspired her artwork. Her art is unique and breaks down the complexities of our inner and outer landscapes in colourful ways. She not only enjoys creating artwork including murals and stop-motion animation projects, but she works as a commercial artist.
Tierney painted a typographic mural on the exterior of Plenty on Robson inspired by the line from Haruki Murakami about coming together despite distance: “We’re both looking at the same moon, in the same world. We’re connected to reality by the same line.” This temporary artwork features the words “WE ALL SEE THE SAME MOON” in bold, colourful, light-hearted beveled typography. The goal with this piece is to help inspire a sense of both local and broader connectedness while we’re all apart in our respective homes.
Montreal, Quebec – Miss Cloudy
Specializing in folding art and paper creations, Pauline Loctin AKA Miss Cloudy creates murals, hanging lights and even custom stage accessories and costumes. Originally from France, she moved to Montreal to begin a Masters in Musicology at Université de Montréal. She discovered paper and dove into perfecting tessellation (an arrangement of shapes closely fitted together) and origami architecture. She has worked with international brands and institutions including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the , Four Seasons, Holt Renfrew and Air Canada.
Miss Cloudy will lead an Instagram Live on May 28 demonstrating a ‘Happy Mural’. The live will showcase how she develops her unique origami paper creations as she teaches her followers to do the same at home. #UnderTheSameMoon will be at the heart of the mural, including positive colours and the concept of unity.
