What is and What Was

What Is and What Was is an artwork by Canadian artist Jackie Partridge created in 2018. The installation features a simple yet thoughtful arrangement: four hand-cut atlases placed on a wooden table, surrounded by four wooden stools measuring 14” x 17.75”. The table itself is 46” x 42”, large enough to hold the atlases while still inviting a sense of closeness among the viewers who gather around it.

What is and What Was

The piece encourages participation. Visitors are invited to sit at the table, open the atlases, and explore their pages. As they turn the pages, they discover that the maps have been carefully altered: houses are cut away, leaving gaps that speak to absence, erasure, and change. These cut-outs transform the atlases into layered objects, where what is missing becomes just as important as what remains.

By using atlases of North America and Canada—objects already in a state of slow obsolescence as digital maps take over—Partridge highlights the tension between permanence and impermanence. Maps are meant to provide a sense of stability, yet they are constantly outdated by shifting borders, developing neighbourhoods, and changing landscapes. The found object of the atlas carries its own history of use and expiration, and the hand-cut removals amplify this instability.

What Is and What Was reflects on memory, place, and transformation. The work asks viewers to consider how the landscapes they know are always in flux: houses are built and demolished, communities grow and change, and maps no longer reflect the lived reality of the land. Sitting at the table, the viewer becomes part of this reflection, turning the pages and encountering the tension between what has been and what is left behind.

At its heart, this artwork is about presence and absence, inviting contemplation of how we record, erase, and remember the places we inhabit.

To learn more about contemporary art installations by Jackie Partridge click the button below. 

To check out artwork for sale click the button below.

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Good Online Art Classes

Looking for good online art classes? There's a lot of online art classes out there, so I wanted to share some good online art classes that you should check out so that you can improve your art skills while saving money. 

This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I am sharing links that I think you'll love if you purchase from me. I receive a small commission however, there's no extra charge for you which is awesome. 

Good Online Art Classes 

The first obvious answer is YouTube. There are so many good online art classes available on YouTube including my own YouTube channel that's all about acrylic painting. You can check out my YouTube channel by clicking on the button below. Please subscribe to show your support and so that you can see the new painting, tutorials and tips videos that are released. 

If you love acrylic painting, be sure to download by FREE 12 page guide that helps you improve your painting skills fast I give you 10 tips as well as recommended tutorials to help you improve your painting. 

If you're ready to take your art seriously, the next best step is to make an investment. I have participated in the Craft and Create Club membership by HobbyScool. I have a painting tutorial with a fall floral crown pictured below.

What's cool about this a membership by HobbyScool is that there are a variety of different guest experts, teaching a variety of different crafts and art projects and for just the low price of 7$ a month you have access to all of these art workshops to watch online whenever it's convenient to you. 

For just $7/month, you'll:

- Learn a completely new craft each month with expert guidance

- Follow along with premium video tutorials at your own pace

- Get detailed supply lists so you know exactly what you need

- Access a growing library of diverse creative workshops ($180+ value)

When you join annually, you'll receive exclusive bonuses worth $63 including the Craft Projects Planner and two additional workshop collections!

To see if the craft and create club membership is a good fit for you click on the button below!

The nice thing about a monthly membership is that you can cancel anytime and 7$ a month is a nice low commitment but it's still an investment for you to make sure that you're putting in time to work on your art or to learn new skills. Try a new art workshop, try a new craft and just relax and have that fun creative time to yourself. 

If you're ready for a bigger commitment, you can check out the one year of the craft and create club membership and you'll receive some extra special bonuses for committing to a year of the membership up front.

For any questions about the craft and create club membership please send an email to support@hobbyscool.com. 

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