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 Maps are meant to provide a sense of stability, yet they are constantly outdated by shifting borders, developing neighbourhoods, and changing landscapes.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. 

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Holiday Gift Guide 2024

The holidays are coming up. Have you thought about the gifts that you're going to get everyone? Here is my holiday gift guide 2024. These holiday gifts are perfect for people who love and appreciate art. If you have an art lover in your life, check out my holiday gift guide 2024!

Holiday gift guide 2024

Holiday gift guide 2024- art work

I have lots of original artwork that is for sale in my art shop. BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ART COLLECTIONS AND SPECIAL OFFERS- HERE

All of my original art comes unframed and it comes with a certificate of authenticity. 

My original art is beautifully packaged and shipped to your door or you can ship it directly to the person you are giving a holiday gift for. 

I have cyanotype printed art using wildflowers, leaves, or ferns. You can click the button below to check out my cyanotype original I have two different sizes a large size and a medium size to large size is 9" x 12" and a I have cyanotype printed art using wildflowers, cedar leaves, ferns, and other flowers, you can click the button below to check out my cyanotype originals. I have two different sizes a large size and a medium size the large size is 9" x 12" and the small size is 4" x 6" approximately.

Fern Cyanotype 3

CA$100.00

Handmade paper art

I have handmade paper art using paper pulp on vintage doilies. This artwork is great for a vintage lover or an avid crafter who enjoys or appreciates crocheting. These artworks come in all kinds of different colours. There are white and beige as there are also pink and blue, a colour that suits the personality of your person who is on your gift list. 

If you have someone who has a minimalist design style, I have beautiful handcrafted beige sheets of paper that have an embedded stone embroidery that come in a variety of colours.

I also sell sheets of handmade paper made with denim and also recycled roadmap. The roadmap paper is a great gift to give someone who loves traveling and has an adventurous spirit. The denim paper art would look beautiful displayed in a laundry room or a child's bedroom. 

Rainbow Field 4

CA$120.00

If you would like to get someone a gift card for my art shop you can click the button below to purchase a digital copy of the gift cardYou can choose your own gift card amount and send it to the person for the holidays this 2024 season.

If you want to send holiday cards you can check out my cyanotype cedar print cards.  These cards have a blank interior where you can fill out a detailed notes. Afterwards the card can be cut and framed to display a beautiful cyanotype art prints in the home of the person receiving the card. 

Holiday gift guide 2024- art commissions

To learn more about having a piece of artwork commissioned by me click on the post below. My art commissions start at $300 or $65 for cyanotypes. Get in touch with me to chat about your idea by filling out the form below!

Holiday gift guide 2024- art prints and printed goods

And check out the button below to see various art print ticketI have cyanotype Prince printed on mugs duffel bag backpacks shower curtain throw pillows blankets towels and more.Click the button below to shop. 

Be sure to sign up for my mailing list by filling out the contact form below to save 15% off of artwork in my shopIf you are interested in having a piece of artwork commissioned by Niki be sure to clickThe button below to find out more information about my art work commission make sure to get in contact with me soon so that I have time to complete your artwork commission before the holidays

Thank you so much for considering to get the gift of art this holiday season I hope you have enjoyed my holiday gift guide 2024. 

It means a lot to shop small and support artists, thank you for considering to do that. The person you are shopping for will love and appreciate receiving something that is handcrafted made from love and will last generation. They are building their art collection and are able to have a piece of artwork that they can display proudly in their home they can look at the piece of art daily and reflect on the love and connection that you share by picking out the special piece of art for their home. Artwork is something that can last generation and it is something that is beautiful and inspirational to look at. 

I appreciate your support this holiday season and I hope you have enjoyed the holiday gift guide 2024 thank you for shopping mall I'm supporting an artist and a small business thank you so much!

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Check out my printed cyanotypes on various products like mugs, pillow cases, towels, etc.