Gone, poetry by Rojan Zét

Once again supper's done,
easy to do if just for one, I
did it well but who could tell -
no one here to eat with me, just
four walls for company. What does
it matter, the food was good, corn
on the cob, steak, two baked spuds,
greens from here and there out of
my garden, from Saturday's fair.
Peppers red and onions white,
food for the soul my heart's
delight, and with it last year's
blackberry wine. The fresh baked
pie went down just fine and
coffee too better not forget,
real whipped cream to keep it
wet, imagine you sitting right
there, across from me in your
own chair. Now that I'm fed,
the cold ice cream out of my
fridge gets me wondering, what
was it, something I said?

Rojan Zét

Suzan Kostiuck, multimedia

Profile of an Artist

The idea of being an artist has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always enjoyed the process of working with my hands, whether it be painting, drawing, coloring, or building, Growing up in northern BC in a very remote area and having the opportunities to live throughout Western Canada has given me a wide range of ideas and perspectives to develop.

I used wax crayons as a young child, pencil crayons in elementary school. Ink doodle creations on the edges of pages in high school. And then college was a blur of mobiles, computer programs, illustration board, conté and charcoal. University was slightly more conceptual and allowed a freedom of thinking. The use of these different mediums are simply tools for me to get my ideas into existence. But throughout my life, I’ve always had the box of crayons somewhere around to play with.

Today, I work mainly with photography and acrylic painting. They are the tools that fit my lifestyle right now. Acrylic paint dries easily and cleans up fast. A camera can be toted around and I can use it to either create or capture an idea. Life is full with art, two children, a flexible husband, and work. Like many mothers, I found that the stages of family life are precious and I use my camera to help remember those stages, which is the main reason I’ve decided to work with maternity and family photography.

Painting allows me to simply enjoy the process of painting as itself. My days are very full right now, so at night I can relax, pick up a brush, and enjoy the fluidity that emerges. Recent paintings reflect this idea of movement and flow, usually interrupted with spots of concise forms. I use colors that tend to be calming or warm, with flashes of energy here and there to add some fun. Because, ultimately, my art does reflect my life.

Suzan can be reached through her site, www.blackenwhite.net, or can be visited at the CVAC office a few days per week.

Clouds

"Clouds", painting with light by Ron Greenaway. Inspired by the poem "Clouds" by Rojan Zét

Clouds, poetry by Rojan Zét

Looking out from Earth today I saw
two clouds like heads facing each other,
easy to miss, gazing, almost touching,
perhaps approaching for a kiss.

I watched and as I looked saw slight
movement toward each other, yes, eye
to eye, nose to nose, lips to lips,
and then they touched.

Carefully I tried to see myself and
you caught in that clasp, right there
for anyone to see and then as though
embarrassed, they merged to white
and turned away.

Now, looking up from Earth where
once were clouds, I see the sky is
blue but still I think of you and
wonder what's become of me.

Rojan Zét