Judge A Book By It's Cover

Dimensions: 14 x 12
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Tea time for the traditionally Built. Author Alexander McCall Smith Ladies Detective Agency Series. Precious Ramotswe faces problems both personal and professional.

Dimensions: 24 x 24
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Fatal Tide Author Iris Johansen

Dimensions: 26 x 32
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Bald Eagles: The Ultimate Raptors The history and behavior of Eagles.

Dimensions: 26 x 29 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Inspired by “The Essential Rumi” by Jalal ad-Din Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks. This woven tapestry is a visual response to the poetic spirit of The Essential Rumi, often referencing whirling, circular motion, and the dissolution of the ego in search of the Beloved. Each coil and curve reflects the path of the dervish, the rhythm of zikr, and the layered inner journey Rumi describes. As a Turkish artist, I draw on Mediterranean color palettes and traditional forms to bridge ancient heritage with contemporary spiritual reflection.

Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway A story that deeply resonates with the themes of solitude, strength, and our quiet relationship with nature. As someone with Mediterranean heritage, I see the sea not just as a setting, but as a sacred presence — a keeper of stories, struggles, and survival. The central circular form represents both the setting sun and the evil eye — a symbol of protection deeply rooted in Anatolian and coastal cultures. It watches over the fisherman, the sea, and the inner journey that unfolds. The waves, knots, and textured layers are inspired by the rhythms of the Aegean and the handmade traditions I grew up with — weaving, netting, storytelling through craft.

Dimensions: 40 x 24 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): The 57th Edition of "CANADA: A PORTRAIT" by Statistics Canada sits on my coffee table with a lovely blind embossed maple leaf pattern on its cover—designed by Neville Smith—and featuring the mighty beaver in a cut-out window. I absolutely judged the book by its cover when I bought it! ;) Here is my own interpretation for a future edition. I have long wanted to write out these song lyrics from "THIS IS OUR HOME (8:30 NEWFOUNDLAND)" by Toronto-based musician MIKE PLUME. In 2010, we had the pleasure of meeting the singer-songwriter through a mutual friend after hearing the song performed live in Toronto. I was immediately hooked on the song and have always thought of it as a sort of alternative national anthem, an ode declaring love & pride for Canada in a more personal & relatable way. After living mostly abroad for the past two decades, I appreciate Canada and being Canadian now more than ever. Creating this piece for this exhibit brought together a few of my favourite things: calligraphy, book covers, song lyrics, and this beautiful country of ours! I am so glad for the chance to share this awesome song with you—look it up and have a listen! HAPPY CANADA DAY, EH! ;)

Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 0.5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Silence of the Lambs A masterpiece by Thomas Harris. I have read it multiple times and I would suggest it to a anyone. With my book cover I wanted to take it in a completely opposite direction. The book title is perfectly represented in a completely different and hilarious way. A family sitcom about a family of sheep?

Dimensions: 20 x 24 x 2
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Here on the Coast by Howard White

Dimensions: 20 x 48 x 2
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): The Heartbeat of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Dimensions: 24 x 36 x 2
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Ponds by JC Scharl

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Book title: Lune I'm working on a collection of poems that feature or involve the moon. Word association had me riffing on "moon" and I soon found the rhyming "loon" and "lune". "Lune" is French for moon and lune in geometry involves a crescent shaped figure bounded by two arcs of circles or more simply, a crescent shape. Then again, "lunes" is an old word associated with fits of madness (make of that what you will). The images in the piece developed intuitively including the jumble of letters from the poems I"m working on - all forming and rising up. From a work in progress: moon song/calls to the wild in us/highlights the pulse/pulls us closer/to sync with a chorus of stars

Dimensions: 8 x 24 x 1.5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Duma Key by Stephen King King is a master storyteller, and in this novel, a painter begins painting images that bring to life some incredibly surreal occurrences. The painter puts together images that do not necessarily exist in real life, which inspired me to create a tribute to the author/book. My image is nothing like those described in the book, but honours the concept of joining one thing (in this case, a bed of stones) to another thing (a plant that normally would not grow there) to suggest surrealism.

Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 1.5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): 'Where We Reside - Poems of Time and Place' - Tatjana Darling and 10 other Sooke Poets. 'Where We Reside' was inspired by a community of Poets. This sub group of Sooke Writers Collective would meet and after months of discussions, writing, and feedback sessions, Chapbooks would evolve and were published as an annual event. To this group of poets, with their collaborative support which have helped me in my journey with words, to all of you - I give thanks.

Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Where We Reside - Poems of Time and Place 11 Sooke Poets Reflect including Tanya Darling and dl clay --- 'Where We Reside' was inspired by a community of Poets. This sub group of Sooke Writers Collective would meet and after months of discussions, writing, and feedback sessions, Chapbooks would evolve and were published as an annual event. To this group of poets, with their collaborative support have helped me in my journey with words. To all of you - I give thanks.

Dimensions: 18 x 24 x 2
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Inspiration: ‘Water For Elephants’ by Sara Gruen. I’ve painted Ruby, a real Asian jungle elephant. When I met her she reminded me of Rosie the fictitious African elephant who survived torture in Sara Gruen’s novel. Far from the American circus that's imagined in the novel, Ruby resides in a very real and remote sanctuary in Myanmar. She is recovering from a lifetime of torture in the teak industry. For this painting I’ve referred to my own photographs and memories of the afternoon when I climbed down into a tropical river and scrubbed Ruby’s wet wrinkled skin. My memories of her gentle gaze, the feeling of the soft tip of her nimble trunk and my compassion for those who’ve suffered from human cruelty also contribute to this book cover for ‘Water for Elephants.’

Dimensions: 16 x 20 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Charlotte's Web by E B White is a warmhearted story accompanied by lively illustrations and a perfect cover. The main character, Charlotte A Cavatica, is not an ordinary spider. She is a "true friend and a good writer. Because it's my favourite book to read aloud I imagined a new cover for an audiobook version. Hidden in the first thin layer of paint is a message Charlotte wove into her web. She tried to save her friend Wilbur’s life with the words, "Some Pig."

Dimensions: 80 x 47 x 1.5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Book Title “The Wild in Me is My Strength” by Soula Galloway. This piece is a visual ode to the fierce curiosity and unapologetic wonder of my inner child. This piece is driven by a deep desire to be seen—not just for my love of bold expression and witty playfulness, but for the longing to connect soulfully with others. Through vibrant colors and organic shapes, it celebrates the strength that comes from embracing one’s untamed spirit and the freedom found in staying true to it.

Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 1
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): "The Handmaidens' Tale" by Margrett Atwood I wanted to explore images of both female oppression and strength. The handmaiden in the piece is both barefoot and blindfolded, representing the subjugation and oppression of women in the book. The red fruit falling onto the open book represents the forbidden fruit (literacy) and temptation, while the blind fold offers her some protection from blame. I finished the piece with branch-like cracks representing the fragmentation, oppression, and the breaking of the female spirit, which are central to the dystopian narrative of the book. My colour palette of cool blues and stark whites was chosen to create a somber, oppressive mood that reflects the bleakness of the novel.

Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): " The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern This novel is the perfect novel for this show. It is so visual. Reading the book is more like watching a movie, it is so visually lush. In the novel, the Circus only opens at night. It is magical and extraordinary, yet it is hidden in plain sight on the outskirts of town. I started with a limited palette of blues and greens, but added bursts of colour to represent the surprises that one finds within the circus tents. Celia, one of the main characters in the novel, struggles to be independent and break free.

Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 1.5
Book Title and Author - Description to appear on wall card (up to 1600 characters): Sticky Beak the Kiwi by Rob Edwards A entertaining New Zealand Christmas story that was a hit with our grandchildren here in Canada.