Someone asked me one day to write a story “to explain the origin of my name”, so as promised, here is the story. My name is Gaia Orion. “Is that your real name?” I am asked often. It all depends what we mean by “real”! I was born Anne Marie Cecile, a classic French and Catholic name. I married a Canadian man named Gabrion Orion, so this gives the Orion of my...
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I was at a local art show and an older lady beside me was selling her artwork as well. She is a very talented artist and her subject matter was Canadian landscape and wildlife that she painted on wooden objects like canoe paddles, boxes, candle holders etc. As we were getting to know each other she told me that she loves my art and in a slightly embarrassed voice she said “my art is kind...
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I often remind my husband that without his support, his encouragement and the foundation of our relationship, I would most likely have never been an artist. Here we are today, 20 years later after we met on a bus backpacking in Morocco. Meeting couples that stay together for a long time and that are happy is increasingly rare. Passing the 20 year mark since our meeting this year makes me reflect...
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Being raised as a catholic, the figure of the devil has had quite an impact on my life. The first nightmare I can recall, I was 5 or under, the devil was on the roof of our house in Comoros Islands, we were closing all the windows and the doors so that he wouldn’t come in and I was petrified in my bedroom. Then growing up, catechists would tell stories describing in details what hell was...
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A lot of people wonder how our family can make a living from the revenues of my art and our tie-dye in the summer. I am too really amazed that we have created such a great life for ourselves and I would have never imagined that this was possible 20 years ago. I feel that by sharing some of the keys to our success could be inspiring to other aspiring artists and beneficial to anyone that is...
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First, let’s make things clear, this is no big deal for me as it is the 4th time that I have cut my hair all off like this in my life. But it seems to cause so many odd looks and questions that I will share why I do it. 1. It feels amazing, clean, practical and comfortable 2. It symbolizes a passage, a change, a transformation 3. It heightens my sensitivity and awareness (just for a while!...
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I grew up in a large catholic family, I am the eldest of five, my mom came from a family of six and my dad, they were 7 of them. Fathers presided over the families, all of them had good jobs; mothers were at home, cooking, sewing, cleaning, driving us around. My mom would set my clothes at the end of my bed every night until I was 12, the clothes I should wear in the morning; clothes that...
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Today I want to share how I ended up being fortunate to be able to travel to Europe with my art. Living in Canada, but originally being from Paris, France, I always felt that it is a great opportunity to work and expand my art on both continents. On a professional level, it is a wise move and on a personal note, it allows me to reconnect with my country of origin in a renewed manner. Before I...
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When I began to put my art out in the world in 2006, I had no idea where I was heading. We had been selling our hand-dyed clothes for eight years on the Ontario craft show circuit and seeing other artists selling their art inspired me to do the same with my work. The theme of my images is to the least “mainstream”; at first I would say that my art is “spiritual” and along...
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Originally from Paris, France, my life is a simple story of adventure, love, healing and awakening… In the mid 90’s, as a university student at Ecole des Beaux Arts, I found myself to be somewhat unconscious in my lifestyle. I had a life full of baguettes, chocolate, coffee and cigarettes; had no concern for the environment; and was quite insensitive and unaware of my feelings and psychology....
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