Deep Dive: Aurora's Kiss by Julie Amlin

"There is an internal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives. Those who are lucky enough to find it ease like water over a stone, onto its fluid contours, and are home."

- Josephine Hart

About the Artist

Julie is a Toronto-based fine artist, muralist, and all-around creative force. You might have seen her murals brightening up walls and buildings in Toronto – they're impossible to miss! She has this incredible ability to infuse joy and wonder into everything she touches. Her core artistic philosophy is all about shaking off the dust of the everyday and awakening our inner child. She believes (and I wholeheartedly agree) that art should inspire exploration, curiosity, and intentional joy. And that is precisely what we aimed to capture with Aurora's Kiss.

Julie and Jasen share the belief that the beautiful landscapes around us are themselves works of art... and each of us is a landscape to ourselves.

Links

Julie Amlin's Artist Website

How Einstein Thought: “Combinatory Play” and the Key to Creativity

Your Brain on Art: Timothy Morton's All Art is Ecological

The Art of Scaling Taste

A tour of Denver Graffiti: What is art? What is taste? - mural below by artist GFBIII

Jasen's Puzzle Design Notes

My journey with Julie started, as many modern connections now do: online on Instagram. I was captivated by her joyful attitude and the infectious enthusiasm she displayed in her weekly posts about her art and creative process. With so much love and positivity being transmitted through her art, I knew I had to reach out. We started exchanging messages, brainstorming ideas, and slowly building a foundation for a potential collaboration in February of 2021.

In January of the following year, I suggested an abstract landscape piece, something inspired by the ear candy and sonic tapestry of Pretty Lights' "Rainbows & Waterfalls." I had no idea at the time that Julie experiences synesthesia when she listens to music – she sees sounds in colour. This added a whole new dimension to our discussions and deepened my understanding of her unique artistic perspective. 

Music features prominently in my life as well, and is often the background inspiration for puzzling design. Here's a playlist I put together while designing Aurora's Kiss. It includes a few of Julie's favourite tunes alongside a colourful palette of funk, pop and folk.

Our paths finally crossed in person at the 2023 Spring One of a Kind Show (OOAK) in Toronto. It was fantastic to finally meet the artist behind the vibrant online persona! Later that May, I floated the idea of having her come to Calgary for a fundraising event for the Highbanks Society, an organization close to my heart.

Finally in December of 2023, after another OOAK show, Julie and I spent some quality time together, pouring over her latest creations. That's when we found "the one" – the piece that would become Aurora's Kiss. While it's taken a while, the journey with Julie has been fantastic. I have a ton of gratitude for her patience, spunk and energy. I dare say - it was all worth the wait.

Denver Adventures and a Spark of Inspiration

The final seed of inspiration for Aurora's Kiss was actually planted in the fall of 2024 during a family trip to Denver. We were completely blown away by The Arcade Fire concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre – the energy of the music blending with the natural beauty of the setting was unforgettable. We also immersed ourselves in the surreal world of Meow Wolf, and it really sparked my creative mind. But it was a graffiti walking tour that truly solidified the direction for this puzzle.

Our guide led us through a vibrant array of street art, constantly circling back to the question of taste. Who gets to define what's "good" art? What is considered legitimate art and who is qualified to critique? It was a fascinating exploration of how tastes evolve and develop with exposure and experimentation, a concept that resonated deeply with both Julie's artistic philosophy and my own approach to innovation in puzzle design.

Alphabet Soup: A Hidden Challenge Within

This puzzle features a unique challenge. Woven throughout the puzzle, you'll find scrambled words and letters that, when deciphered, reveal a poem reflecting on a life dedicated to art, beauty, and a timeless appreciation of sunrises.

Frame secured safely by structure
Canvas stretched to a frame of your choosing
Paint blended on the palette
Brush stroked boldly with intention
Reflections of a masterpiece in motion.

In solving the puzzle for the first time, I found this new challenge reminiscent of Alpha Bits for breakfast, Campbell's Alphabet Soup lunches, Scrabble games, spelling bees, and logic word puzzles. I feel that I've only scratched the surface of exploring the possibilities of incorporating text and hidden messages within puzzles, and I'm excited to continue experimenting with lyrical and graffiti-inspired design. Why let popular musicians, writers and rappers have all the fun?

Whimsy List

One of the things that makes our wooden puzzles unique is the sheer amount of intentional "whimsies" – specially shaped pieces that reflect the theme and spirit of the artwork. For Aurora's Kiss, Julie provided a wonderfully personal list of whimsies, each with its own little story:

• Rainbow, Cloud, Sun, Moon, and the North Star: Classic elements of wonder and the natural world. HINT: the rainbow is a hidden whimsy!
• 3x Foxes: Representing Julie and her two amazing kids
• Eagle & Feather: A tribute to Julie's late mother, a beautiful symbol of remembrance and connection.
• Flowers (Peony), Bumblebee, Acorn & Leaves: Celebrating the beauty of nature that are most meaningful to Julie.
• 2x Butterflies: Symbolizing transformation and new beginnings.
• Mouse: An adorable reminder of Julie's childhood, as it was her grandfather's nickname for her.
• Wheat: A unique and poignant piece. Her stepdad is a farmer, and despite a strong allergy, she spent her youth surrounded by wheat fields.
• Crab: A nod to Julie's astrological sign, Cancer.
• Campfire: Evoking feelings of warmth, community, and storytelling.
• Compass: This self-assembled compass represents our ability to determine the "north star" value that guide us on our journey of discovery. What is at the heart of your life compass?
• Kissing Lips: A playful touch, reflecting the puzzle's title and the affectionate nature of the art.
• 2x Musical Notations, Headphones: A nod to Julie's experience with synesthesia, and how she experiences music visually.

To this amazing list, I added a few of my own touches:

• Julie in Painting and Graffiti Poses: Capturing her creative energy in action.
• Symbolic Hand Gestures and American Sign Language: Adding another layer of communication and meaning, reflecting the expressive nature art and movement.
• Heart locks: A universal symbol of love and connection. 

In solving this puzzle, I hope you'll consider how your life is framed by self, others and the landscape of mind you find yourself in. Reflecting on your life, how are you - all at once - the canvas, the paint, the brush, the artist in motion, a masterpiece emerging, and a puzzling challenge to overcome.