Kids Fest is Done for Another Year!
This year Kids Fest, an outreach program of Tangled Art + Disability, exhibited artworks created by the students at Giant Steps. Giant Steps is a school and therapy centre for elementary school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Their programs are tailored to each student’s needs encompassing academics, speech therapy, behaviour therapy, occupational therapy and daily living and social skills training. The works on display in ‘Colours of the Spectrum’ were produced over four workshops with projects providing an opportunity for the young artists to experiment with materials and processes outside of their typical approach.
Canada Council for the Arts Professional Development
I received a Canada Council for the Arts, Professional Development grant that will provide funds for training in web-based platforms.
Work in Progress
New year, new video in the works.
TAC Emerging Artist
I'm thrilled to have received a Toronto Arts Council 'Emerging Artist' grant. This grant will provide space and materials for an ambitious new project that will start in the new year.
Cards at Open Studio
'll have some greeting cards available at Open Studio starting November 30th during the Artist Proof Sale. The cards will be for sale throughout the year and are in support of Open Studio's operations.
Festival of Performance Art
Field Recordings
I've started to record one minutes of audio each day and am uploading them here. Most of the recordings are from Toronto and St.Catharines.
Tangled Art Kids Fest
This spring I was the Coordinator for Tangled Art + Disability's Kids Fest. This program was led by Luca 'Lazylegz' Patuelli and his network of dancers, DJs and drummers. The students at Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic High School and James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School worked weekly with a professional dancer to collaborate in creating a choreographed performance. Students presented their work at an interactive school assembly with a cohort of special guests.
Open Studio Residency Complete
My residency at Open Studio has come to an end. The result was a Varied Edition of 15 + OSP + FP which are 15 x 22". The series is titled I Have Always Taken The Weather Personally. Images can be viewed here.
Hamilton Biennale Over For Another Year
Thanks to Andrew Mcphail and Stephen Altena for inviting me to participate in the Hamilton Biennale. It was a laborious joy to share, I Can't Do This On My Own. The Toronto Star had a few words to say about it which you can read here.
Open Studio Residency Progress
My residency at Open Studio has recently begun. So far I've made two etching plates, which if you haven't done so before, I cannot advise you enough about the time invested. Test proofs have all been pulled and now some experimenting with additional materials.
I'm sharing my progress at Open Studio (and many other things) on Instagram.
Hamilton Biennale
April 21 - 23, I'll be participating in the Hamilton Biennale, at Casino Artspace, 176 Mary St. My performance will take place on Sunday April 23, 1 - 3pm.
Additional information can be found on Facebook here. There will be live tweets.
Dogs and Boats and Airplane Choir
This fall I worked with Big Pond Small Fish and their Dogs and Boats and Airplanes Children's Choir. The choir was made up of students from Lord Lansdowne Public School and da Vinci Alternative Public School. Over the course of 3-months, lead by Bill Burns, supported by Krys Verrall, Alan Gasser and scientists at the Royal Ontario Museum, the students researched, wrote and performed a 4-part libretto at the ROM on Sunday December 4.
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
Untitled (for Elizabeth), will be part of the juried exhibition at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery. Thank you to Ingrid Mayrhofer, Mary Reid and Gerrie Loveys for your support.
Opening reception is Friday August 5th at 7pm. Exhibition runs from August 6th to September 11th.
Jeannie Thib Mentorship Residency
Open Studio earlier this year announced the Jeannie Thib Mentorship Residency, as an opportunity for an artist in the early stages of their career.
I've been selected for this inaugural Jeannie Thib Mentorship Residency, which allocates studio access, materials and mentoring. You can read more about what I'm going to do here.
The Last Things
Materials sourced from the flea market play into the exhibition which draws inspiration from the 1987 dystopian novel by Paul Auster. Set in a speculative future of an urban post-industrial wasteland, it follows Anna, a collector who scavenges and sells useful found objects.
The text embedded in this work is a form of communication for those who come after. It reads, "General feelings of loneliness linger / you must get used to doing with as little / as you can lets see where the night goes".
Glenhyrst Biennial Juried Exhibition
I have two pieces, Absence Is Greater Than Presence and $$$$$.included in the Glenhyrst Biennial Juried Exhibition. Caitlin Sutherland, Director at the Hamilton Artists Inc. and Deirdre Chisholm, Director/ Curator at the Norfolk Art Centre, juried the show.
Exhibition runs May 28 – July 24th, 2016. Opening Reception is Saturday June 4th 7:00-9:00pm. Hope to see you there!
Screen Printing at Open Studio
I just finished an 8-week screen printing course at Open Studio with Miles Ingrassia. Some of what I made includes this screen on drywall.
STO Union's Trophy at In The Soil
This weekend I participated in STO Union's Trophy at In The Soil in St.Catharines. STO Union is a multidisciplinary art and performance company from Ottawa bringing together artists from a variety of mediums in the creation of original contemporary theatre, installations, live art and video.
Trophy is an episodic performance and art installation built around 5 people from St.Catharines and their stories of transformation. Audience members are lead on a journey through 5 small, glowing tents, each with a person who tells the story about a moment in their life when everything changed.
