okay, canada - i dig your style
actual studio space @banffcentre – wtf?! where are the fairies?
life is full of glorious surprises. this past thursday i got notice that i was accepted into the BAiR (Banff Artist in Residence) for visual + digital art. to be honest i didn't think i would. this put me in one beautiful pickle... Vermont Studio Center or Banff Center. after weighing all the pros and cons (finances, program, location, facilities, project, impact on my spouse, etc.) i decided to go north of the wall – winter is coming – isn't it? GoT aside, i cannot be more excited.
one thing that solidified my decision was re-reading through my cover letter. i won't re-write it all but here is what stood out to me:
“For my next body of work I need help. I want to transition my work from paper to canvas. With that, I need the support and knowledge of others. I also need feedback. I need to know what is working but more importantly what is not. If I know my shortcomings, I can embrace them and push myself beyond my boundaries. Having this opportunity would transform me and my work. ”
my number one priority for this residency was to lean on others to teach me what i need to know so i can change my surface. when i was planning on attending the Vermont residency i was anxious about how to get materials there and could feel myself already defaulting to work on what i know, paper. this reminded me that i did want to learn and try something new. at Banff i'll have access to that support so that i can do this...
“I need space where I can create and floors I can get paint on. I want to be able to tape sketches up on walls and be enveloped by my art practice. I am hungry. I want to work larger, on canvas (a new surface to me), and to push my boundaries. I want to see others do so as well. I want to be surrounded by a community where I can connect with others but also have time to be with myself. I need a space where I can create with reckless abandon. ”
what better place to get lost in creation then this...
banff centre + mountains - holey moley! - Source
