Pre-residency.
I was lucky to visit Banff back in March and so had the opportunity to visit and asked questions about the residency before applying. After applying (unsuccessfully) for other international residencies recently, I think that it made all the difference to the success of my application at Banff. Particularly regarding the residency application process: what seemed quite categorical on paper, was actually a lot more open when I spoke to a faculty member.
But the biggest impact of visiting Banff and seeing what it had to offer before applying, is that a was able to create a proposal that could only be done in the town Banff. This has contributed to my strong sense of focus as I begin my residency and the stands that I need to pull together to create ‘Mountain Whispers’.
While my primary motivation for being here on this residency is to make a piece of work that is site-specific, to people and place, it’s not my only motivation. My main studio space is at home and I work a lot off-site in participatory projects. In taking some space and time away from participatory projects—almost a sabatical—it means that I’ve spent more time in isolation. So one of my intentions for the residency is:
Working with international mentors and peers, broaden my international contacts and networks.
I think this is the first thing that happens to everybody. You meet roommates, studio-neighbours, faculty and within two days friends and colleagues. Sometimes these are visual artists, but in the dinning rooms you have the broadest range of artists: writers, classical musicians, etc. I’ve been doing a lot of talking about my work to new people, more than I’ve done in quite sometime.
The range of international artists means:
Differences in language (or you could say language ‘barriers’) mean that you have to think more thoughtfully about your own relationship to art, and particularly how you explain your own work to other artists around you.
You gain a lot of new knowledge from other artists by talking about your work. Of particular use I’ve gained information on international artists who are motivated by the same things and/or who do similar work to mine: Katherine Southam (a sculptor from Quebec) directed me to an German artist; Iris Häussler living in Ontario, Canada. Rosario Zorraquin (an Argentinean painter) directed me to Argentinean artist; Marisa Rubio. Jesse McKee (the Banff centre’s gallery curator) directed me to Vancouver artist Stan Douglas. This is so valuable and not something I come across often enough.
You can be reminded of artists you already love. In a conversation over wine and a camp-fire, Katherine spoke of an artist she loved, American artist Kiki Smith. I have been a big fan of her work, but when was the last time I looked at her work?
I’ve discovered this much in terms of visual artists in two days and I’ve only really talked in depth to a handful of people.
What are your reasons for coming to Banff?
I’ve only been here a couple of days but it’s the first question that everyone asks you. It’s also probably the most important question in the application process, why Banff? Because who wouldn’t want to come here? It’s an amazing place for any artist. While my work here is site-specific, others have many different reasons.
Visual artists here doing an independent residency rather than thematic residencies, facilities or the natural environment plays a huge part, that seems quite consistent. But after wondering was it the same for other types of artists? Musician Simon Lasky told me, “The chance to escape technology is a big draw, to get away from the city is a special thing. I find it hard to focus on my own work, back home there are so many distractions.”
My roommate said that she has seen people all over the campus, walking out in the open air, deep in their own thoughts, mumbling to themselves. So perhaps it’s a feeling that being in the natural environment gives you, the space to think.
