‘Mountain Whispers’ Banff Artist In Residence

ANONYMOUS: Thematic residency

My experience at Banff was incredibly valuable, but also fraught. It was worth the time, absolutely. The work I made during my residency was completely unexpected and could not have been made without the facilities and staff at hand.

Because I received outside funding to be there, I can say it was worth the money, but I might not say so if I had used my own funds to cover all my costs. Since I had to travel long distances to get there it was still quite expensive, but for what I spent I believe it was worth it for what I gained. It is unfortunate that residencies at the Banff Centre are so costly and therefore limited to those with means or access to outside funding and resources.

The Banff Centre itself is a beautiful campus with a slightly unsettling, corporate feel. Food is overpriced and extra costs are lurking around every corner. At the same time, residents have unlimited access to almost all facilities on campus. The mountains are spectacular and imposing. I had an inspiring view from my studio window. During my residency I engaged with artists of many other disciplines, from whom I learned immensely through observation and conversation.

I went to the Banff Centre because I was interested in exploring performance within a visual arts context and I was intrigued by the theme of our “thematic” residency. I found the group environment to be quite dogmatic and unfriendly at times, while at other times very open and joyful. Coming to terms with that opposition was an interesting challenge.

CAROLINE ALLEN: BAIR residency

The Banff Centre residency was recommended to me by my University of Brighton tutor, Jacqui Chanarin, who had completed the residency a few years previously. Having recently graduated I was really looking to expand my portfolio somewhere that had resources already in place. I also needed some technical guidance to support my transition from student to practitioner. It was important to meet artists from outside of my own network and discipline, for an insight into how artists from other countries and institutions approach their practice.

At university we were expected to follow many guidelines and criteria which inevitably effected our work, I wanted to realise some of the ideas that did not meet this criteria, that I had developed during this time; the freedom to explore just for the love of making.

My agenda was also to achieve more balance in regard to my work/life relationship—to be able to not make without feeling the guilt. Being in Banff, with the mountains and lakes and hedonistic social element demonstrated that you can be a ceramicist and talk to real human people and go outside sometimes too!

When I arrived I was really overwhelmed by the number of people at the centre. Having lived in quiet solitude for the previous year I found social interaction really challenging. Being forced to communicate with strangers really helped my confidence and was especially revitalising.

Being around such inspiring artists made me realise that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to, which was incredible motivating. Having critical dialogue with such a diverse range of people has enabled me to consider my work from different aspects. It was so interesting engaging with artists on the thematic residency (experimental comedy boot camp) that ran parallel to my own. Seeing different approaches to visual art, significantly changed my own attitudes to my own work and the work of others. It also gave me a clearer understanding about what my work is not about, which is just as helpful.

I am now more focused on producing work that enables social cohesion by making objects that facilitate interaction, social engagement, mutually beneficial exchange and enable ‘togetherness’, which I credit to extensive informal critiques with Lee Campbell, who challenged me to really explore what my work is about.

Being surrounded by mountains made everything I made, seem very small and insignificant! The seasons seemed to change so quickly from hot sun to autumn through to snowy winter, meaning that I lost all sense of time. I felt like I was there for such a long time which meant I approached my work with a much more relaxed attitude. Being outdoors so much enabled a lot of reflection time away from the studio, which helped give perspective. I loved the environment and the sense of freedom.

I think the residency was a little expensive as it was self-directed. Making funding available for self-directed artists would perhaps mean that a more diverse social demographic were able to attend, which would be really enriching—I think it would have been inspiring to meet people from wider cultural backgrounds.

OTHER ARTISTS REFLECTIONS ON THEIR RESIDENCY

Over the next posts I’ve included personal reflections by other artists on residency at the Banff Centre.

KATHERINE SOUTHAM: BAIR residency

The Banff Centre gave me the time and space to experiment with different mediums. Being a cast glass artist, I facilities allowed me the space to carve large pieces of stone, make a mess and experiment. I brought pre-cast glass elements that I intended to combine with stone, and I was really pleased with the 24-hour access to come and go in and around the Centre.

Having my own studio, my practice from beginning to end is quite solitary, and it is stimulating for me to change my creative surroundings. Banff is a beautiful, inspiring place to do so. Residencies are a way to recharge my batteries by meeting wonderful artists, having great discussions, and exchanging ideas. It is constructive to have artists from different countries, backgrounds and disciplines together; it makes you realise aspects of your own art that you would like to develop, and it also opens up creative possibilities that you never would have thought of.

Another important outcome of doing this residency was the professional contacts that I developed from around the world. I met some artists with whom I am still actively in contact, and we keep each other informed of our artistic development. I know that they are a valuable resource if I ever need help with problem-solving, and I am also planning a joint exhibition for later this year with an artist I met at the Banff Centre. This experience has been enriching, and I recommend it to any artist looking to nourish their practice.

http://katherinesoutham.blogspot.ca

LISAMARIE JOHNSON: BAIR residency

My name is Lisamarie Johnson, I am an Irish artist who graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from The National College of Art and Design Dublin, Ireland, 2010. I primarily work in performance art. My thesis project involved community conversation and storytelling. Irish history was heavily kept alive by the oral, the shanachie (seanchai) and the seanos, it is a very important part of my culture and my work often develops from a social strand merging with and from a community practice.

I was particularly interested in Mary Schaffer the first white woman to be-friend the natives living in the Rockies (Banff, Alberta and Calgary).

I befriended an Elder and German shaman (Helmer and Doris) while on my residency in the Banff, representative of the Ist nations they told me stories , played music and helped recreate an object I used in my performance, the collaboration with the Luxton Museum and the Indigenous writers program helped develop a new work entitled “The Chandelier , The Indian and me” that represented both white culture :decadence, capitalism and western arts such as ballroom and Opera . While the gem, crystals and feather represented: craft , the four directions and the sun-dance.

I am currently producing and editing the filming and shots I took while on my time in Banff and on the Stoney reserve. This is supported by the digital residency program at the Fire-Station Studios Dublin. I really enjoyed my time and friendships made. The Banff Centre couldn’t have done enough for me, my co-ordinator Sarah Fuller was very supportive of my work. The nature of the residency allowed for socialising and meeting with other artists on residency, such as the thematic program, ‘The International Experimental Comedy Camp, which brought much fun all around, I even collaborated on some stand up!