Community, Residency & Workshops
In 2008, as a commercially successful artist, I decided to change direction. I wanted to work with the community – in particular I wanted to work within schools. To me, school is a place where time may be easily framed - a place to meet individuals within groups. My way of working with communities centers around sharing experiences: "meeting, seeing, reading, creating, writing, speaking and listening" This is what I value the most in my creation. Artwork as a process leading to art. I transmit my artwork process by introducing my work, especially Combat : Manual for daily survival (Combat in progress 2008) which is a participative work. I do that through video, writing, creating and by being present - listening, observing, creating, discussions in groups and individual exchange. Sometimes it is like a game, sometimes it is experimental, as that is a big part of my work.
• In the process, I give a value to community empowerment, valuing the individual in their art as well as their importance in the community.
• Teachers participate in this creative process too. In a recent residency, I was very pleased when the teachers told me they would be able to use what we had done, in the future with other children. I like to work out how I can share my joy of creation with others.
In residencies, I develop my personal work with local staff, teachers and students of every age. The project tends to expand as we consider the surrounding context and think of different possibilities. When we form excellent creative relationships, we can go a long way together. In recent years, I have been collaborating on my personal works with a team of people I have known for many years, including a writer and a musician, with others joining us periodically according to the needs of the project. We are currently preoccupied with creating a performance piece that we began during a residency in the summer of 2021. This will include elements of narrative text, music and movement as well as visual aspects.
• In the process, I give a value to community empowerment, valuing the individual in their art as well as their importance in the community.
• Teachers participate in this creative process too. In a recent residency, I was very pleased when the teachers told me they would be able to use what we had done, in the future with other children. I like to work out how I can share my joy of creation with others.
In residencies, I develop my personal work with local staff, teachers and students of every age. The project tends to expand as we consider the surrounding context and think of different possibilities. When we form excellent creative relationships, we can go a long way together. In recent years, I have been collaborating on my personal works with a team of people I have known for many years, including a writer and a musician, with others joining us periodically according to the needs of the project. We are currently preoccupied with creating a performance piece that we began during a residency in the summer of 2021. This will include elements of narrative text, music and movement as well as visual aspects.