I’ve always understood that to create great work or to achieve greatness you will never do it by playing safe, so what better way to work outside my comfort zone than in the wilds of northern Canada in the Arctic Circle.
Geography has a huge impact on my jewellery. My work has always been heavily influenced by the changing landscapes of my life; in each ring or pendant you can glimpse into the Australian desert, the sea and its shores, and from travels that include West African countries Ghana and Mali.
The remoteness and exploration associated with this residency, and the time to connect with the people and places will give me the opportunity to keep expanding and challenging my practice.
This adventure is a wonderful opportunity, a once in a lifetime experience. Paddling 735 kms on the Yukon River through the Canadian wilderness, enveloped by the natural beauty of the Canadian fauna and flora, the rugged countryside, away from the safety of my studio, I’ll be compelled to explore the different landscapes, to draw on the new colours & light, the new materials & textures.
The funds will assist me to meet the costs directly associated with the Residency $3200, and the airfare to and from Vancouver $380.
The Residency starts in Whitehorse and concludes in Dawson City at the Riverside City Arts Festival on the 20 August. At the festival I will provide a short training session for children and youth in the community about my work as an Australian artist.
I see myself developing new work on the residency from a collection of recycled, repurposed and found objects. I will be taking a small collection of materials, hand tools, emery paper, paper, pencils & crayons to begin with this process.
Following the residency I will develop new work for exhibition in Australia and Canada in 2018 /2019. The new work will draw directly on the experience, the culture, new connections, and geography of Northern Canada.
For more information and regular updates on the project please visit
Website http://katrinanewman.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/katrinanewmangoldandsilversmith
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katrinanewmangoldsilversmith/
