Open for Making: A Residency for Creativity

Open for Making: A Residency for Creativity
Co-curated by Joyce Grimm and Paul Butler
January 10 – February 8, 2009
Saturday Residency Days: January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7

Open for Making is an open residency program that will take place at Triple Base Gallery every Saturday for five weeks. Participation is open and those who choose to take part can attend one or all of the five consecutive Saturday residencies starting on January 10th. This will be an all day event and every part of the day will be essential. Many of us would love to be able to attend a residency program but may not be able to do so at this time for some reason, whether it be financial or commitments to job or family. The goal of these residencies is to create an inspiring and productive environment for creative thinking – even if only for one day. Each day will be organized with varied programs and special guests from the community.

A typical day may start with a game of kickball in a local park followed by a meditation/relaxation method. Afterwards, there will be a special guest from the community that will introduce a new idea or way of thinking which will be followed by an open platform for creating – whether it is clay, painting, textiles or music.

Triple Base Co-Director Joyce Grimm recently traveled to The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and met with Paul Butler, an artist and curator from Winnipeg. Butler was the Director of the Creative Residency Reverse Pedagogy at Banff in November, 2008. Together Grimm and Butler have created the first residency program for Triple Base starting this January. This innovative residency program has been molded from their experiences in art school, working directly with practicing artists, and embracing new fields of study and alternative teaching models.

VIDEO RECORD

PAST RESIDENCY DAYS:

Saturday, January 10
Joshua Kit Clayton (ambiguous scenarios with a video camera), Kenneth Lo (basketball), Michael Hunter (acting exercises), and Sarah Barnard (yoga-meditation)

Saturday, January 17
Hike to a local urban garden for a tour as well as participate in a planting day. This was followed by lunch near our destination. Then back to the gallery for book/zine making with artist Paul Butler. Participants were to bring something in the form of an 8 x 10 sheet of paper(s) that represented a static version of the items/thoughts/images/videos/musical pieces they find inspiring.

Saturday, January 31
Residency facilitator and Little League All Star Kevin McElroy led a healthy game of whiffle ball. Afterwards he took us to lunch for sausages and beer. For the second portion of the day, San Francisco artist Forrest Lewingerhelped the residency participants create a concept album. The album was comprised of original music and songs composed, preformed, and recorded during the residency by the participants. This album was unified by overarching themes played out in the music through the arrangements and the lyrics. Residents were asked to come up with various themes exploring them through narrative, developing characters, and experimenting with different ways of making music. The final product was/is our very own concept album about the music legend Willie Nelson….live recordings to follow soon!

Saturday, February 7
Travis Meinolf facilitated a Healing Mojo Bag Experience. Participants weaved their own “mojo bags” containing local healing herbs. The bags were tested in special teepee sanctuaries that were set up in the gallery. Then we visited Circle Community Acupuncture and learned about the community acupuncture movement. Melissa Craven, Jennifer Holley andDavid Lesseps opened up a discussion about their clinic model and then provide residency participants with the opportunity to experience acupuncture in a comfortable group setting.