Over the last year-and-a-half, I’ve had the priviledge to travel to many exciting places, adapt to different cultures, and meet a wide range of colorful characters. All in the name of art. But as every artist knows, you need to make money in order to make your work and travel. Since returning to Portland after a recent artist residency, I have found that my studio practice has shifted gears dramatically. Instead of the 14-hour days spent in the studio making new work, much of my creative energy is now being exerted in trying to find a full-time job.
In a persevering effort to push through these frustrations day after day, I have found myself yearning to learn from different types of ecologies - many of which surround us but are located within the periphery of society- to enrich my daily life and combat the workforce doldrums. One of the events that I will be involved with is Abby Newbold's weekend-long intensive workshop called The Academy For Survival. In partnership with Signal Fire for students in, and alumni of, PNCA’s MFA in Applied Craft + Design program the Academy will address the production of food, clothing, and shelter through demonstrations, hands-on materials experimentation, and group dialogue.
Not only am I participating in the event, but I was also asked to help photograph the weekend's experience. Afterwards, some of the photos will be included into Newbold's exhibition Borderlander's Outfitter, at the Felman Gallery on view from Sept. 4th - Oct. 24th, 2014.
Over the course of the summer, I started venturing out on a weekly hike in an effort to help alleviate some of the doubts that creep into my mind regarding my job hunting efforts. Swirling around in my head are questions like, am I good enough? Why does technical experience always outweigh life experience? Is there a baseline standard for what designers should be? And is that me anymore? It's as if I'm trying to fit myself to a particular form instead of finding a form that fits me and my strengths as a creative individual. But when I walk out into the wilderness, I privilege that space of aloneness in order to create new thoughts and ways of living the life I'm meant to live. So when I found out about The Academy For Survival, I was immediately taken with Newbold's project’s mission - to foster independence and to challenge how we engage with the world - and wanted to be a part of it.
Sunset + Supermoon Hike to: Angel's Rest (overlooking the Gorge)
Cape Lookout Hike (Oregon Coast)
Dog Mountain Hike (overlooking the Gorge from the WA side)
Cascade Head Trail Hike (Oregon Coast)
Drive up to Opal Creek Trailhead (central Oregon)
In looking at where I stand within my creative practice, I believe that participating in Abby Newbold’s workshop will align perfectly with my motivations to think about structure, resourcefulness, attachment, and ephemerality. Akin to my thoughts about each project I make, I believe that this workshop will be the perfect vehicle for further learning.
This workshop will then lead me right into my new role as Signal Fire's Wide Open Studios fall intern. The Wide Open Studios Program makes Signal Fire's excursions available to college students, emerging artists, and anyone else interested in an immersive, hands-on, wilderness residency experience. Having experience as an artist-in-residence, my role will be to learn how a fledgling residency program operates, how to garner grant support, and generating student participating and interest among colleges and universities. Through this experience I look forward to participating in a few backpacking trips and understanding how the wilderness can become my studio.
