PS Notes Issue 1: "Communitas: Artistic explorations through intermedia" by Brad Necyk
Haylee Fortin. "Close Encounters film still."
Edmonton is emerging onto the international stage as a large city that is generally known for its robust economic presence. However, distinct strides have been made by the city and province to also establish Edmonton as a city with strong research and post-secondary infrastructure, a budding cultural sphere, and a growing sense of community amongst the urban sprawl. I am aware that this prior statement has many avenues of contention, but those are not the points I wish to discuss As a Sessional Instructor at the University of Alberta for senior level courses in Drawing and Intermedia, I believe that this program has created space for young creative practitioners to take risks and think critically about their contemporary condition, whether locally or globally, and to ask questions through their work. The Drawing and Intermedia student artists discussed in this article are all diverse in their approach, something very important within the Intermedia program, but have all remained consistent in engaging notions of community and how to create through-lines between their local conditions and desire for further connection...
To read the rest of Brad's essay, click through to Issue 1 of PrairieSeen Notes!