Artists in Residence
2024: Collaboration
This June, the Fredericton Arts Alliance’s 23rd series of Artists in Residence will return to our casemate studio in Fredericton’s Historic Garrison District.
The resident artists, two at a time, will be working out of a refurbished space until Labour Day. Artists working in a wide range of media--music, drawing, poetry, mosaic, clay, illustration, fibre art, dance and more--will explore the theme of Collaboration while sharing the space, their time and their ideas.
Working together in the Casemate studio offers the opportunity to bounce ideas off each other, share insights, learn new approaches, broaden horizons, and expand art practices.
The artists will be selected by a jury to ensure a high standard of work. Frederictonians and visitors are encouraged to visit them and learn about their various media and the inspirations that drive their practice.
Building on the strengths developed during three years of virtual residencies, we encourage artists to use their own social media channels to promote their time in the casemate, and the FAA will promote the artists and the program online as well.
The FAA greatly appreciates the continuing support of the City of Fredericton and Downtown Fredericton in running this program, which provides opportunities for established and emerging artists and makes their art accessible to the visiting public.
Aug 26 - Sept. 1
As the Fredericton Arts Alliance concludes its summer Artist in Residence Program, the final week promises a collaboration between tradition and innovation.
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Beckley, a biologist, brings her passion for the natural world into her artistry through the tradition of scientific and botanical illustration. Beckley’s paintings often focus on a single subject at a time as the classical style of botanical works.
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LeBlanc is a weaver with over five decades of experience, known for her innovative approach to textile art, her work often goes beyond traditional weaving techniques, incorporating 3-dimensional forms that challenge and inspire her.
Aug 19 - 21
Two artists will merge vivid imagination and intricate tradition at the Casemates in the Historic Garrison district. Together, they plan to create a large-scale collaborative painting that integrates Schevchenko’s intricate Petrykivka floral patterns with Milchenko’s vibrant, fantastical designs.
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Schevchenko’s art is rooted in Petrykivka painting, a traditional Ukrainian folk art celebrated for its floral patterns and intricate brushwork. Her creative process involves thoughtful exploration of colour, composition, and technique, with each piece reflecting the love and energy she invests.
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Milchenko draws inspiration from folk art, including the works of Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko, and comic books. His work has evolved from impressionist portraits to creating fantastical creatures in vibrant colours, emphasizing texture and shape.
Aug 12 - 18
Whimsical illustrations and exploration of light will highlight the residencies of Olivia Thomson and Melanie Buying in the Casemates
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Olivia Thomson, known for dreamy and maximalist art, brings vibrant colours and a whimsical approach to illustrations at the Casemates. Her work often blends surrealism with everyday emotions, crafting scenes as playful as they are poignant.
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Melanie Buyting's oil paintings are characterized by their detailed expressions and emotional resonance, capturing the intricacies of the human face. “Art allows me to express my emotions and view the world from different perspectives,” Buyting says.
Aug 5 - 11
Experience the enchantment of monster boxes with Robin Ross and Shelby Vautour as they bring their quirky, creature-filled creations back to the casemates for a second week of artistry for the Fredericton Arts Alliance’s Artists in Residence Program.
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Shelby Vautour enjoys sculpting, both physically and digitally. "Being able to hold my art and see it from all angles really makes it feel alive, especially if I'm making some kind of creature," Vautour says. Her favourite projects are monster boxes, where she finds joy in a creature holding trinkets, and paleoart, as dinosaurs have been a lifelong passion.
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Robin Ross prefers working with ink and digital mediums, finding digital art limitless by having the ability to use any colour or texture and being able to experiment without wasting materials. Ross’s favourite creations are portraits, which he finds meditative and satisfying.
July 29 – Aug 4
Isabelle Vautour and Cass MaZ plan to delve deeper into partner dancing using the multi-sports chair for their second residency week, exploring swing dance, contact improv, and contemporary dance, while keeping an open mind to new directions their project may take.
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Vautour, whose art is connected to her visual impairment, has become an advocate for disability arts as the founder of the NB Disability Art Collective. Her work focuses on creating thought-provoking and humorous pieces that spark discussion.
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For MaZ, art is a necessary solace. Unlike temporary distractions like TV shows or movies, which leave her negative thoughts lingering, art fully occupies her mind, providing a sense of peace and focus that lasts. MaZ's approach to art is dynamic and exploratory; she is currently focusing on creating alcohol ink tile coasters.
July 22 - 28
The Fredericton Arts Alliance welcomes Mariel Reyes and Brandi Estey-Burtt to the Artists in Residence Program. They will engage with the community to brainstorm ideas and bring their pieces to life.
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Reyes, a graphic design student at New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, began linocutting at a young age under her mother's influence, starting with small eraser-sized blocks."Art is a powerful tool for change, and I enjoy carving subjects that challenge me to learn more about their anatomy and unique traits," says Reyes.
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Estey-Burtt is a fantasy fiction writer for middle-grade audiences. With a background in academic writing, she transitioned to children's literature three years ago to address the lack of positive representations of neurodivergent characters.
July 15 - 22
Timothy “Bjorn” Jones and Iryna “Eereen” Shevchenko will share a Casemate from July 15 to 21, showcasing Jones's intricate wood sculptures and Shevchenko's vibrant Petrykivka paintings
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Jones practices traditional carving without power tools, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to shine. Jones’s process spans from chiseling to sanding up to 7,000 grit to reveal the full quality of the wood, “I avoid using power tools and instead prefer to work with chisels and a hatchet.
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Shevchenko brings the vibrant tradition of Petrykivka painting, a Ukrainian folk art, to her residency. Petrykivka is characterized by floral patterns, distinctive brushwork, and traditionally a white background.
July 8 - 14
Robin Ross and Shelby Vautour bring a blend of portrait artistry and sculptural creativity to their residency..
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Robin Ross, a portrait artist, takes inspiration from real-life subjects, finding joy in capturing the essence of people through digital painting and most recently ink-wash techniques. Robin thrives on the challenge of depicting human faces and the satisfaction of creating art that people enjoy.
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Shelby Vautour is primarily an illustrator but she occasionally creates sculptural models, inspired by her love for dinosaurs and monster designs. “I do seem to get a better understanding of what I'm learning when I'm working with my hands. Having a 3D sculpture really puts my work into perspective …. Being able to physically hold and look at my art from every angle feels so much more rewarding," she said.
July 1 - 7
Karen LeBlanc's 3D weaving and Melanie Buyting's light-focused painting make for an engaging residency from July 1 to 7.
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Karen LeBlanc’s passion for vibrant colours, texture, and dimension is seen throughout her artwork. Her work has evolved from handwoven clothing to public art, often drawing inspiration from her 9-year-old granddaughter, whose imagination led her to create a series of Barbie-themed scarves.
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Melanie Buyting explores how humanity and nature interact through her artwork, delving into the beauty and our place as humans within the wilderness, capturing the dynamic of light and shadow. She loves painting with oil for its ability to blend colours creating depth and luminosity in her work.
June 24 - 30
Ysabelle Vautour and Cass MaZ will lead off the Fredericton Arts Alliance’s 23rd season of Artists in Residence, collaborating on cross-disability dancing.
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Ysabelle Vautour's art is connected to her visual impairment. She has developed her painting skills and become a prominent advocate for disability arts as the founder of the NB Disability Art Collective. She found her sense of belonging in the art world, defying judgment and embracing creativity to connect and cultivate courage, openness, and a sense of wonder. “I make art because it offers a space for reflection and dialogue,” she said
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It is a first residency for Cassandra Mazariegos, who goes by Cass MaZ, a recent graduate from New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. After a stroke at age 22, she channelled her energy into gouache and acrylic paintings. Cass said painting has enhanced her mobility, coordination, and mental health. “My inspiration comes from everything. I remember an article of clothing falling off my clothing rack and just the way it landed on the floor inspired me to create.”
More information
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This year’s theme, again, is Collaboration. Last year’s artists found so many ways of making this a stimulus to new ideas that it is clear we need to continue offering this opportunity. Opening up the possibility of cross-fertilization of ideas after so long a period of artists working in their own silos turned out to be liberating. If two artists are interested in exploring collaboration, they should submit a joint application. Otherwise, the scheduling committee will do its best to arrange dates that suit the artists and new friendships — and perhaps collaborations — will ensue.
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The series will be running from June to September 2024, ending on Labour Day. Each Residency runs for one week from Monday through the following Sunday.
Artists are expected to use the opportunity to put at least 25 hours into their project and associated “pop-up.” Artists are responsible for scheduling their own hours, and should be in regular touch with the FAA to ensure the best possible media coverage of their residency.
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The Fredericton Arts Alliance plans to mount an exhibition of work produced over the summer at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre in the fall. Participants will be invited to designate a piece for this exhibition.
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All applicants must submit the following:
A completed application form (here);
Résumé or curriculum vitae;
Three references (One work-related and two character references);
Work examples as outlined in the application for specific disciplines.Please note: if your plan involves collaborating with a specific partner, you may submit a joint application.
Application deadline: Friday, May 17, 2024.
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Please do not hesitate to reach out to president@frederictonartsalliance.ca if you have any questions.