Emma Bound
Exhibition Dates: July 15 – August 20, 2016
Reception: Tuesday, July 26, 7 – 9 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK
This exhibition showcases the eclectic, imaginative and energetic work of the 2016 EMMA International Collaboration participants and invited guest artists. Featuring work in many media, including wood, fibre, ceramics, mixed media and visual art, it is a vibrant show that the whole family can enjoy.
EMMA Auctions
Ness Creek
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Hours: 4 – 6 pm
Location: Ness Creek Festival Site, Big River, SK • Directions
Saskatoon
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
Hours:
• Doors open at 5 pm
• Silent auction from 5 – 7 pm
• Live auction begins at 7 pm
Location: Holy Family Cathedral, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, SK
These art auctions are free and open to the public. See what artistic magic occurred at the weeklong 2016 EMMA International Collaboration. This could be the beginning of your art collection! Collaborative artwork created by international, national and local artists. Proceeds help fund future EMMA Collaborations.
Evelien Sipkes
www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/evelien-sipkes
In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound.
Pendant. A little jar with a golden spark inside: the ‘gleam’ I felt after joining EMMA last time.
Tell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.
My work is an important way to deal with emotions, it’s a language to express things that seems to be very obvious to talk about, but at the same time can be very overwhelming.
Sometimes I have an idea and try to translate that into the material. More often I just start to work and see the piece develop into what I apparently am dealing with at that moment…
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
Structures and patterns in nature. The way everything has its meaning in nature, no waist, no unnecessary existence. Everything is connected.
Bach, Simeon ten Holt, because of their genius way of playing with structures in music while making very harmonious melodies.
Paul Klee, because of his sensitivity.
Andy Goldsworthy, because of the way he makes is art in a symbiosis with nature.
African native arts, because of its purism and spiritualism.
And more….
Where are you from and what do you love and/or hate about that place?
I am from Amsterdam, but I live in Curacao (Dutch Caribbean) more than 30 years all together. I love the rough nature, the quality of daily life which is more relaxed and more free than in America of Europe. I like the way my creativity is pushed all the time because island life is very restricted in many ways.
I hate the way people don’t care about the island, about nature, about development. I don’t like people who are indolent, although I understand that attitude since I live there for a long time: not getting things done (because of the lack of materials f.e.) and the hot climate makes you let go things now and then.
I do miss culture, arts, museums, theatres, performances, books, music etc. etc. from a certain level VERY much. And I miss the opportunity to join classes, workshops etc. to learn more.
Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration. What are you looking forward to?
2nd time. I am looking forward to start the EMMA week more prepared than the first time. I do know what I can expect now, so I will be able to take out more profits, in making and learning, as well as in contributing and working together with others.
What does “making collaborative art work” mean to you? Is it a struggle to “let go” at times?
It is definitely not a struggle! But it isn’t ‘let go’ as well. It is a conversation where you listen to and talk with each other, enjoying the process of creating something together which you would never have made on your own. For me it is not about 1 person has an idea and the other ones just make a part to realize that idea. It is about action and reaction, it’s like you need 2 to tango! ( I know… most of the time it doesn’t work like that… but that is what it should be for me: surprise and be surprised, that is very inspiring!)
BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.
The perfection of the imperfection.
Louisa Ferguson
www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/louisa-ferguson
In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound.
“Pod” is a collaboration between 2 mediums; porcelain and glass, bound to each other in a single form.
Tell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.
My creative process revolves around the physical dialogue between a medium and me, and how we affect and shape each other. I am just as interested in what a medium or a specific piece imposes on me, as I am in the initial idea or spark that motivates me to create it. Many times, I am just as surprised as others with the result.
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
Currently, I am inspired by the idea of re-generation and how the end of something is needed in order for something else to begin. The refuge crisis we can see playing out everyday, in the media and social platforms, embodies this. I admire the resilience of those who are compelled to give up countries, ways of life, safety and comfort in order to salvage personal authenticity.
One of the artists I admire is Mark Rothko. The intense emotions provoked by his abstract paintings are phenomenal. It absolutely floors me, how he can incite those emotions with colour field paintings.
Where are you from and what do you love and/or hate about that place?
I am from many places. I was born in Montreal to immigrant parents. I hold 2 passports; a Canadian and a Portuguese one. Yet, I have lived in Saskatchewan for 24 years. These 3 places have “made” me. I am as much of one, as I am of the others. I value the diverse perspectives of culture, politics and morality this has given me.
On the negative side… I’m not much into -36 degrees Celsius.
Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration. What are you looking forward to?
This is my first time at Emma. I am beyond excited. The opportunity to work collaboratively with other artists from all over the world, in different mediums, is fabulous.
Collaborative art to me is cumulative. It is the transparent layering of experience, perspective and opinion. The layers all exist at the same time, but it is the looking through the transparency, down through all the layers, that offers insight.
BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.
Art is language.
Paul Baker
www.emmacollaboration.com/artists/paul-baker
In one sentence describe the piece you are submitting to Emma Bound
It is a found metal object sculpture of a raven
Tell us about your creative process – in general and/or specifically for your Emma Bound piece.
Inspiration often comes from a piece of metal in the scrap pile that speaks to me of a shape or form.
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
I find myself drawn towards local wildflowers, trying to translate there delicate beauty to metal. I am inspired by many artists of all disciplines but if I had to pick I would say Andrew Smith, I admire the gestures he gets in his sculptures.
Where are you from and what do you love and/or hate about that place?
I have lived in the Yukon for 30 years and love its raw awesome wilderness and laid back people.
Tell us if this is your first time or 10th time attending Emma International Collaboration.
What are you looking forward to?
First time to Emma but have been to Collaberatiionz once. I look forward to interacting with other artists.
What does “making collaborative art work” mean to you? Is it a struggle to “let go” at times?
For me collaborative art is all about sharing on many levels and no I have no problem letting go.
BONUS – Give us a quote or sentiment to live by.
It’s not whether or not you make mistakes, it’s how well you hide them. (My Dad)