Taking place from July 25th to August 1st, the Emma International Collaboration is an unstructured, creative collaboration between invited artists from all over the world. Affectionately known as “Emma,” this biennial week-long residency takes place at the Ness Creek Festival Site in Northern Saskatchewan. Artists at various stages of their careers are challenged to step outside their usual art practice to explore medium, technique, and subject matter through hands on collaboration and exciting creative exchange.
Kathy Bradshaw
kathybradshawart.com
bradshaws@shaw.ca
@kathybradshawart
What is your current area of artistic interest?
Expressive mark-making, colour, texture, light, and shadow all play a powerful role in my art. My current focus is the power of space in the northern landscape and animal portraiture. Equally fascinated and haunted by the vastness of the prairies and the solitude and complexity of the forest, I take inspiration from Thoreau’s teachings to convey the landscape as a form of escape, a return to self and a means to spiritual growth. Similarly inspired by the spiritual and symbolic connections in animals, I seek to capture their character, beauty and strength through gaze and gesture.
What is an an interesting or surprising aspect of yourself as an artist?
I have two:
- I was a Physical Education Teacher prior to going back to university to get my B.F.A. in 2005.
- I painted my first painting when I was 40 (16 years ago – yikes, now you know my age.)
If you could have an artistic super power, what would it be?
My superpower would be the ability NOT to sleep because then I would have more time to make art.
What is the biggest thrill for you as an Emma participant?
Well, attending this year for the first time!
Emma Art Auctions
Ness Creek
- WHEN: Wednesday, August 1
- Invite friends on Facebook
- Live & Silent Auction: 4 – 7 pm
- WHERE: Ness Creek Festival Site, east of Big River, SK
Saskatoon
- WHEN: Thursday, August 2
- Invite friends on Facebook
- Silent Auction: 5 pm
- Live Auction: 7 pm
- WHERE: Holy Family Cathedral, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, SK
These live and silent art auctions take place at the end of Emma at the site and in Saskatoon. The auctions are fun, free, and open to the public. This could be the beginning of your art collection! See what artistic magic occurred at the week-long collaboration! Bid on sculptures, paintings, furnishings, jewellery, and wearable art created by more than 80 international, national, and local artists. Proceeds help fund the next Emma.
The Saskatoon auction will feature food by Fresh Dish Catering and a musical performance by Saskatoon local Ellen Froese.