Artist Talks

Upcoming artist talks

There are currently no artists talks scheduled. Please check back.

previous artist talks

Thank you to everyone who participated and attended our field notes sessions! We are grateful to Arts Nova Scotia for generous support. These sessions have wrapped up for now, but stay tuned for more information on upcoming artist talks/workshops at Wonder’neath.

Bria Miller Artist In Residence Sept 2017 - April 2018: Holding Space Residency

The photos above highlight Bria's process of transforming the studio with collaborators to create an intimate setting for sharing her experience as an artist in Nova Scotia.

Bria's public talk focused on artmaking, her unexpected role as an activist within the arts, and holding space for racialized and LGBTQ+ youth through programming while at Wonder'neath and beyond, including workshops at the Pavilion and throughout the province.

field notes is a pilot project that will feature 6 professional artists whose practices focus on community engagement, participatory practice and/or activism. Recognizing the challenge of developing one’s own artistic voice in the context of community leadership/facilitation roles, we will create space for artists to publicly consider their practices. Sharing inspirations, influences, and technical explorations in their current work and how that shapes the communities they are situated in, the artists will reflect on their own process, share skills, and discuss the context of their work.

field notes, session 1: Jeighk Koyote Artist Talk and Shadowplay Workshop 

The first of six in a series of artist talks and workshops hosted by Wonder'neath with a curatorial focus that honours socially engaged practice.

Jeighk Koyote is a white non-binary settler living in so-called Halifax; unsurrendered M’ikmaq territory. They are researching shadow shows, and exploring their fascination with sound, animation and shadow performance. Their work focuses on themes of queerness, mental health and relationships told through narrative. Jeighk is a 2016/17 CFAT Media Scholarship Recipient and has been involved with Inkstorm, part of the Shitty Art Collective, and is an artist facilitator for community arts programming.

field notes, session 2: Jenny Yujia Shi Artist Talk and Workshop

Layered Narratives: March 25th 3pm (talk, free) & workshop 4:30 - 6:30pm (by donation) 

Jenny Yujia Shi is a painter and printmaker originally from Bejing, China, who has just returned from a visit to her home, and family – who are also practicing artists. In her current residency at the MacPhee Centre, Jenny  is continuing her exploration of issues including human migration and border crossings through the visual symbolism of passports, visas and entry stamps.

field notes, session 3: Raven Davis Artist Talk and Workshop

In dialogue with Raven Davis: December 2nd (artist talk, 2pm & workshop 3pm) 

Raven Davis is an Indigenous, multidisciplinary artist, curator, performer, human rights speaker and community educator from the Anishinaabek Nation in Manitoba. Davis was born and raised in Toronto, and currently works and lives between K’jipuktuk (Halifax) and Toronto. A parent of 3 sons, Davis blends narratives of colonization, race, gender, sexuality, Two-Spirit identity and the Anishinaabemowin language and culture into a variety of contemporary art forms. 

The 3rd of six in a series of artist talks and workshops hosted by Wonder'neath with a curatorial focus that honours socially engaged practice, community, activism and family. 

field notes, session 4: Leesa Hamilton Artist Talk and Workshop

December 9th, 2018 (1pm Artist Talk; Workshop to follow after a short break)

Leesa Hamilton is a Halifax based Costume Designer, Community Artist and Educator. Leesa currently coordinates the NSCAD Art Factory is a staff and Instructor at NSCAD University and continues to work in theatre. Leesa will talk about the links between her work in these fields – in particular collaborative approaches to design and program delivery, mentoring and the potential for arts education to create personal change.

The Workshop

Leesa and colleague Catherine Allen invite you to explore a lego printing technique that the Art Factory is adapting for use in community settings.

field notes, session 5: Brad Jones Artist Talk and Workshop

December 16th, 2018 (Artist Talk @ 2pm; Workshop to follow talk after a short break)

Brad Jones is a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe interdisciplinary artist whose work examines and critiques notions of colonialism, sexuality and gender. Their work is embodied as the drag persona Jennifer Dafuque. Utilizing drag as an access point, performances become the embodiment of lived experiences that seek to present contemporary queer Indigenous experiences.

The workshop

The workshop is kind of an intro to drag and will involve discussion around gender, gender expression, and examining what it means to perform gender including deconstructing and histories around this style of performance and explore what drag teaches us about ourselves when we begin to push ideas of what gender is and has to be.

field notes, session 6: Jessica Winton Artist Ideas + Actions Talk and Workshop

January 13th, 2019 (Artist Talk @ 1pm; Workshop to follow talk after a short break)

Focusing on Winton’s artwork in the social sphere, successes and failures therein and learning she has acquired through these processes. Behind the scenes photos and ideas in progress from concept to project evaluation will illustrate the talk.

An advocate for art in the public realm, Winton creates performative/sculptural installations to provoke civic engagement on socio-political issues. Graduate studies at NSCAD University led her to investigate the role of the citizen artist in the public spheres we occupy, and how sculptural works can relate to social movement through common metaphor and intriguing illusion. She has held several residencies and awards and presented her work to international audiences. Her family and studio are based in Halifax, Nova Scotia though her projects often carry her off into the streets, woodland and open fields.

The workshop

The workshop will mirror her process of community outreach and concept generation, followed by quick maquette making to evaluate impromptu ideas. No experience necessary, materials provided.