HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-17-014 - 2016 Artist-in-Residence Commission
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 3, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Cory Bluhm, Interim Executive Director, Economic Development,
519-741-2200 ext. 7065
PREPARED BY: Silvia DiDonato, Manager, Arts/Creative Industries,
519-741-2200 ext. 7392
WARD (S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: February 17, 2017
REPORT NO.: CAO-17-014
SUBJECT:2016 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE COMMISSION
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RECOMMENDATION: That the commissioning of art work by the -in-
Residence, Sarah Granskou be approved; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the Artist-in-Residence 2016
Commission Agreement with Sarah Granskou, in a form satisfactory to the City
Solicitor, such agreement encompassing the terms set out in the report.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1995, the Artist-in-Residence has customarily developed a proposal for a commissioned
-in-
Link: Learn more about the City of Kitchener's Artist-in-Residence program
These art works have been installed in the public areas of city hall and in various city-owned
facilities such as community centres. The works reflect the creative work done by the artist
during his or her term of appointment. The majority are two-dimensional works of painting,
photography or prints. There are a few sculptural and digital works as well.
Sarah Granskou was appointed by Council to be the 2016 Artist-in-Residence (CAO-16-004).
Her year-long program was titled Our Fibres, Our Forests.As part of the annual program, a
commission proposal can be considered by the Public Art Working Group as described in this
report.
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REPORT:
Through her residency project, Sarah Granskou invited the community to participate or
observe as she led explorations of Natural Areas, planted and tended natural dye plants, dyed
and prepared wool, held workshops and created felted works of art including puppets, hats and
clothing, developed and performed an arrangement of songs with relevant lyrics in
collaboration with local musicians, and delivered awork-in-progress and a final exhibition of
the Our Fibres, Our Forests project at city hall.
The primary focus of the project involved the creation of a life-sized tree sculpture. Hundreds
of felted leaves were handmade by community members of all ages. The leaves were created
using wool dyed with locally grown and foraged plants, using both wet felting and needle felting
techniques. In some cases, the process by which the leaves were felted involved having them
pulled behind awheelchair to agitate and compress them, or by having children put them in
their shoes as they danced to Granskou. The tree trunk and branches were created by
Granskou using naturally dyed wool and the leaves were hung in a way that resembles a
willow tree. This soft and inviting sculpture, titled Enchanted Community Tree, was the
cornerstone of Granskou
2016 and January 2017, and is the legacy of the Our Fibres, Our Forests residency project.
With this in mind, for her commissioned work, Granskou proposes reconfiguring the Enchanted
Community Tree for installation at Forest Heights Community Centre (Appendix A).
for the tree to in a community centre, as many of the leaves that adorn it were
created at events and sessions Granskou held at community centres across the city. Forest
Heights Community Centre has expressed interest in hosting the installation and has an ideal
location for the tree in their lobby, where many community members will have the opportunity
to enjoy it.
PAWG supported the acquisition of this commissioned work at its meeting held on February
13, 2017ory Committee (ACAC)
for further support which it received on February 21, 2017: as follows:
6 Artist-in-Residence
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommendation of this report
through the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The commission is funded through the existing Arts and Creative Industries budget.
Specifically the commission fee is $2,000, funded by the Public Arts Trust Fund.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
council / committee meeting.
COLLABORATE The Artist-in-Residence program requires the artist to deliver a project with
meaningful opportunities for community engagement. From appearances at events where
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-depth felting workshops,
activities at Huron Natural Area and performances at events and festivals, Granskou provided
over 40 different opportunities for community members to get involved in her residency project
at events and locations across the city. Additionally, PAWG and ACAC provide oversight for
the Artist-in-Residence program and thereby recommend the acceptance of the 2016 Artist-in-
Residence commission.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Must be the CAO or a Deputy CAO
APPENDIX 1 2016 Artist in Residence Commission Proposal
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February 3, 2017
Sarah Granskou
2016 Artist in Residence
Commission Proposal
The Enchanted Community Tree was
created for Sarah Granskou's 2016
Artist-in-Residence project with the
City of Kitchener.
It involved the creation of 500 felted
leaves by community members of
diverse ages. The leaves were created
using wool dyed with locally grown and
foraged plants, by both wet felting and
needle felting. In some cases, the
leaves were felted in a child's shoe or
pulled behind a wheelchair. The tree
trunk and branches were created by
Sarah using naturally dyed wool and
the leaves were hung in a way that
resembles a willow tree.
The Forest Heights Community Centre
is interested in having the tree in their
lobby. It would be supported with wire and an internal structure and hung
from the ceiling for stability. The artist would purchase the materials for
installing the tree and help with the installation.
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