HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2025-244 - 2025 Artist in Residence Appointment & Doon Pioneer Park Public Art CommissionStaff Report
l
IKgc.;i' r� R
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: June 2, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Andrea Hallam, Manager, Arts & Creative Industries, 519-793-8269
PREPARED BY: Karoline Varin, Program Administrator, Arts & Creative Industries,
519-793-8302
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 4
DATE OF REPORT: May 13, 2025
REPORT NO.: DSD -2025-244
SUBJECT: 2025 Artist in Residence Appointment and Doon Pioneer Park
Community Centre Public Art Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
That Tara Cooper be appointed as the 2025 City of Kitchener Artist in Residence as
recommended by the selection committee and the Arts & Culture Advisory
Committee; and,
That the commission and installation of Tara Cooper's proposed artwork at Doon
Pioneer Park Community Centre be approved, pending consultation and technical
review by Facilities Management and Arts & Creative Industries staff; and further,
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement, satisfactory to the
City Solicitor, with Tara Cooper, outlining the obligations of the Artist in Residence
appointment and the public art commission design, fabrication and installation.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
• The purpose of this report is to recommend the appointment of the 2025 Artist in
Residence and to request authorization to enter into a legal agreement with the artist
to execute a public art commission at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre
(DPPCC).
• The key finding of this report is that Tara Cooper has been selected by a selection
committee and recommended by the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) as
the 2025 Artist in Residence and as the artist to realize the public art commission for
the Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre.
• The financial implications are a $10,000 artist honorarium from the existing Arts &
Creative Industries budget, and a $30,000 artwork commission allotted by the 1 % for
Public Art policy (GOV-COR-816).
• Community engagement included consultation feedback from community centre
staff, a juried selection process, consultation with ACAC and will include further
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
Page 3 of 57
consultation and technical review of the final artwork design by city staff during the
development phase, prior to fabrication and installation.
This report supports the delivery of core services through the Artist in Residence
program and the 1 % for Public Art policy.
BACKGROUND:
Established in 1995 as the first municipal program of its kind, the City of Kitchener Artist in
Residence program aims to engage the community in the production of contemporary art
that reflects community identities and supports the development of local artists. The program
delivers on the understanding that meaningful engagement in the arts and the growth of the
creative sector contribute positively to the dynamism, authenticity, attractiveness and overall
competitiveness of the City of Kitchener.
Link: Learn more about the City of Kitchener's Artist in Residence program.
am.
The Artist in Residence program continues to emphasize interactive community
engagement and encourages applicants to see the residency as an opportunity to advance
their own practice. The Artist in Residence is provided with an honorarium as compensation
for their time commitment.
The program is open to artists working in a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to,
visual arts, performing arts (theatre, music), dance, design, digital and media arts, folk and
traditional arts, literature and spoken word, and multidisciplinary works. Staff and the
advisory committees have been exploring options to widen the scope of the residency to
provide inspiring opportunities for artists.
The City's public art program installs site-specific works throughout the city. Public art is
usually created in conjunction with new major construction or renovation of City -owned
facilities or public spaces. These artworks include permanent installations in a wide variety
of styles and materials, selected with a preference for innovation, responsiveness to the site,
low -maintenance, and durability. In 2019-2020, DPPCC underwent a renovation and
expansion of its indoor and outdoor spaces. As such, it received a public art allotment
through the public art program, guided by policy GOV-COR-816.
For the 2025 Artist in Residence call, the residency and its objectives are combined with an
opportunity to develop a permanent, site-specific public art installation for DPPCC, to be
added to the City's public art collection.
REPORT:
DPPCC is a neighbourhood hub with amenities that welcome and serve more than 20,000
residents, with shopping, restaurants and sports fields located nearby. In 2019, the centre
was renovated and expanded to continue providing highly valued recreation, social services
and continuing education programs that meet community needs. Many outreach and
support agencies also make this a hot spot for the community, including a local branch of
the Kitchener Public Library located within the building.
An artist team was initially selected in 2019 and approved by Council. The pandemic halted
and then significantly delayed the project. Furthermore, because of significant cost
increases in materials and fabrication, including leaving the artists with no commission for
Page 4 of 57
services, the artist team was not able to realize their proposal. No agreement was
completed, and the relationship was terminated.
Arts & Creative Industries (A&CI) staff continued to communicate closely with DPPCC staff
to establish parameters for a new call for proposals. A new site for a new artwork installation
was identified: a renovated patio located at the back of the building, accessible from the
outside and inside, intended for future community use and programming. Staff determined
that the Artist in Residence program mandate would align well with the type of engagement
and artwork installation the centre was seeking, whilst also supporting local artists trying to
extend or expand their practice into the public art realm.
The combination of two A&CI programs results in a yearlong commitment focusing on
research and community engagement to inform the development, fabrication and installation
of a permanent, site-specific art installation at DPPCC. Starting in July 2025, the first six
months of the residency are expected to be dedicated to researching, developing and
finalizing a design concept for the public art installation, supported by participatory
community engagement. Starting in January 2026, the next six months shall be dedicated
to the fabrication and installation of a permanent, site-specific art installation, following
successful development consultation and technical review with City staff.
Competition
The call for proposals was advertised for seven weeks. Eight proposals from artists living in
the region were submitted by the competition close date. Members of the selection
committee comprised of DPPCC manager, Ward Councillor, a Doon Pioneer Park
Community Association member, ACAC member and local visual artist/Kitchener Waterloo
Art Gallery curatorial assistant, assessed the entries based on:
• demonstrated commitment to artistic practice
• strength and clarity of concept and overall proposal
• artistic merit of proposal and/or past work
• capability of artist to enable meaningful community engagement to activate a public
space
• impact on current artistic development
• relevance of the proposed residency activities and proposed artwork installation to
facility priorities and local culture
• capacity to collaborate with other professionals to realize an outcome
• qualifications and ability to produce high-quality artworks
• capacity to successfully complete and install an artwork
The selection committee reached consensus on April 25th, selecting Tara Cooper as the
recommended 2025 City of Kitchener Artist in Residence and as the artist to complete the
public art commission to be sited at DPPCC.
Residency and artwork commission proposal
Tara Cooper's art practice embraces the combination of media from print, ceramics, film,
installation and book arts. Her subject matter draws from storytelling, with an eye for graphic
design, pattern and poetics. She has exhibited her work across Canada (from coast to
coast), as well as in New York, California and Europe, receiving numerous grants from
Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Kitchener Waterloo Community
Page 5 of 57
Foundation and a Humanities and Social Sciences Award. Tara is an associate professor
at the University of Waterloo, although she will be on sabbatical during the residency period.
Employing the idea and symbolism of a potluck which shares an ethos with the folktale
"Stone Soup," the artist proposes to host a series of hands-on workshops using library
resources such as cookbooks. Each workshop will target a different audience (e.g. kids,
families, adults, teens, date night) and introduce the participants to different art mediums
such as zines, recipe cards, accordion books and pop -ups, using methods like letterpress,
collage, drawing, linocuts and screen printing. The artist will include prompts connected to
family recipes, favourite foods and food culture. The artist brings a wealth of workshop
facilitation experience.
The resulting content — imagery and text — generated from these workshops would form the
design ideas to create the proposed public art commission: a cut-out collage of symbols in
Tara's colourful and whimsical style bolted to the exterior wall within the patio area, making
a cohesive composition. Fabrication would employ a range of materials such as aluminum
made for outdoor signage, steel shaped by a CNC router, ceramics and marine plywood
that is laser cut and shaped by hand with a band saw.
The jury appreciated Tara's well -thought-out workshops, the relevancy of these activities to
the final public art installation, and the plan to engage groups of all ages and abilities. She
also plans to enlist and mentor emerging artists during her fabrication process. Tara's
colourful visual language would connect well with the many families and children attending
activities at the community centre, animating the patio area.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The $10,000 artist honorarium and up to $2,500 allocation for expenses are supported by
the Arts & Creative Industries budget.
The public artwork installation is funded by allocations in accordance with Public Art policy
GOV-COR-816. The renovation of the community centre resulted in a $29,000 allotment in
2020, inclusive of artist and collaborator production fees, materials, fabrication and
installation, of which $2,809.60 was spent on the original commission prior to termination.
In 2024, another $3,809.60 was transferred from the consolidated public art account to reach
the current allotment of $30,000. This was done to meet the minimum allocation for adding
a permanent artwork the City's collection (GOV-COR-815, section 4.4a), as established by
A&CI staff's recent policy review (DSD -2024-026).
Any ongoing maintenance costs will be funded through the City's Public Art maintenance
budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the committee meeting.
Page 6 of 57
CONSULT — Currently, the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) serves as the
consulting body on the Artist in Residence call for proposals. Arts & Creative Industries staff
produced an open call for proposals which was published on the City's website and
promoted on its social media. An information session took place for interested applicants
prior to the closing date.
ACAC considered and supported the motion to select Tara Cooper as the 2025 City of
Kitchener Artist in Residence, on May 20, 2025.
COLLABORATE — An important component of the Artist in Residence program is the
requirement for meaningful public engagement. City staff will work with the artist to support
the identified opportunities for public engagement in the proposal. Community centre users
will be active contributors in the preliminary stages of the design of the artwork commission.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
GOV-COR-816 Public Art Policy
DSD -2024-026 Public art policy review and revisions
DSD -21-004 Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre Public Art
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager of Development Services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A — call for proposals
Attachment B — Tara Cooper's proposal
Page 7 of 57
2025 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre
The 2025 Artist in Residence program is an experimental opportunity to develop and site a permanent
public art installation as part of the city's public art program at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre.
On this page:
1. About the Artist in Residence and Public Art programs
2. Information session
3. 2025 Artist in Residence call for proposals
4. Public art installation requirements
a) Site considerations
b) Review
5. Eligibility and submission requirements
6. Selection process
a) Selection committee
b) Evaluation criteria
7. Compensation
a) Artist in Residence compensation
b) Public art commission/budget
8. Timeline
9. Resources available to the Artist in Residence
10. Application
1. About the Artist in Residence and Public Art Programs
The Artist in Residence program celebrates the diversity of artistic practice in Kitchener. For the past 30
years, we have invited artists working in various disciplines and residing in or connected to Waterloo
Region to apply to be our next Artist in Residence. With this program, we encourage local artists to
develop their practice and interests as they engage with, collaborate with, and enrich their community.
For the 2025 Artist in Residence call, we are combining the residency and its objectives with an
opportunity to develop a permanent, site-specific public art installation for the Doon Pioneer Park
Community Centre (DPPCC). The artwork will be added to the city's public art collection.
Public, accessible art makes Kitchener a lively and engaging city. Our public art program is funded
separately from the residency program, through a percent -for -art policy, that supports the production
of artworks specific to civic facilities and spaces. The DPPCC was renovated and expanded in 2020. As a
city -owned facility, it is eligible for a public artwork through our,lb.lj.._a.irt... olliic .
We invite visual artists based in Waterloo Region to apply for consideration to be the 2025 Artist in
Residence. This is a yearlong commitment focusing on research and community engagement resulting in
the development, fabrication, and installation of a permanent, site-specific art installation at the DPPCC.
Page 8 of 57
2. information Session
We will host an information session to answer questions about this opportunity on March 13
from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The information session will be hosted at DPPCC, 150 Pioneer Dr.,
Kitchener, ON, N2P 2C2.
Please send us an email or call 519- 783.8302 if you are unable to attend the information session
and have any questions about this residency.
3. 2025 Artist in Residence call for proposals
This call for proposals is open to visual artists who live or work primarily in Waterloo Region or are able
to show a clear, ongoing connection to the region. We will prioritize proposals with a strong potential to
impact the users of the community centre. The Artist in Residence program continues to encourage
applicants to see the residency as an opportunity to advance their own practice.
This is a one -stage competition open to individual visual artists only. Contributing subcontractors can be
hired at production stage, however, they cannot be co -residents.
Preference will be given to artists whose submission demonstrates experience creating and installing
temporary or permanent public art. Further preference will be given to artists that can include a
meaningful component of citizen participatory engagement in the fabrication or development stage of
the proposed art installation at DPPCC.
The first six months of the 2025 residency are expected to be dedicated to researching, developing and
finalizing a design concept for the public art installation. The final six months shall be dedicated to the
fabrication and installation of a permanent, site-specific art installation at the DPPCC, following
successful consultation with city staff.
Please note that depending on the proposed idea, the centre may not accommodate all fabrication
methods. In this case, sourcing outside facilities to create the final artwork would be solely at the artist's
discretion and their responsibility. The hope is that the time spent during the residency will allow the
selected artist to observe, interact with, or lead programming that would inform or clarify the final
concept or details of the public art installation.
4. Public art installation requirements
Our objectives for the public art program are to support communities, culture, and artists, to represent
a diverse community, and to improve the quality of life for all residents. Public safety is a priority in the
acquisition of artworks for our collection. We prefer artworks that are sustainable, durable, non-
corrosive in nature, and require low maintenance, especially if located outdoors.
Our Arts and Culture Advisory Committee also recommends that accessibility be considered in the
artwork selection processes, seeking to include rather than exclude as many people as possible.
Land acknowledgement
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg and
Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honour
Page 9 of 57
the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and
deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Kitchener today.
The DPPCC, located in the southeast corner of the city at 150 Pioneer Park Drive, is on the territory of Six
Nations on the Haldimand Tract, near the majestic Grand River.
a) Public art site considerations at DPPCC
Our goal is to collect artwork commissions that are responsive to the spaces in which they are located
and to the public uses of those spaces.
We encourage artists interested in submitting to the 2025 Artist in Residence program to visit the DPPCC
or attend the information session to learn about its activities and active uses before applying.
This area where the DPPCC is located is forecasted to be the fastest-growing neighbourhood in
Kitchener over the next 20 years and is already home to a multicultural population with a high
proportion of children, teens, and mature adults.
People who visit and live here value the walkability of nearby trails, and the variety of wildlife in the
area. Residents describe the Doon neighbourhood as a great place to live and play.
DPPCC is a neighbourhood hub with amenities that welcomes and serves more than 20,000 residents,
with shopping, restaurants, and sports fields located nearby. The centre was recently renovated and
expanded to continue providing highly valued recreation, social services, and continuing education
programs that match community needs. Many outreach and agency supports also make this a hot spot
for the community, including a local branch of the Kitchener Public Library located within the building.
One of the key priorities identified prior to the renovation was to accommodate a bigger space for the
community to gather with friends and neighbours. As a result, a large program room was added to the
facility with an entryway onto a cement patio bordered by a brick wall.
The aim of the final public art installation is to animate the outdoor patio.
b) Technical review
Prior to the fabrication of the proposed public art installation, the selected 2025 Artist in Residence will
have to demonstrate to our review staff that technical requirements can be accomplished in the final
production , fabrication, and installation of the artwork within the scope of the public art budget. City
staff will support the Artist in Residence during this process, but if the artist cannot meet these
requirements to the satisfaction of technical reviewers, we will not proceed with a commission.
Technical requirements reviewed would include:
• Durability of artwork
• Feasibility of installation
• Appropriateness of the scale of the artwork to the space it will occupy
• Appropriateness to the production and installation timelines
• Suitability and sustainability of material and maintenance requirements
• Safety and accessibility for users of centre
Page 10 of 57
At our discretion and if deemed necessary, the artist must provide detailed design drawings of the
artwork sealed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Canada, prior to fabrication. This may
include detailed design and engineering for all anchoring or other installation requirements.
5. If.:..H11 ibilli and ,sulk miissiion ireguhreirnen ,s
We're committed to creating and supporting an equity -based platform that includes diverse creative
perspectives. We welcome and highly encourage applications from individuals with intersectional
identities from groups seeking equity, diversity and inclusion. This includes artists from many diverse
backgrounds and origins, but we specifically encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and
racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and people with disabilities.
The 2025 residency is open to visual artists who live or work primarily in Waterloo Region, or can show a
clear, ongoing connection to the region. We will prioritize proposals with strong potential to impact the
users of the community centre.
Artists that are currently under contract to produce another public art project for the City of Kitchener
are ineligible until the current contract is completed. In exceptional cases, we may waive this condition
for an artist.
The 2025 Artist in Residence call for submissions is open to individual visual artists only.
Please see the evaluation criteria section below for additional eligibility criteria.
Proposal package
Interested artists must submit a proposal package that includes the following:
1. Resume, short personal description or summary of relevant credentials (maximum three pages).
2. Letter of interest (maximum 1,000 words) highlighting your qualifications, relevant experience,
how the residency would further support or advance your artistic development, and a
description of your intended approach to this residency, including a preliminary design or idea
of the public art installation. The idea does not have to be fully developed. You may give
examples of how past approaches may support the approach to this residency and artwork
installation.
Please note that this summary may be used as a narrative for administrative and public use.
3. Minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 high-resolution image files (jpg, pdf, video) that illustrate
past public art projects and/or community participatory art -making activities or results. Please
include a corresponding image list with title, media, size, location (if applicable) and year of
creation for each work pictured. A caption for each image may also be included if desired. If
possible, please submit a PowerPoint or PDF file to detail individual images.
4. Contact information for two persons of reference that could offer feedback on your artistic
practice.
5. Be prepared to enter into a legal agreement with the City of Kitchener, and, if applicable,
provide an HST registration number.
If you have any questions or require any accessible accommodations, please contact our, Program
Administrator, Karoline Varin, at 519-783-8302 or by emailing Karoline.varin@kitchener.ca
Page 11 of 57
5, Sellection process
After applications close, a selection committee recruited and facilitated by city staff will choose the 2025
Artist in Residence. The committee's recommendation will proceed to our Arts and Culture Advisory
Committee (ACAC) for support before being presented to city Council for final approval.
Once approved, we will prepare an agreement with the artist.
We reserve the right to end the competition at any stage. In such a case, we will notify the artist who
has submitted a proposal as necessary.
a) Selection committee
A selection committee ensures a fair process through balanced participation and discussion of all eligible
submissions. The committee's responsibility is to assess submissions and select based on artistic merit,
project practicality and other identified criteria.
Staff will assemble the jury to reflect resident demographics and to include the following participants:
• one member as recommended by ACAC
• one visual artist from the region
• one member representing DPPCC
• one member representing Doon Pioneer Park Community Association (DPPCA)
• the ward councillor or designate
b) Evaluation criteria
Selection committee members will independently evaluate the submissions received from artists against
the criteria outlined below using a three -colour rating system (green for yes, yellow for maybe, red for
no) and other rating inputs (including juror commentaries). The highest-rated submissions will then be
discussed in greater detail by the selection committee to reach consensus on a recommended applicant.
The applicant must:
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• reside or work in Waterloo Region or have a clear, ongoing connection or affiliation with the arts
sector in the region.
• demonstrate commitment to their practice
• show strength and clarity of their concept and overall proposal
• show artistic merit of their proposal
• show their capability to enable meaningful community engagement to activate a public space
• show the residency's impact on their current artistic development
• show relevance of the proposed residency activities and proposed artwork installation to facility
priorities and local culture
• show their capacity to collaborate with other professionals to realize an outcome
• show qualifications and ability to produce high-quality artworks
• show capacity to successfully complete and install an artwork
Page 12 of 57
The selection committee may find that none of the submissions fulfill the project criteria. In this case,
we may re -open the selection process.
T Compensation
The commission fee available to the selected artist does not include costs related to selection
committee participation or meetings, residency marketing or possible artwork unveiling and
interpretation.
a) Artist in Residence Compensation
• $10,000 honorarium for time spent in residency received in two installments.
• $2500 supply budget to facilitate community engagement activities
b) Public art commission
The total commission budget available for the final on-site public art installation is $30,000.
This amount must cover:
• artists' production fees, including design, engineering or production subcontractors
• material, fabrication, transportation and installation
• studio and storage costs
• legal fees
• documentation (photography, spec sheet and maintenance schedule prep, etc.)
• artist or team travel expenses and meeting time
The installation will be implemented with support from our staff. Contracting and completion of the
installation must be done by an approved contractor.
m Timeline
This is the proposed project timeline. Please note that the timeline is subject to change.
• February 18: call for submissions launch date
• March 13: information session
• April 1: applications close
• Week of April 22: jury meeting
• May 20: presentation to ACAC
• June 2: presentation to council
• July: residency starts
• July — Dec 2025 residency takes place
• Jan — June 2026 artwork fabrication & installation
9m Resources avaiialblle to the artist
The Artist in Residence will have access to advice and expertise from ACAC during monthly
committee meetings.
Page 13 of 57
They will also receive guidance, practical input, and help from city staff on developing feasible
and implementable community activities and ways to realize project objectives:
• The resident artist will have a budget of up to $2,500 during their residency for supplies
related to any community activity and/or collaborator fees during the first six months of the
residency.
• Help from city staff in promoting any activities or events.
• Coordination of writing, editing, design, and printing of promotional materials directly
related to the residency project (event invitation cards or posters, brochures, business
cards, etc.).
• In-kind access to a pre -designated workspace at the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace. Please
note: this space is a shared workspace which may not accommodate all artwork fabrication
methods due to safety, storage, or space limitations.
• Insurance coverage during the residency and during the fabrication and installation of the
artwork.
• Exploration of opportunities for any aspect of the Artist in Residence's project to coordinate
with City of Kitchener festivals and events, including DPPCC's activities.
• Help connecting with potential collaborators to support project goals.
• Support with the logistics of installing the artwork.
• Support in meeting accessibility needs of the artist, as needed.
10.pplliica ion
Applications are due at 5 p.m. on April 5, 2025. We will not consider incomplete or late submissions.
You can apply:
• online
• by delivery or mail
• by email
If you have any questions, please send us an email or call - 519.783.8302
Online
To apply online, please complete our application form.
Please review the submission form before beginning your application to familiarize yourself with the
requirements. You can save the application and come back to it later.
BUTTON: Apply online
By delivery or mail
To apply by delivery or mail, please submit two unbound copies of your package (page size 8 %" x 11")
before the final deadline to:
2025 Artist in Residence
c/o Economic Development, 6th floor, City Hall
200 King Street West
Kitchener, ON
Page 14 of 57
Canada
N2G 4G7
Attention: Karoline Varin, arts and creative industries Program Administrator
We are not responsible for damage to, or loss of, support materials.
Page 15 of 57
"JJ�Kji
AS&I
The word "potluck" or "luck of the pot" as
it was called in the 16th century, gained
momentum in the 1930's during the
depression to share food resources. "Stone
Soup", an old European folktale shared a
similar ethos where villagers brought various
foods—potatoes, onions, celery, sweetcorn,
chicken, butter—to the cooking pot that
began modestly with water and a stone
simmering over an open fire. Both stories
underscore the power of generosity—how
contributions from everyone makes for a
delicious, nourishing meal.
Employing the idea of a potluck, my proposal
has two parts: 1) a series of community
engaged hands-on workshops, and 2) a cut-
out collage of imagery and text based on
content generated from the workshops that
will be bolted to the exterior wall, running
the length of the patio.
1) During the residency phase, I will
hold a series of 5 workshops (3-5 hours) using
the library's resources such as cookbooks,
along with the community room as a maker's
space. Each workshop will be designed for a
different audience (e.g. kids, families, adults,
teens, date night) and have a different take
(e.g. zines, recipe cards, accordion books,
paper engineering/pop ups, using methods
such as portable letterpress, collage, shadow
drawings/wire contours, lino -cuts, and
portable screen -printing). However, all would
share the prompts: What are you going to
bring to the potluck? Do you have a cherished
family recipe? What's your favourite food
and why? Based on imagery and recipes
generated from these workshops, I will design
a set of cutouts, including text to illustrate
what this giant potluck would be for the Doon
Community. I will also research fabrication
aspects such as working with marine plywood,
ceramics, acrylic, and metal made for outdoor
signage in addition to designing the layout.
2) The fabrication phase includes making
the cutouts and preparing the fasteners for
install, along with any needed coatings to
make them durable for the outdoors. I have
access through the University to various laser
cutters, wood shops, and metals shops and will
be on sabbatical during this phase. Ideally,
I'd like to cover the entire wall with cut-out
pieces collaged into a cohesive composition.
The unveiling of the artwork could include a
community potluck in celebration, along with
a display of any bookish artworks made in the
workshops, which could become a permanent
part of the library's collections.
Page 17 of 57
Examples of my cut-out wood pieces, hand -carved and laser cut. The lower image
depicts how the cutouts would be installed using a pin method that is bolted to
the wall, allowing for some shadow play as a kind of overlapping bas relief.
Page 18 of 57
Example of a grid-like strategy for the composition
along with a possible colour palette.
Page 19 of 57
Examples of my CNC router metalwork using steel with
my hand -drawn cursive text and drawing of a cloud.
Page 20 of 57
Examples of ceramic tiles made as
part of the 3-person artist collective
K-DUB Tile Club, which I stared this
past August. If accepted, I would
like to work with the 2 other artists
(Mengchao Wu and Daphne Wang) to
fabricate the ceramic elements.
Page 21 of 57
Teaching
For the past 5 summers I have directed
S.A.I.L., the Student Art Innovation Lab,
an outreach arts program housed in a
restored Airstream trailer. Supported by
the University of Waterloo, SAIL hosts art
exhibitions, children's crafts, workshops,
high school field trips and site-specific
temporary installations around the region.
Over 20,000 people have participated in SAIL
events locally. To make all of this happen, I
mentor and work with a team of university
students.
I also bring with me decades of teaching
experience, which not only includes my work
as a professor, but also earlier employment
such as running school visits and March
break programming for families at the Art
Gallery of Ontario, plus teaching children art
at a Montessori School. I also teach students
how to teach as part of our graduate studies
through a Pedagogy in Fine Arts course.
Public Art
I have been on the Board of Directors for
CAFKA (6 years) and Waterloo Potter's
Workshop (2 years). The former contributing
to my knowledge of public artwork—what
works and what doesn't work. I made one
of the sculptures for the ION project, Tall
Tales of Mill Street, which was made in
collaboration with my partner Terry O'Neill.
Additionally, I have created three local
outdoor murals. In 2024, I received a 5 -year
award for my volunteer work in the region
with CAFKA from the province of Ontario.
Studio Practice
Likewise, I've got decades of working as an
artist in a range of media (print, video, artist
books, ceramics and sculpture), mounting
solo exhibitions and site-specific installations
for venues such as the Kitchener Waterloo
Art Gallery, the Canadian Clay and Glass
Gallery, the Wassaic Project (Wassaic, New
York), Arprim Gallery (Montreal), and SNAP
Gallery (Edmonton).
Page 22 of 57
TTY-YiTU-
Support/Advance my Artistic
Development
I have been employing collage -based
strategies—the coming together of discrete
elements into a larger whole—to produce
site-specific installations within a gallery
context for many years. Whether it's my
"table collages" as seen in "The ocean is
the original mood ring" and "God Love
Brigus II'; or on the walls and floors like
"Reading the Sky" and "Robotic Clay". All
these however, have been temporary indoor
exhibitions. What is new for me with Doon
is the chance/challenge to apply these maker
strategies/my artistic voice within the context
of a permanent outdoor artwork, where
my intention is to combine a mixture of
materials such as ceramic, folded and cut
metal, as well as laser -engraved wood. I'm
in my early fifties, and as an artist entering
a new phase of life, I've been reflecting on
what I want out of my studio practice and
how I can have an impact on my community.
This project hits both goals for me—it will be
a challenge in terms of my studio practice,
helping me materially realize something
new while playing to my maker strengths,
but also connect me with my community
in terms of being able to impart/share the
power of self-expression and storytelling
through food and creativity.
In Conclusion
Basically, I've got the maker and teaching
chops to pull this off, and I think I can
facilitate and design something that will have
a positive and lasting impact on the Doon
Community. I love the format of this call,
how I get to know and work directly with
the community (i.e. the people who will live
with my art), coupled with the opportunity
to make an ambitious permanent artwork.
Woodcuts printed on rice paper.
Page 23 of 57
j�
� \
( m �
....: ...��\.���� ...�..
Drawings/sketches in my studio. This Rwhere meas psmrthecut oa _oder begin.
Page 24 0 57