on the rock

Taking the Distillery project out to the east coast, here in a St John's autumn, writing/thinking/meeting with artists and thinking through the various possibilities. I'm giving what I might call a project/projected project talk at the Eastern Edge this saturday, hope to meet with artists/writers who may be interested in participating in this project in some fashion. Meanwhile, exploring spaces like Signal Hill give a chance to breathe in the atlantic air and think about the movement across land masses, between oceans, and the politics of migrancy/migration. Just came back from the Transcanadas conf in Guelph, working through issues of the nation and citizenship and processes of body and mind. Productive time, but brings to mind the need/desire to work through creative means of addressing these same issues...

back on track

Crazy busy times here, back and forthnesses. Putting in for a couple of grants through CiCAC, this time focussing on the idea of residencies and performance, all the legacy of the cyprus voyages earlier this year. Looking at both SSHRC and the bc-based Arts Partners granting programs, trying to set up complementary projects that would bring in performance artists/performers/writers to cicac for month-long gigs. But have to get these off the rails this wknd, because a month long of travel upcoming. First stop, toronto, where I'll get to see the launch of David Chariandy's first book, _Soucayant_, a marvellous novel that has hit the long list for the giller. Shortlist announced on Tuesday, so we all wait eagerly. Then to the transcanadas conference in guelph next wknd, followed by further research/development on the east coast, looking to bring in some st john's artists into the distillery project. Finally, back through winnipeg in early nov to attend/present at the Art Tomorrow symposium put on by anthony kiendl and the plugin gallery, a rethink of contemporary art institutes in canada. So, not back in the loops for some time, a strange estrangement, trying to work in/at a place, often far too virtually. There, I have a class of graduate students in education, a new pgm for TRU, and it's quite exciting really. They're on their own devices for the next month, the pgm schedule modified to allow for them to develop research projects and take ideas forward toward their final work. Some of them extremely eager and well-placed to do some radical education, so this excites and inspires. Back to the grant mill...