[5-DAY STUDIO PRACTICE WORKSHOP]
COLE BARASH: “OPEN LAB: NATURE AS STUDIO PRACTICE”
SEPTEMBER 17-21, 2024, BOWEN ISLAND, BC

This workshop will consist in a series of exercises focused on all aspects of developing a successful studio practice – including writing, research, sequencing images to further the work, organizational systems, photographing work for the archive and experimenting.  For this, the 6 participants will each receive a studio area of approximately 6 x 9 feet of wall and floor space at the FotoFilmic Space to materialize the fruits of their research in both 2 and 3-dimensional forms. 

Through presentation and discussion we will explore work that include themes of the natural world, environment, and communities that have been successfully demonstrated in bodies of work of other artists.

During open studio sessions, students will be meant to bring a good range of material to work with including imagery from a few different projects or several parts of their archive (can be mailed/shipped to FotoFilmic ahead of time if more convenient). Smaller 4 x 6 inch prints will be favored, with files larger to print bigger on site up to 8 x 10 in or 11 x 14 in. Further direction for each student’s project will be developed and refined. Navigating such questions as, where and what is being said with this work? What and why is the personal voice in each? What other larger questions are being asked as output of this work being made? How are layers of environment, nature, community, earth, self, intertwined?

The island’s great natural setting will also be used for applied research work, where participants will produce natural photographs as illustrations of research ideas, and/or gather organic elements (plants, leaves, branches, shells, coastal rocks, etc) to incorporate to their photographic work in their studio space. To make it easier for participants to travel light, a materials/studio fee will cover any additional materials needed to work with during the week, such as papers, cloth, wood, metal, etc. 

Finally, we will also take trips into the field, talking about landscape, objects, different systems to interpret (and of course make photographs as previously noted).

Each student will present an introduction of their work to the group critique as well as be met with on an individual level for feedback.  The workshop will conclude in the making of a small scrapbook (either a group one, or individual ones)  toward the end of the week.  

Open to only 6 participants.