Artists going creative on canoe trip
Two artist residencies in wilderness — in Iceland and Canada’s Yukon — not only inspired Pittsburgh artist Lori Hepner’s art but also inspired her to start her own residency program.
Called River Route, it’s running its first trip for artists, art supporters and adventurers next week. At least eight paddlers will camp and canoe along the Youghiogheny River, starting near Connellsville, from June 9 to 11. Participants will kick it off with a cocktail reception June 8 and visit studios and museums early in the day of June 9.
Then, after spending the weekend on the river, the artists — including invited Canadian new media artist Megan Smith — will return to Pittsburgh that Sunday night to work in Ms. Hepner’s studio at 57th Street Studios in Lawrenceville June 12-14. They’ll produce work that last morning at TechShop in East Liberty’s Bakery Square, and a mini exhibition will be held at 57th Street Studios at least that night and may be open to the public even longer.
This “exploratory” residency is meant to mix artists and their supporters in new ways, says Ms. Hepner. “It’s a little bit of a strategy to help make Pittsburgh a better scene for supporting artists.”
Full residency rates for artists, which were offered starting back in January, started at $250 for artists, who are subsidized by sponsors, and $450 for supporters. But after one artist had to back out because of military reserve duty, she was offering a last-minute rate for a person who just wants to paddle for the weekend for $125, which includes the Thursday meet-andgreet, a canoe and personal flotation device rental, campsite fees, a berth in a shared tent and meals.
Participants will carpool to or meet later at the starting camp.
Ms. Hepner is planning to make some art on the river with Ms. Smith, who also was on the Yukon trip. For this one, they want to use a canoe paddle to generate electricity to charge a battery with which they could make new media art at camp at night.
Her venture is part of the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s 2016-17 CoCREATE Creative Business Ignition Program, which means she’s gotten to work with other creative types on it.
She plans future trips on the rivers, including a hike in September.
For more information, visit river route residency.
Bob Batz Jr.: bbatz@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1930 and on Twitter @bobbatzjr.