Artists and public to get together in downtown residency arts program

Arts Council Windsor & Region has selected three artists from across Ontario to participate in its new downtown residency program.

The artists will spend three weeks in locations within the city’s core to be given time and space to develop their art portfolio.

Joining in the partnership with the arts council is Hackforge, one ten park and Left Contemporary.

“It is vital that we offer opportunities like residencies to artists who are from the region, as well as from other cities.” said Jolie Inthavong, the arts council’s board president.

“In creating partnerships between the two types of spaces, we can highlight the cohesion between the different disciplines to show both professionals and the community at large that the arts can work in Windsor.”

The residency program gives working artists a professional development opportunity to help them move forward in their career, said Julie Tucker, director of public programs for the arts council.

“This is the first time we are reaching out into the community to develop partnerships and offer opportunities for youth and professional artists to gain experience,” she said.

“Under the partnership, they are letting us use their space so you can have artists in unique places where the public can interact.”

Each artist is also giving a talk under the residency program where the community can also interact with each. Receptions are free and open to the public.

Those named to the residency include Alexandra Beriault, who holds a BFA in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD University, graduating in 2014; Béla Varga, a Canadian-born Roma artist and recent BFA graduate from the University of Windsor; and Laura Horne-Gaul, born in Peterborough, U.K., but currently living in Kingsville. She was co-ordinating director at Christopher Cutts Gallery in Toronto from 2005 to 2015 and founding editor of Tussle Magazine.

The artists’ talk about their work will take place on Thursday, June 15 at 7 p.m. at Hackforge, located 255 Ouellette Ave.

Beriault and Varga’s reception and display of their work is set for June 30 at Left Contemporary at 7 p.m., located with access from alley off Cataraqui Street between Moy Avenue and Gladstone Avenue. Horne- Gaul’s reception is set for at one ten park on July 1 starting at 3 p.m., located at 110 Park St.

For more information, call the arts council at 519-252-2787.