For the last two weeks we’ve had photographer and writer Sandra Hunter staying with us for an artist residency. Sandra came all the way from Los Angeles to photograph snow and ice, and to have a quiet retreat to work on some writing.
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| Sandra Hunter at work at Point Petre, Prince Edward County |
Sandra is actually our very first winter resident, and she
has been working on a photography and shape poetry project (shape poems on
vellum overlaid on photographs), which uses close-up digital photographs of the
intersection of snow and ice and ice and water. She’s especially interested in
the layers of ice above and below water, as well as the intersections of snow
with ice and water.
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| Copyright Sandra Hunter 2013 |
Generally I do not spend a lot of time outdoors in the
winter, but I accompanied Sandra on several outings as we sought out various
icy spots around the County: Point Petre, Soup Harbour, Macaulay Mountain,
Picton Harbour, the rock cliffs in South Bay, Bloomfield Mill Pond, and various
creeks, swamps and ditches.
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| Copyright Sandra Hunter 2013 |
Sandra can find beauty anywhere, and her
enthusiasm for these glimpses of wonder has been inspiring. I've begun to see the world
through her eyes, and appreciate the magic that happens to water when the
temperature dips below zero.
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| Copyright Sandra Hunter 2013 |
Sandra and I first started discussing her residency by email
almost a year ago. If you live in our area, you’ll remember last winter as “the
winter that never was.” It was unseasonably warm, with very little snow
(thanks, climate change!). Over the last few weeks I have found myself – for possibly
the first time in my life - being thankful for the snow, ice, and freezing
temperatures.
That's what art does: it changes you.
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| Copyright Sandra Hunter 2013 |
If you’re interested in an artist residency at Small Pond Arts - in any season - check out our website for details.
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| Copyright Sandra Hunter 2013 |
Thank you, Krista, for the most incredible two weeks. Yours and Mile's hospitality truly made me fell "well come"! I can also testify to the power of the hot water bottle -- all hail. Wishing you a brilliant 2013. Shadow puppets rule.
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