OCAD UNIVERSITY CONTEMPORARY FLORENCE STUDIO
Spring/Summer 2020 Residencies and Courses
Image: Fahmina Ahmed
OCAD University, Canada’s leader in preparing the next generation of contemporary artists, is pleased to open the doors of our Florence studio to the international art and design community!
These programs are open to members of the OCAD U community as well as creative practitioners world-wide. In addition to utilizing OCAD U’s studio and emphasizing our approach to contemporary practice, this programming also includes the opportunity to engage with local practitioners and workshops.
1. OPEN SESSION CREATOR-IN-RESIDENCE
SPRING SESSIONS:
April 14th - 20th, 2020
April 21st - 27th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 25th, 2020
SUMMER SESSIONS:
June 6th -12th, 2020
June 13th -19th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 14th, 2020
Immerse yourself in a city where the rich traditions of fine art and craftsmanship meet contemporary art and design! The Creator in Residence Open Residency supports the participation of artists, designers, writers and any creative practitioners that can benefit from the time and space to develop their practice in a studio environment. As a participant, you will receive access to space at OCAD U’s Florence studio in a quiet shared palazzo in Florence’s San Marco neighbourhood. Your own designated work space will be complemented by the proximity to other creative professionals from around the world, as well as an array of programming to help you reflect on and share your practice. The residency includes an introductory Italian lesson, group community events, studio visits with local practitioners and a facilitated weekly group critique session.
2. UNDERSTANDING NORTHWEST COAST INDIGENOUS ART WITH LUKE PARNELL
May 1st - 7th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 20th, 2020
This workshop series will be aimed at helping participants be able to recognize the imagery of NWC art (from the Northwest Coast of North America), in addition to gaining knowledge of its historical and contemporary context. The lectures will trace the history of NWC art from pre-contact to modernity to now and the hands-on learning will teach the participants the elements of NWC art by drawing and copying traditional designs.
This course will be a 6-part studio/seminar, with an additional day dedicated to a group field trip. Each day will start with a lecture (approximately 1 hour), and finish with some hands-on learning. There will also be time for participants to explore Florence, as well as engage in critical, group dialogue reflecting on how the context and history of the city in relationship to the class focus.
3. REFRAMING HISTORIES: PHOTOGRAPHY IN SEQUENCE WITH APRIL HICKOX
May 10th - 16th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 20th, 2020
This collaborative course, Reframing Histories: Photography in Sequence focuses on connections to the landscape, which embrace land use (urban and rural), sustainability, site-specific interactions, and personal relationships to the land.
Through the exploration of site and place, this studio-based photography course will propel participants to respond to a new environment while intertwining their personal areas of interest. During this seven-day experience, learners will be given a series projects asking them to respond using their personal cultural history or their experiences in Florence as inspiration. At the start of the session, each day will center around responding to a landmark in the city, including both the natural environment, historical sites and museums. The participants will have the opportunity to link the series of small assignments into a linked body of work or to use the tasks as a way to generate new directions for their creative practice.
4. WATER AND STONES WITH MICHÈLE WHITE AND KATHARINA GIRALDI-HALLER
May 19th - 25th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 20th, 2020
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In a post-internet world, we will be looking at the origins of a culture from its material base. We’ll follow in the footsteps of Mary McCarthy who wrote The Stones of Florence (1959) influenced by John Ruskin’s book The Stones of Venice (1851).
Our week will involve exploring Florence and surrounding area using the art, architecture and history as the basis of our research into contemporary art production. Each participant will produce a suite of works exemplifying their individual interpretation of “The Stones of Florence”. A guiding principal will be to find and reuse and repurpose existing materials from the environment and make our own paint.
5. ON ‘DRAWN’ HISTORIES OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE WITH ADIL MANSURE (In Florence and Venice)
May 29th - June 7th, 2020
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 20th, 2020
This ten-day drawing workshop will offer a broad overview of the major art and architectural works has Florence to offer. The ever-changing city is a rich palimpsest of historical layers dating from antiquity to the present. Using Renaissance art and architecture as an anchoring point, this workshop will examine historical continuity and change by considering influences that shaped Florentine art and history from both within and without Florentine society.
The first six days will consist of walking tours in Florence where, following short lectures, students will draw both on-site and in studio. The final day in Florence will be dedicated to an intensive drawn thesis (or analysis) of a single selected artwork or theme. The instructor will provide individual critiques and the day will culminate in a celebratory drawing exhibition. The program will culminate in Venice with a visit to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2020.
Spaces are limited, submit your registration fee to reserve your space!
Register or learn more at http://ocadu.ca/florence
At the link there is also photographs of our studios, details of what is included in each program, draft schedules and testimonials from past participants.
For any questions about any of these courses, contact:
JENNIE SUDDICK, MFA
MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS & PARTNERSHIPS
E jsuddick@ocadu.ca
Note: Our main studio is partially accessible. We would love to discuss individual requirements and how we can support them.
Image: Mashayla Ritchie
Image: Jennie Suddick
