Manon Labrosse: Gathering Inspiration

Here’s the next update from our Summer 2015 Creative Residency! This one’s from our visual artist, Manon Labrosse. If you take a look at Manon’s previous work,  you’ll be able to see a current running through her painting that seems to manifest in fascinations with objects within–but set against–the wooded environment.
Read what Manon has to say about her experience and the exciting project she’ll be working on! 

From September 2 to 6, Rhiannon and I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Algonquin Wildlife Research station. Organized through the Algonquin Art Centre, this residency allowed us to experience the park like no one else! Because the station is not open to just anyone in the park, it makes it a unique location for an artist and writer to get inspired by the landscape.

 
The classic Algonquin lake-view

For four days, we were able to get to know the station, the park and the wonderful staff at the research station. We went on guided canoe trips on the surrounding lakes and got a glimpse at the local wildlife. We were also able to enjoy some of the trails around the station, as well as some of the interpretive trails in the park, such as the Big Pine trail and the Centennial Ridges trail.


The view from the Centennial Ridges Trail

And this is how our project will come together. The purpose of this residency was to accumulate experiences in nature. Our job now will be to interpret those experiences through our respective practices. For my part, I was able to make some journal entries and some quick sketches, along with about 280 photos, which will all be used towards the composition of a large format landscape painting of 7 feet by 11 feet.

In the meantime there will also be a series of small studies of all the various colours, textures and shapes, both natural and man-made, that we found in the park’s landscape. If you look at the pictures, you notice neon colours within the green natural landscape, and these come from ribbons and rope, but also from fungus and moss.

It was important for us to take our time and notice the small details in the landscape, to start a dialogue, take notes and a lot of pictures, since the project will come together post residency. We are very excited about the project and will follow up with the Algonquin Art Centre and the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station as it progresses, so stay tuned!

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