Kraig Yearwood’s Residency – Week 2 Blog Post

March 20, 2017Leave a comment

Barbadian artist Kraig Yearwood shares his second blog post about his Fresh Milk ‘My Time’ Local Residency. Having spent the first week researching and collecting his thoughts, Kraig has progressed into experimenting with materials such as concrete and discarded objects, seeing how these interact and address the conceptual side of his work. Read more below:

3 of the works in progress, each utilizing items of trash encased in concrete.

It’s now the conclusion of my 2^nd week at the Fresh Milk residency, and I’m a bit more focused and much more clear on the direction of the work. Usually my mixed media production relies on the use and incorporation of items and found objects that I find some aesthetic quality in, but during this residency my main focus will be exploring the inclusion of garbage and objects mainly acquired during my walks and runs across the length and breath of Barbados, as well as trash generated during my stay.

In the week ahead, it’s my hope continue to work on a few of the themes I’ve been developing and to introduce the use of resin.

During my 1^st week and most of my 2^nd, I’ve had neither the time nor the head-space to enjoy and appreciate just how beautiful the grounds that are home to Fresh Milk are. It was while waiting for cement to dry on Friday that I decided to explore the outside of my studio a bit take in the amazing flora and fauna in every corner. Yes, while it’s true the Fresh Milk platform is located a working dairy farm, there’s no shortage of all manner of critters as well as an impressive array of plants and flowers and of course beautiful Caribbean light.

Kraig Yearwood’s Residency – Week 1 Blog Post

March 13, 2017Leave a comment

Barbadian artist Kraig Yearwood shares his first blog post about the start of his Fresh Milk ‘My Time’ Local Residency this month. He spent the first week researching new materials as well as looking through publications in the Colleen Lewis Reading Room, gathering his thoughts and concepts for the weeks ahead. Read more below:

The Fresh Milk ArtBoard featuring work by Ronald Williams

And so, the journey begins….

As soon as I learned I’d been awarded this residency, I was engulfed by two emotions: excitement and nervousness. I was excited that I’d perhaps have an opportunity to explore new directions and materials; but also nervous because I haven’t been working on these types of projects for many months, and now I actually have to kick into gear and get to work.

This 1^st week, I stuck to my plan of doing as much reading and research as possible on the themes and concepts that I was thinking of exploring, as well as on the materials I wish to delve into. I usually prefer solitude when I’m working – however, during this week, I don’t think that I’ve ever felt more alone with my thoughts or more aware of time. Never a bad thing, right?

My new friends! 😬

Some concept sketches from my 1st week at Fresh Milk.

Some of the random objects and trash found and gathered on my daily runs and walks; which I’m hoping to use in my new work.

I’d like to thank the Fresh Milk team for having me and making me feel instantly welcomed, and I’d also like to thank the talented Camille Chedda and Dominique Hunter for encouraging me to apply.

Announcing the Fresh Milk ‘My Time’ Local Resident Artist 2017 – Kraig Yearwood

February 27, 2017February 27, 2017Leave a comment

Fresh Milk is very pleased to announce Barbadian artist Kraig Yearwood as the winner of the Fresh Milk ‘My Time’ Local Residency prize for 2017. Congratulations Kraig!

Kraig’s one-month residency runs from Monday March 6 – Friday March 31, 2017. From his early days as a professional artist, he has had an interest in incorporating found objects into his work, and has recently been using cardboard and corrugated card as the base materials for many constructions. During this residency, Kraig would like to continue using these types of materials, as well as exploring new materials such as concrete, resin and actual rubbish to produce a series of paintings and sculptures which delve into themes of consumption, materialism and mass production, and its impact on humans and the environment.

About Kraig Yearwood:

Kraig Yearwood is a Barbadian artist and designer. Yearwood studied graphic design at Barbados Community College. He has worked as a freelance graphic designer, and has also worked as lead designer for his self owned clothing label where he has showcased at some of the region’s biggest fashion weeks. His mainly uses mixed media in his visual art practice and to date he has exhibited in numerous local and international group shows, as well as having 5 solo exhibitions.

Yearwood says his approach to his work is partially intuitive while often informed by minimalist sensibilities, and lists eclectic influences such as introspection, relationships, nature and local and global current affairs for much of his production. Many compositions certainly feature a sense of structure and order that we often associate with graphic design, yet these elements are often broken and interrupted by marks that suggest another layer of idiosyncratic reasoning.

Kraig Yeardwood, Night #2, Mixed media, 2016

Kraig Yearwood, Night #3, Mixed media, 2016

Kraig Yearwood, Mi Corazon (Obsidian), Mixed media, 2015

Kraig Yearwood, Paradise/Paradox #4, Mixed media, 2016

Kraig Yearwood, Mi Corazon (Winter Garden), Mixed media, 2015

Kraig Yearwood, J’ouvert Morning Venus, Mixed media, 2015 (Private Collection)

Kraig Yearwood, Rapunzel, Mixed media on paper, 2015 (Private Collection)

Kraig Yearwood, Isolation (Artist), Mixed media, 2015 (Private Collection)

Call for artists: Children’s mural project

January 23, 2017Leave a comment

Fresh Milk invites proposals from Barbadian artists for a community mural project in an unconventional space. This project was made possible with the help of Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd. Fresh Milk and the selected artist will host working sessions with a group of primary school students, facilitating arts education and acting as an inclusive way for the mural to be co-designed, so that the students feel connected to the process and final image.

Design fee to the artist: $1,000.00 BBD

All material costs will be covered, as well as an additional fee for the execution of the mural.

How to apply:

To be considered, artists should submit the following via email to freshmilkbarbados@gmail.com:

A proposal for the mural project (250-500 words) which includes concepts for the mural, how the artist intends to work with the children to co-design the mural, and the medium in which the artist wishes to work (paint, digital design etc.)
An up to date curriculum vitae (CV)
A portfolio of 5-10 fully captioned images of recent work

Deadline for submissions: February 17, 2017

The mural should be completed during the month of March 2017.

Open Call: ‘My Time’ Local Residency 2017

January 19, 2017January 20, 2017Leave a comment

Fresh Milk is pleased to share, for the fourth year in a row, an open call for the ‘My Time’ Local Residency 2017.

Having again received generous support to make this residency possible, one Barbadian artist will be selected from this call to undertake a one-month residency at Fresh Milk, and will receive a stipend of $1,000.00 BBD towards their artistic practice. Visual artists working across a number of disciplines (sculpture, installation, painting, drawing, performance, photography, new media, interdisciplinary) are invited to apply.

We are open to a variety of projects and proposals, but are particularly interested this year in artists who wish to engage with the material in the Colleen Lewis Reading Room, using the residency as a space of research, production and expansion of references & knowledge.

Duration of Residency: 4 weeks

Fresh Milk will provide:

– A $1,000.00 BBD stipend to the artist
– Wireless internet
– A 15.5 x 14 ft studio space
– A wide expanse of rural land
– Access to the Colleen Lewis Reading Room on site
– A varied network of creatives to connect with
– Facilitation of community outreach initiatives
– The option to participate in a public event showcasing the outcome of the residency

Eligibility criteria:

– Artist must be Barbadian
– Artist must not have taken part in an on-site Fresh Milk Residency within the last 2 years

Expectations of the Artist:

– Artist must come out to the studio a minimum of four days per week between Monday and Friday. Studio access is between 8 am and 6 pm
– Artist must supply their own materials and equipment
– Artist must complete some form of public outreach in relation to the work created during the residency (artist talk/presentation, workshop, exhibition, etc.)
– Artist will be required to keep a weekly blog of their activities and processes, and submit a report to Fresh Milk at the conclusion of the residency
– Artist will be required to donate a piece of work to the donor who made this residency possible

Application Process:

To be considered, please submit the following to freshmilkbarbados@gmail.com with the subject line ‘My Time Local Residency 2017 Proposal’:

– The completed application form which can be downloaded here (includes applicant’s contact information, an artist statement, and full residency proposal)
– An up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
– A numbered portfolio of 5-10 images (or 2-3 short videos as the case may be) of recent work
– An index of the portfolio pieces in numerical order, with the title, medium and date listed

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The deadline for submission is February 17, 2017. The residency will take place between March 6 – 31, 2017.