FRESH MILK at the IBB: Blog Post I

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On Friday, November 2nd, I was thrilled to finally be on my way to Curacao, where I am taking part in a collaborative project with the Instituto Buena Bista (IBB) on behalf of FRESH MILK. After two flights (and two security searches!), it was lovely to be greeted so warmly and enthusiastically by David Bade, visual artist and co-founder of the IBB – especially with the news that his fellow founder and artist Tirzo Martha had just become a father! From the airport, we traveled straight to the IBB headquarters, which is on the same compound as Klinika Capriles, a psychiatric clinic with which the IBB has a relationship. Some past students have been patients of the clinic, and some patients, while not being full-time students, still visit the studios and become involved. This itself can be a kind of art therapy, as it gives the patients an outlet for their thoughts and emotions, and a change of pace from their routine at the clinic.

Hearing David speak about this aspect of the IBB while he gave me a tour around the premises was an inspirational experience, as he and the IBB team are obviously very passionate about what they do, not only for the young students – with the mission to equip them with the tools they need to go on to further artistic studies as well as showing them viable outlets for their talents in the professional world – but to make a difference in society through the engagement with the clinic. In this way, the IBB becomes more than just an art school or a space to hold exhibitions; it is an ongoing vehicle for social change through the arts.

To this end, I also met Dutch artist Erik Habets, who is the current resident artist at the IBB, and my housemate during my stay. Alongside his own work, he is also very involved with the students, and is at present working with them to create a wooden installation in the courtyard of one of the long-stay wards of the clinic. This interaction between Erik and the students, combined with the curiosity and interest the patients had in this new hive of activity in their life, was a very moving sight, and highly indicative of the whole dynamic at the IBB; one of sharing, inspiring and supporting through open expression in the arts.

David then took me to the IBB Residency House, where I met Erik’s wife Marijn, and settled in. Erik and Marijn took me out to dinner that night, and I am so grateful to both them and David for making me feel welcome in Curacao. This continued into the weekend, when Erik, Marijn and I had a barbecue in our garden on Saturday, and on Sunday David took me for a drive around the island, briefly showing me the town and some places of interest (including the former sites of the IBB). Something I found fascinating about the island so far is how familiar, yet unfamiliar it feels; having never visited the Netherlands Antilles, I did not know what to expect. The distinctive Dutch architecture of some buildings made it feel like a different world, but then there were some areas we drove through, where people were ‘liming’ by what I would compare to Bajan rum shops – which of course is a typical part of the landscape I am used to at home. These kinds of differences were not only interesting for me as a spectator, but relate to the tension David mentioned is very much a part of the culture in Curacao, with their relationship to the Netherlands and the impact on Caribbean identity. I hope to get the chance soon to walk around the town and get to know it further – as well as take some pictures for you!

Today I was back at the IBB, where I discussed my segment of the residency in more detail. David gave me his input, and a list of key figures in the Curacao art scene to begin contacting to arrange interviews with. Tomorrow I will conduct the first interview, with art historian Jennifer Smit, who will visit the IBB headquarters. On Wednesday I will travel to the studio of visual artist Herman van Bergen. The last confirmed interview so far will happen on Thursday, with curator and director at the Bloemhof Gallery, Nicole Henriquez. These will be filmed and edited by two students at the IBB, and shared with you soon. Anxious to see what will come of these conversations! Also looking forward to the arrival of Holly Bynoe this Wednesday, after her unfortunate delay being stranded in New York during hurricane Sandy. We are all extremely relieved and thankful you are safely back in the Caribbean, Holly – and can’t wait for you to land in Curacao!

Look out for more updates and pictures from me soon!

Katherine Kennedy

FRESH MILK Off-Site Residencies – Shanika Grimes and Versia Harris

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FRESH MILK is still supporting two recent graduates of the Barbados Community College, Shanika Grimes and Versia Harris, as they undertake Off-Site Residencies with us.

We have been acting as liaison between the artists and their review panels, who send them feedback on a regular basis in order to assist them in the shaping of their practices as they strive to keep producing work post-graduation.

To keep up with their artwork and activities, visit their artist blogs at:

Shanika Grimes – http://mirrormirrormylove.tumblr.com/
Versia Harris – http://versiaabeda.tumblr.com/

FRESH MILK’s Current Artist in Residence: Alberta Whittle

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FRESH MILK is pleased to introduce our current artist in residence, Alberta Whittle. She has been joining us at the Milking Parlour Studio from October 1st, participating in an eight to ten week residency titled ‘Second Armour.’

Alberta is a Barbadian artist, currently based in Glasgow. She has undertaken residencies at CESTA (Czech Republic), Market Gallery (Scotland), Collective Gallery (Scotland), Thupelo Wellington Artists’ Workshop (South Africa) and looks forward to taking part in a residency with the Visiting Artists’ Programme at The Bag Factory in Johannesburg next year.

She choreographs interactive installations, interventions and performances as site‐specific artworks in public and private spaces, including at the Royal Scottish Academy (Scotland) and has exhibited in various solo and group shows in Europe, the Caribbean and South Africa, with an upcoming show at the CAS Gallery, University of Cape Town in March 2013. Her practice is concerned with the construction of stereotypes of race, nationality and gender, considering the motivation behind the perpetuation and the different forms in which they are manifested.

Her time at FRESH MILK will include a series of performances, open forum discussions about anxieties surrounding race, workshops with the Fine Art students at BCC, and an exhibition/intervention stemming from her experiences and research done during her stay with us.

Alberta will be doing a performance piece titled ‘Hustle de Money – a Performance by Bertie aka Big Red aka General outta Glitter Zone’ at our next public event, FRESH MILK IX. Stay tuned for more information!

FRESH MILK Collaborates with the Instituto Buena Bista in a Satellite Project

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FRESH MILK is pleased to collaborate with the IBB in November 2012 as a part of our Satellite Programme, working to link informal artistic networks throughout the region and in the diaspora.

Barbadian creative and Assistant to Director here at Fresh Milk, Katherine Kennedy (who is collaborating with Barbadian art historian and Fresh Milk Liaison Officer Natalie McGuire, currently based in New Zealand) and Vincentian artist, writer and co-founder of ARC Magazine Holly Bynoe will be residing together at the IBB headquarters in Curaçao. They will engage with the students and artistic community through a series of interactive USTREAM interviews and a Master Class respectively, as well as developing their own ideas and practices.

The second part of this exchange takes place when co-founders of the IBB David Bade and Tirzo Martha, visiting Dutch artist Erik Habets and three students from the IBB visit Fresh Milk  on November 25th, where they will conduct workshops and critiques with students at the Barbados Community College, visit local artists’ studios, and give a public presentation about the IBB on the Fresh Milk platform.

Stay tuned for more information on this exciting series of events!

Aruba Linked/Caribbean Linked

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October 12 – 15 2012

BACKGROUND

Ateliers ’89 Foundation and the Fresh Milk Art Platform Inc. collaborated to create an international gathering of art experts which took place between October 12th and 15th 2012 in Aruba. Ateliers ’89 hosted the event which included bringing in the following persons to Aruba to participate in a symposium and a panel:

Rocio Aranda Alvarado – Curator, El Museo del Barrio, New York City, USA

Paco Barragan – Independent curator, Madrid, Spain

Holly Bynoe – Co-founder and editor of ARC magazine, St Vincent & the Grenadines

John Cox – Founder and director, Popop Studios, The Bahamas and co-curator, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

Annalee Davis – Founder and director, the Fresh Milk Art Platform Inc., Barbados

THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

During the course of the four days a symposium took place, a panel discussion, studio and gallery visits, the launch of ARC magazine and a series of meetings with stakeholders in the public and private sector. The symposium and panel discussion were streamed live via Ustream, allowing a regional and international audience to join the proceedings. Supporting the programme was the Youth Bienal organised by Ateliers ’89 as a way to exhibit the works of young Aruban and Dutch artists and expose those works to the visiting creatives. Two young Barbadian artists were also included in the exhibition.

The symposium gave the visiting creatives an opportunity to share their work as curators, publishers and founders of informal networks with the Aruban art community. It also gave the visiting creatives an opportunity to develop an understanding of the local art space. The launch of the ARC magazine created more awareness in Aruba of it’s art publication and web presence demonstrating how it functions as an integrative tool for the visual arts across the region.

Of critical importance was the series of meetings scheduled by Elvis Lopez, the Director of Ateliers ’89, which allowed us to meet Dr. Dumfries, the Director of Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Jonathan Viera, the Director of Cas di Cultura, Mrs. Lupita Gil, the Director of UNOCA, Vicki Arens, the Director of FDEC, the Weston Hotel Art Gallery and Insight Foundation.

As a result of these meetings we came to learn of the Ministry of Culture’s pending programme to promote the Rietveld Academy in Aruba and the 2013 launch of their preparatory visual arts programme that is open to art students from around the region and who want to enter a BFA course afterwards. The Ministry is keen to inform the region of this programme and ARC magazine will assist in promoting this programme through their website.

Also coming out of these events was the proposed idea of holding a Barbados Linked / Caribbean Linked programme at FRESH MILK in February 2013. The purpose of this gathering would be to extend the Fresh Milk/Ateliers ’89 conversation which took place at the Ateliers ’89 Foundation in Aruba, and to deepen the links further across the region while circulating ideas about sustainability within the creative economy of the Caribbean.

Stay tuned for more information on this venture!

Visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ateliers-89 to watch videos of the panel discussions.