Journalist Carol Williams shared a review of our recent public event FRESH MILK XX on page 18 of the Thursday, May 11th 2017 edition of the Nation Newspaper. She focused on the artwork of Barbadian artist Kraig Yearwood, whose work was on display in the studio. FRESH MILK XX also featured a presentation by international curator Pamela Lee and a reading by US-based poet drea brown.
Click here to read the full article!
Barbadian artist Versia Harris has been accepted into an MFA program at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, USA, and is having a fundraising sale of limited edition artwork to contribute to some of her costs.
Versia is an incredible artist, and she has volunteered and been an enormous help to Fresh Milk for a number of years – please take a look at a statement by Versia below, and click here or on the following image to see her available work and how you can support her!
Incipience No. 1 (edition of 5), Digital Print, 30″ x 32″
Hi Guys! Welcome to my latest fundraising effort. I’ve been accepted into an MFA program at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, USA; I will start in September this year. Most of the funds for me to go have been accounted for, however, there are some extra costs that I still have to acquire. I am selling these limited edition prints to help. If you are able, please purchase one.. or two.. or all! No, seriously any support you can offer would be so appreciated. Even if you can’t, I hope you still enjoy these on-screen images – I must say, though, that the physical is much better 😉
You can email me at versia.abeda@gmail.com for further details about payment methods and shipping options. All questions are welcome.
Thank you!
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About Versia Harris:
Barbadian artist Versia Harris received her BFA in Studio Art in 2012 and was awarded with The Lesley’s Legacy Foundation Award, an annual prize given to the top graduate. She has participated in seven local and international residencies in Barbados, Vermont, Curacao, Trinidad and Brazil. In 2014, Versia’s work was featured in the IV Moscow International Biennial for Young Art themed ‘A Time for Dreams’ and was subsequently selected to be apart of the follow up exhibition MOMENTUM_InsideOut screening of ‘A Time For Dreams’ in Berlin. Her animation ‘They Say You Can Dream a Thing More Than Once’ was awarded ‘Best New Media Film’ at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, 2014 and in 2015 won Best Animation Short in the Barbados Film and Video Association awards. Her first solo show in Barbados was titled “This Quagmire”. She is currently a tutor at Barbados Community College. Versia tackles perceptions of fantasy in contrast to the reality of her invented characters
Barbadian artist Kraig Yearwood shares his third blog post about his Fresh Milk ‘My Time’ Local Residency. Things began to come together both materially and conceptually for Kraig this week, having investigated the properties of concrete and experimented with how it behaves both on its own as well as in combination with other elements. He also had the opportunity to have a studio visit with Natalie McGuire, manager at the Barbados branch of Gallery NuEdge, where he expanded on his ideas around consumption, mass manufacturing and materialism. Read more below:
A detailed view of Aquifer
Week number 3 at Fresh Milk has been a mixed bag; and if I’m being totally honest, a bit disjointed.
Happily, I’ve really started to get a handle on how the concrete reacts, and as such a better understanding of its characteristics, possibilities and limitations. While I’m loving all its various textural nuances and the ability to embed various materials, getting accustomed to the materials’ prep and drying times has been a challenge since I am not used to using mediums with long drying times. Perhaps this stems from primarily utilizing a hairdryer for most of my acrylic works. This is my preferred method of hurrying the drying process, out of a little impatience and eagerness to allow additions to be made to artwork. However, I am getting used to the wait.
In addition, I’m gaining more clarity conceptually, relative to overall directions I wish to take, on individual pieces I’m working to resolve, and those I have yet to get started on. On Saturday, I was privileged to have a studio visit with Natalie McGuire, Gallery Manager at Gallery NuEdge, where we discussed the themes that I’m currently working on. I’m interested in using a broader theme of “the shifting philosophies of the traditional Caribbean landscape to one which is littered not only physically but figuratively as well.” The land is becoming a mirror for the mindsets of our people. This main theme of interest is accompanied by satellite themes of consumption, mass manufacturing and materialism.
Work in progress Aquifer
It’s amazing how time flies. At the onset, a month seemed a long time, but with one week left I’ve constantly been feeling like I need to do more. This week I’ve found it hard to balance my output and expectations with all the other projects and commitments outside of the residency. It was only after a chat with an art colleague, that I was reminded that we are artists and not machines, that sometimes things happen in their own time.
So…it’s with that timely reminder that I go into my final week with renewed energy and a plan to focus on things that can realistically be completed by week’s end; with the knowledge that as the residency comes to a close, that the exploration has only just begun.
Experiments
Idyllic Caribbean garden on the grounds of Fresh Milk
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 2nd 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 1st week and most of my 2nd, 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.
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 1st 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.
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