March 03, 2021
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design, in collaboration with Parks Canada, is pleased to announce the opening of Ground Rules: The Before and After, an exciting collaborative exhibition based on an experiential learning residency program in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
The four-day residency program took place in spring 2019, in the spectacular Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Fourteen Nova Scotia artists with diverse backgrounds explored new ideas inspired by the natural landscapes of the highlands, while interacting with scientists, park interpreters, and creative leaders.
The Ground Rules residency provided participating artists with the opportunity to explore new ideas and ways of working in their medium, connect to their individual heritage, and discover how scientific processes shape the natural world.
“The artistic output of this inaugural residency program is truly impressive,” says Lori Burke, executive director at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design. “We have been working hard to provide artists with more opportunities to further develop and enhance their creative practice. The Ground Rules residency program provided an immersive experience to inspire artists to work and collaborate in new ways. We’re pleased to be at the forefront of creative residencies on the island and to continue our collaborative partnership with Parks Canada.”
“Congratulations to the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design for developing the Ground Rules residency program,” said Mr. Jaime Battiste, member of parliament for Sydney-Victoria. “I’m proud of the Government of Canada’s continued support of the arts and culture industry in Cape Breton. Parks Canada’s collaboration with the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design offers artists the great inspiration nature provides within the surroundings of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I look forward to seeing the work achieved by these amazing artists.”
“This residency was a fantastic opportunity to recharge, create connections with other artists and their practices, and to consider new directions for my own work. It provided an opportunity to slow down and really look and learn from the world around us and to see our impact on it,” says internationally-renowned ceramic artist, Toni Losey, reminiscing on the residency program.
Ground Rules: The Before and After will be on display at the centre’s Loft from March 1st to April 24th, 2021, while respecting all provincial COVID-19 guidelines.
We are proud to partner with Parks Canada, which has a rich history as an important site for craft in Nova Scotia. Ground Rules: The Before and After was made possible by the generous support of Parks Canada and ArtsNS.
Cape Breton for Craft & Design’s mandate is to promote excellence in the field of craft and design, both professional and recreational, through education and training. The centre’s role as an integral and leading force within the craft sector on Cape Breton Island is essentially educational, promotional, and developmental.
Parks Canada’s mandate is to protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.
Participating artists: Marla Benton, Ceramics; Letitia Fraser, Painting; Abigail Hann, Printmaking/Drawing; Rebecca Hannon, Jewellery; Wes Johnston, Sculpture/Performance; Laura Kenney, Rug Hooking; Jeighk Koyote, Performance; Toni Losey, Ceramics; Frankie Macauley, Sculpture; Meghan Macdonald, Textiles; Alice MacLean, Watercolour; Juliana Scherzer, Textiles; Alison Uhma, Multidisciplinary; Kate Ward, Multidisciplinary.
