VOLUME FIVE . FIVE
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
CANADIAN ARTISTS IN THE STATE OF ISOLATION SPECIAL EDITION
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE VOLUME FIVE AND A HALF
FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMPELLED TO WEAR THEMSELVES DOWN TO THE FLESH & BONE IN ORDER TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THEIR HEART. EDITORS NOTE: There is no doubt that with the spread of COVID-19 that there has been mass panic and that our every day lives have had to been altered. For myself, I have taken the time to reach out to several artists, specifically located in Canada, to highlight their experiences during this pandemic. I even added in my own experience as well, as an additional way to pass the time. I realize right now how we still carry, fear, and at times hopelessness as the days continue on. With these artists that are brought to you today, I hope that it shines a light and breaks through that fear to remind you of the beauty that does still exist and that artists are an important part of our human experience.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE C R E AT I V E T E A M
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R Brandynn L Pope DESIGN
Brandynn L Pope WRITERS
J a m e s L i a m Wa rd PHOTOGRAPHERS Ashley Altus
Brandynn L Pope Cassie Deadmond Sean O’Day
W W W. O B S E S S I V E C O M P U L S I V E M A G . C O M E M A I L fleshbonemagazine@gmail.com I N S TA @obsessivecompulsivemag
A to L 06 SERAPH-EDEN BORODITSKY
M to Z
PA I N T I N G
SARAH CHRISTINE
I L L U S T R AT I O N + TAT T O O
34
PHOTOGRAPHY
14
BRETT CULLEN
38
M U LT- M E D I A
18
ANGELA HANSEN
42
M E TA L W O R K
22
LAUREN
M U LT I - M E D I A
46
K A L E S A U V E RWA L D
26
BRANDYNN LP
50
CHARCOAL + DRAWING
30
C H L O E LY D I A
54
A S H L E Y V E LV E T
10
PHOTOGRAPHY
SCULPTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY
CERAMICS
VICKI MAHONY ERIC MAKWICH AIMEE PHILPOTT
I L L U S T R AT I O N
MACKENZIE SEWELL
MUSIC
58
BRAD WOODFIN
O I L PA I N T I N G
SERAPH-EDEN BORODITSKY The Artist: My name is Seraph-Eden Boroditsky and I am a Red River MĂŠtis artist from Winnipeg, Canada who comes from a culturally, artistically and professionally eclectic background. My artistic journey started with ballet and tap, which is not uncommon, but was also coupled with the rare experience of growing up performing professionally in a traditional MĂŠtis Folk Dance group. As a younger person I often painted, made mixed-media collages and clay sculptures, painted furniture and tried to make my surroundings artful. That is just what people in my family do, so it did not occur to me that I was particularly impassioned by it when my focus and passion had to shift to my newborn daughter or my academic and professional pursuits. Then, about ten years ago, I felt the absence of regularly making art in my life. I realized I do not have to choose anything else over my arts practise. So, with that realization and some dedicated work, my paintings were soon exhibited in three galleries and sold locally, nationally and internationally, and my ceramics work under mentorship was publicly displayed. My life became fully enveloped by the intersection of creativity, creation, self-expression and identity, while developing and expressing my ideas of culture, history, politics and the world. (Because everything is connected, is it not?)
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The Artist’s Work: Firstly, I should mention that I work in Theatre Arts Administration, Community Development, and continue to perform and teach sporadically. Additionally, for the past six years I have largely focused on painting, developing a number of series. Creating the original “fluid planet,” one series of note comprised an installation of about 25 planets, moons and space-themed pieces on round wooden substrates of various sizes, using various liquid mediums and resin, in the fluid art style. “We Are Stardust” displayed at Warehouse Artworks in Winnipeg along with other pieces in 2018 and 2019. The series was a convergence of cultural teachings in local Indigenous astronomy and creative meditation — experimenting with and perfecting the process — and bold colour. I also developed a space and sky-themed series in collaboration with Zealous Décor, a Winnipeg design company. Their custom laser-cut skyline design of our city on their modified wooden clocks was perfect for my work and they gave me free reign to create planets, galaxies and Northern Lights on 20 pieces — some of which are still for sale at several local vendors. My most recent series was the catalyst to get me moving in a different direction after almost three years. Portia Ella, a conscious lifestyle beauty boutique, required me to leave my long-held comfort zone of rainbow colours and round substrates. The ensuing Calacatta marble, red turquoise and pseudopostmodern design-inspired pieces married very well with their futuristically styled branding that emphasized duality and nonconformity to gendered beauty. (They even wanted round pieces after all, as pictured here). The exhibition went up in 2019, featured with their Fall/ Winter collection. Previous to abstract or “intuitive” art taking over, I did stylized paintings in acrylic on canvas of subjects usually having to do with cultural themes, landscapes and protest art. For example, my 2014/2015 series titled “I’ll Fly Away” was both cultural and political as the subjects were birds representing missing and murdered Indigenous women, a systematic issue in North America, and one faced especially by Manitoba’s Indigenous peoples. It was done in a style based
on Western silver jewellery design with a nod to the Woodlands style. This small series was put on public display in 2016. As my practice grew and evolved, however, I found fluid art especially exciting, mesmerizing and cathartic. I recognized that I could use this method to imitate natural elements like water and stone. I wanted to replicate turquoise, so I set about finding a way to, and succeeded at, creating true fluid texture, meaning the fluidity dries into organic texture by medium, temperature and drying time. The majority of my work, has texture, excluding galaxy paintings, and several others. I really love the originality of it and the added visual elements. My interests are broad and I have an affinity for history, the building of spaces and how people use/used them, storytelling, culture, science, anthropology, astronomy, astrology, anything requiring skill, art and beauty. I’ll be sure to try to explore any and all of the subjects under these umbrella interests as I look out at a long, creative life ahead of me.
The Artist & Covid-19: Isolation, and the general panic at the start of this pandemic, has obviously affected people to varying degrees. Before I really knew the full scope of the issue, the theatre I work for (the wonderful Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winnipeg) committed to keeping their staff employed. Although there was serious discomfort at what was to come for the world and for us here at home, my bills for the next few months would get paid and I could finish what I started. That is an immense luxury compared to most. However, like every other theatre the world over, we had to cancel all shows and programming. It has been a devastating loss for the industry, for artists of all types, the arts community and society in general. On the upside, theatre has continued to be produced online. That is a saving grace to some, as performing is an outlet and an exchange — a connection people need right now. Tuning back to the case of visual arts, many artists have kicked up their production. They are still creating, creating even more or selling their work (if that’s their goal). That is comforting because it’s a means of instilling normalcy and consistency while helping those artists economically. However, thinking
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“I have time now and should be feverously creating!” is emotional and mental self-sabotage. Because we are so connected over social media, the comparison of productivity becomes toxic. That is not how creativity and productivity works. I was already on the longest hiatus I have taken in ten years since my last committed collection was finished in November when social distancing and isolation was put into effect. I am currently transitioning into using fluid art in different or fewer ways in my new direction, and am adding different brands, palettes, materials and subjects. When I show the work that is to come, it will be more diverse and will include all those things I could not do while I had been committed to theatre and dedicated collections. So, while you might think you have extra time — and there’s no time like the present — it is important to remember that adjusting yourself and your family to a foreign routine and a “new normal” is unsettling and it takes time. Artists should not be hard on themselves if what they need to do is to be present in their lives and with their families (if they are fortunate to have them under one roof). And I would have to say, homeschooling like a math teacher when you are really more of a dance teacher is extra stressful!
What this down time has done, while I sift through my thoughts on my upcoming artwork, has allowed me a moment for another beloved hobby — interior decorating and styling. After three years of saying I would do it, I am finally designing my daughter’s room. The thought of the finished product brings me so much joy. I hope to put that joy into the part of myself that makes art so that this transition in my arts practice is not burdensome or stressful like the times we are in. The goal of this transition is to uplift me so that the process flows freely, and when we emerge, I will have a small collection of works that challenged me and that I am truly proud of. They will have something to say. What else could I ask for?
INSTAGRAM: @ seraph-eden_artwork
So, to artists on break who think they should be “using their time wisely,” maybe you are. Your body is resting and your mind is growing by making sense of some pretty trippy stuff right now. The masterpieces that will flow from that rest or resettlement, or the images and feelings that are manifested around you as they’re processed is inevitable. And, if all else fails and you just want to make something, may I suggest some liquid paint, in bright colours, on an old canvas? Give it a whirl!
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SARAH CHRISTINE My name is Sarah Christine and I’ll admit, I’ve never submitted my art to feature in a zine before, but I’m thankful Brandynn asked me to be a part of Obsessive Compulsive! If Brandynn is putting their mark on anything, I’m honored to be a part of it! I’m an artist based out of Calgary, AB who has been building my portfolio over the past year and a half. My true intention with every piece is to create a design that would be ‘tattoo-able’. Along with what seems like everyone and their dog, I’m trying to secure a reputable tattoo apprenticeship. I’ve always admired the art of tattooing. I used to beg my parents to let me get one before I was of legal age. Now that I’ve collected a few and spent more time researching the process and history, I’m completely hooked.
My process (as of late) is as follows; I draw up a rough sketch of the drawing on my iPad using Procreate, print off the sketch, place the sketch under a piece of watercolor paper on top of a light pad, trace the design, retrace with pen, paint (for... HOURS), then retrace with pen over spots where paint has flooded the original pen markings. My medium is watercolor and let me tell ya, it’s pretty unforgiving. But I love it and it’s so true to the art of creating authentic tattoo flash... which is what I’m going for. I also love to create designs using my iPad, but find it almost TOO easy to use. I want the challenge. I want to learn and work my ass off, so I’m trying to spend more time using more organic mediums like watercolor paint.
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Although the current state of the world is anxietyinducing, I’m finding solace in spending 8 hours or more a day on art. It’s extremely therapeutic to me. If you’re struggling in isolation right now, I highly suggest you find a creative outlet that you can spend at least a couple hours on a day to distract and calm your mind!I am however very much looking forward to when I can be released again to bug my favorite tattoo shops in Calgary to give me a job! Fingers crossed that’s soon ...
BRETT CULLEN Hello there, my name’s Brett. I’m a photographer from Prince George, BC - quite literally the middle of nowhere, British Columbia. As someone who’s grown up as a creative story teller but never had a way with words, photography always seemed like the perfect way for me to express myself. I get to tell my story and indulge myself in so many of my passions by capturing moments of my life through the lens of my camera. In the year’s since becoming a photographer I’ve found my true happy place to be in the photo pit at a show, capturing my favourite musicians do what they love on stage. I love being able to capture the spontaneity of everything that is happening in those moments - the way the artists are performing, how the crowd is interacting, how the stage lights envelope the surroundings in such a fascinating way. Moments like these I feel like I’m in my own world, but at the same time it’s great getting to feel like you’re part of a team. You’re collaborating with the artist, the crowd, the lighting designers, all to create one unique moment frozen in time. To me that is one of the coolest things ever.
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Outside of a show setting, creative portraiture is another favourite type of photography to work within. Getting to create a concept, a character, and story with another creative individual in front of my lens is one the most creatively gratifying things to me. I’ve been lucky to work some amazingly talented individuals to bring these ideas to life and I can’t wait until I’m able to do that again. These days, life is a little different for photographers, we don’t get to create character with our friends, capture our friends telling stories through their songs at a show, or even just get to be with our friends. The COVID-19 Pandemic is tough for so many reasons and for me personally I’ve been hit with it in two ways.
Secondly, my career has really taken a hit. This was going to be my first year to be completely self sufficient and make a living doing photography full time. It was shaping up to be a year where I’d be able to check off a lot from my bucket list. I had my first intercontinental tour’s with artists I’ve loved slipping out of my grasp, all the show’s that I was being flown out to have been cancelled, and all the local shoots I’ve had booked here locally cancelled or postponed indefinitely. It’s been hard to stay positive when your opportunities and financial stability have pretty much vanished over night, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that most of my opportunities will be there once this is all over. While this whole situation has been tough in some aspects of my life, I’ve been trying to find the good in other aspects of it. I’m lucky enough to live in a space with lots of areas to get outside on isolated trails. Getting out for daily excursions with my dogs and taking my camera has given me the opportunity to take in inspiration from the world around me and to see things from a new perspective. I was horrible at getting outdoors before and it’s been a major saving grace now. I definitely have to recommend getting fresh air whenever possible and taking a minute to appreciate all the positives in the world that you wouldn’t normally think of. The first and most important one to me is that I miss my friends. I miss getting to hang out, laugh with them, talk with them, and just experience life with them. A lot of my most creative thoughts came through experience’s I’ve had with my friends, so having that taken away from me has definitely been a challenge.
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When this is all over though, as much as I’d love to create art shows, what I’m most looking forward to is creating art with my friends who will step in front of my lens. Capturing the people who mean the most to me is something that’s the top of priority list. It’ll be a blast to indulge in my passion while spending some quality time with those I care about!
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ANGELA HANSEN My primary medium of art-making is encaustic beeswax and damar resin, and my home-based studio is located in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia, Canada. I am inspired by forms found in the natural world, the human psyche, memory formation and more recently, a growing interest in ecological and environmental art practices as a factor in cultural transformations. Having grown up on a farm, I have always felt very drawn to nature and all the micro-processes happening around us - and am keen to eventually use my art as a form of environmental education. The concept of my 2019 solo exhibition, entitled “Morphology of Memory”, was about visually comparing the physical structure of memory in human brains and that of earthly geological formations. My 2019 Lake Country ArtWalk installation entitled “Transformation of Gaia”, featured 5 backlit encaustic wall sculptures which were each inspired by the flora of Earth’s 5 major biomes and Mother Earth’s amazing ability to adapt, morph, and diversify.
The work I did for the installation invigorated my art practice in that I was utilizing encaustics in an entirely sculptural manner - a method which challenged my ability to create a wide variety of textures, and forms. I am especially excited about my current works, which are a series of small wall sculptural studies made of encaustic, natural tissue, twine and string. They are inspired by Earth’s flora, and micro-fauna. I call these biomorphic designs “Organimorphs�, as they look biologic, yet not recognizable as any particular one thing. The terrific versatility, and surprisingly durable sculptural qualities of the encaustic medium allow me to create such a wide range of textures and forms, while its translucency allows for works that look deceptively delicate and fragile. As images of the Covid 19 virus were being publicized, I was asked if my sculptures were inspired by them; they are not, they are inspired by fungi and aquatic flora and fauna. This just highlights how Mother Nature takes many of the same forms in so many environments and on so many scales. In my art-making, I strive to create as little waste as possible, and am proud to say that I make my own medium, and use natural materials. Every little bit of wax-dipped tissue or string has the possibility of making its way into another piece. This summer I intend to collect local pine resin and use that to make my medium rather than damar form overseas, and I would also like to incorporate more found/discarded fabrics, items and objects found in nature, into my future works.
I was looking forward to giving some demonstrations and workshops this spring, and am saddened that many of my Organimorphs will miss out on being debuted at a group exhibition to happen in April at our local gallery. But now, I can put all that energy into my art-making, and getting outside into my garden where I find a lot of inspiration. There is some pressure relieved in not having to plan these, however, it will be a hit to me financially. Also, there is definitely a feeling of more freedom for myself as an artist, and less self-imposed pressure to get things done and be busy - I am quite content to be working in my studio and will take advantage of this slowing down of the world. I intend to use my extra time to explore creatively and plan some exhibition proposals, as my goal for the future is to exhibit at galleries where I will receive CARFAC fees, and move from emerging artist to professional artist.
THE ANXIOUS ARTIST LAUREN
My name is Lauren but in my art life I go by “The Anxious Artist� which is a fitting title for me because, well, I am a very anxious person! I am a mixed media artist currently residing in Calgary, AB. I started to create more frequently a few years ago as a means to cope with my anxiety and my deep hatred for winter. I create the most when my anxiety is bad and unfortunately it also happens to be when I produce my best work. As soon as the COVID-19 outbreak happened I instantly retreated and started creating in any possible way that I could. There is continuously anxiety buzzing inside my entire body but I try my best to re-direct that energy so I can use it positively.
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The themes surrounding my artwork generally include the moon, crystals and other elements of witchcraft. I strongly believe that art shouldn’t have rules, which is why I create with copious amounts of glitter, pressed flowers, old film photos, paint, markers etc. I want to encourage everyone to create artwork without rules, self-criticism and judgement. It is a really therapeutic & freeing experience that everyone deserves to have! So put on your favourite playlist or album and pull out your markers, glitter, magazine clippings and other random materials in your house and see what you make! I bet you will pleasantly surprise yourself. Be gentle with yourself.
CHLOE LYDIA • What medium do you practice in? I am a ceramic artist and work mainly in porcelain. My work ranges from functional ware to sculptural installations.
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Where are you located currently?
I am currently in Edmonton, Alberta working out of a local studio, The Shop Art & Ceramics Studio.
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• How would you describe your kind of artwork or themes surrounding your work? I discuss the ideas around mental awareness and meditative practices. I play with deconstructing and reconstructing an object to give it a meaning of strength. Whether that is tearing the pieces and putting the parts back together or adding a rough texture to the surface that then transforms the original shape, I like to play with distortion and creating a tactile object. Forming an experience where the vessel is not only for function but also can be seen as sculptural or decorative. The repetitive pattern that follows the surface of my pieces discusses the ideas of getting lost in the mind, which we all do when we hold a bowl of cereal in the mornings or sip a hot cup of coffee before the long day begins.
• How has quarantine, or the general air surrounding COVID-19 affected you personally and your work? I have had to move my studio into the basement of my home. It definitely changes the dynamic of the community I am normally so familiar with, but I have been really enjoying the pieces that I have been creating. I normally am a ceramic artist that uses the wheel to make my pieces and because a wheel is no longer accessible for me at this time, I have been focusing on my hand building skills for functional ware! It is slow and challenging, but I am really appreciating the process and the brainstorming that comes with working in a new direction.
• What have you been doing with the time that’s been made available to you? /or What positive measures are you making to keep your head up in these isolating conditions? My making has slowed a bit but allowing myself to be creative in other forms has been helping me get through this weird time. I love to cook and explore new recipes. Normally I don’t have a lot of time in my evenings to really try out new ideas so I am really appreciative having the time to focus more on cooking. I am vegan so I love taking my childhood meals and tweaking and playing with new ways to transform these dishes. Some successes, some not so much, but that’s what makes things fun and entertaining! I am quite a social person and usually love to spend my time with others. Getting myself moving everyday is extremely important for my wellbeing! Some days are easier than others but getting outside for a walk around my neighbourhood smiling from a distance to those who I pass keeps my head up when we’re all isolating.
• What do you look forward to with your artwork in the coming months? I am truly excited about the new hand built pieces that I have been working on! It’s a new, fun process and I am realizing how unlimited all the possibilities are. I have some ideas of working big. Creating large sculptural porcelain vessels completely hand built. Making pieces that showcase the physical hand marks left behind and emphasizing the process and all the details that goes into a single piece.
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BRANDYNN LP While I now live in the city as a music editorial photographer, my roots come from a small village in Southern Alberta. My formative years were spent making different graphic designs while waiting for the dial-up internet to do it’s thing and convincing my friends to drive out from their farms to do different creative shoots in different abandoned areas of the county. I would work on a smaller Sony Carl Zeiss camera taking years to add up for a DSLR. It was not until I was 18 and moved into the city for University that I would get heavily involved in the Canadian music scene. I have been here for eight years now, working hard with different local bands to build press kits and doing several tours throughout Canada and parts of the United States.
In recent years I have re-found my love of creating deeply conceptual work and trying to work outside of my DSLR. I started taking interest in instant photography back in 2018 with smaller instant cameras and have worked hard to be able to upgrade to different Polaroid cameras. My main camera is a Sonar SX-70 until I am able to afford a newer model. This is the work that you will see from me here, different shots that I have taken for clients as well as myself. It contrasts with all of my music photography that’s often trigger happy in this digital world and really allows me to value each individual image (Especially considering how expensive Polaroid film is for very few shots). Polaroids specifically have this sense of nostalgia, imperfection and sincerity that I already take from the human condition. For that reason, it’s something that I hope to specializing in before all else in the future.
started painting, something I haven’t done since my first year in art school. It’s helped me with throwing away old paint that has dried out as well as use up materials that had been sitting around the last seven years.
With this outbreak, I am no longer able to do my full-time work with musicians, no tour in sight, and no hometown shows to be expected for months. This is how I make the majority of my income and like many others and I am scared for the future of my career as we no-doubt are about to experience a great change in how we approach touring in the future. Luckily, because of coming from the middle of nowhere I have a knack for creating a lot to do when there is seemingly nothing to do. I have an obnoxious amount of hobbies that has even made me have a difficult time figuring out what to do with my day. I keep a long list of things I need or want to get done on sticky notes on my work station, including this zine of passionate people. I’ve had a few people contact me for my Polaroid photography as they create music in these trying times and have been compiling footage from prior tours into recap videos. I have a house full of plants that I take care of, propagating and finding new ways to fertilize them. I even have
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I am going day-by-day as we get updates on what’s going on and trying to figure out the best solution for myself. Ultimately, I am remaining creative and doing different things that keep my mind active. I am a little intense and have a flexible but predictable schedule. I wake up at 6 AM, allow myself to wake up properly for fifteen minutes before working out for 30 to 40 minutes and doing the rest of my morning routine. After all of that basic stuff, I set my laptop up next to a window as the sun is rising and start working on all of my emails and anything OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE related so that I can bring something like this for our readers. The rest of the day varies, often with different forms of creative activities, or puzzling, and of course a little bit of Resident Evil. I think one of the best things to do in this time is to keep busy and to actually get dressed and out of sweatpants. There are so many ways to digest other creatives in what they are doing as well as to find something to do for yourself as well. Any of the tools that I am unable to use in my quarantine I put up on Facebook marketplace for others to enjoy. My goal by the end of this large wave, is to have all my sets and designs for photos relatively built so that I can jump back into photography full-force with no hesitation. I’m going to have to overcome a lot of my anxiety to ensure that I actually am able to create all of the things I envision when I am finally able to be around people again.
VICKI MAHONY I’m Vicki Mahony, I’m 25 years old, and am currently located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I frequently go back to Kitchener/Waterloo to stay with my parents for work. I’m in a transition place right now with where I live and work. Throughout my creative life, I’ve always hopped between video-making and photography. I started making videos when I was 12, transitioned to photography with my first DSLR at 15, then switched back to video when I was 19, then finally back to photography at 22. My videos in high school were silly YouTube skits with my friends and school projects. My photography in high school was inspired by photographers on deviantART such as Felicia Simion and Bailey Elizabeth. Dark contrast, surrealist concepts, heavy editing. Also I photographed my travels. Later I went to college for a Bachelor of Photography but had to drop out after 4 months because my mental health was almost at rock bottom. I worked hard at my recovery and over a year later, I was inspired to begin a filmmaking career by creating a feature film all by myself. With nothing more than my DSLR, Sony Vegas, and a vision. I wrote the script in 7 months. Then I shot it, directed it, casted it, edited it, location scouted it… basically everything within a year and a half. The initial reaction to it was dismal to anyone who wasn’t friends or family. No festival took it in, I made $250 in a tissue box when I spent $10k on it. I felt very discouraged about the whole thing. I put my all into the film but it wasn’t good enough. Some months after, I felt okay with that. It put the nail in the coffin that maybe filmmaking wasn’t meant to be my career and wasn’t my strongest skill. However in 2018, my film did actually make it to the Canada Independent Film Festival in Montréal and I won an award for “Best First Time Filmmaker Feature Film.” But by then I had already lost my passion for filmmaking and went back to photography in 2017. Settling down from the craziness of my movie in late 2016, I saw twenty one pilots’ photographer Brad Heaton’s Instagram and thought his work was so beautiful. I liked that his style was an artistic take on capturing live music, rather than shooting the perfect and correctly exposed photograph. I thought “I could do that.” I always loved going to shows, travelling around the world for bands that I loved; so I pursued concert photography in March of 2017. Like many others who start music photography, I started shooting local acts in my hometown, then hooked up with a publication (or a few) which led me to shooting shows in the big city. I shot in bigger and bigger venues, but I craved the underground a bit more. Eventually I cracked into a music scene that I’m genuinely a fan of and made awesome connections. Which is where I am now.
Over the past 3 years, I have seen my progress and am proud of the direction I’m heading into. I’ve been getting into flash music photography in the past year and am really enjoying it. I had some asshole photographer once tell me flash is lazy and I was like nah, it’s a stylistic decision. Plus I always ask the bands before if flash is okay. Outside of flash photography, I’m still trying to perfect my style in noflash photography, but I think I’m pretty consistent. Sometimes I want to become a strictly black and white photographer. Instead I just make black and white images if the photo “demands it.”
My style of photography has been about going where the wind takes me. I started with an artistic style with duotones and deep shadows. Later when I worked with publications and shot bigger shows, I became more preoccupied with sharpness and perfection, while maintaining some of that artistic editing I started with. Then I wanted more than just the bigger shows and photo passes, I wanted to work with up and coming bands I was a fan of that I really wanted to support. When I finally cracked into the Toronto punk/rock scene, I felt like I found my place. Then I began to incorporate flash and “film colours” to my work. My photography and the reception to it improved greatly. Now I’ve kind of transitioned into high energy punk gigs even when I’m not as familiar with the artist. I really love the freedom and carelessness of the audience at punk gigs because I know what that’s like at a gig to just let it loose and burst with energy and not be giving a fuck. That was always my goal with my concert photography; to photograph the feeling and freedom of being a fan at a show, no matter how ugly or crazy someone might look. It’s the genuinity I look for. In spring 2020, the quarantine has affected all the shows I wanted to shoot for the next few months. It was disappointing but expected as the virus began to spread. But at the same time it’s not the worst thing in the world because it’s not my income to photograph bands. I do really feel for freelancers out there though who have lost work for the next uncertain amount of time. I am lucky enough that my job was only postponed for a couple weeks. But I miss going out, visiting friends and family, and listening and photographing live music.
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Another obvious way the virus has affected me is my daily life. I can’t shop at the little markets every morning on my walks, I can’t visit anyone or go anywhere with my boyfriend. It took me a bit longer than a week to figure out what I should be doing with my time at home. Time really has been getting lost in this pandemic. I have been spending quarantine with my boyfriend in Toronto and that’s definitely keeping my spirits up. I have been catching myself in laziness and boredom here and there, but I’m working harder to keep my routines intact so I’m not groggy or fall into depressive symptoms. I try to walk or bike when I can, we cook together frequently, and I plan to create articles for a couple of my publications, mostly album/single reviews. In my photography world, I wasn’t thinking of doing much more in this quarantine, maybe looking through my archives and editing some hidden gems. But ultimately, I was thinking of starting to edit and upload videos to my Instagram from times I’ve recorded on my action camera from the photo pit or in the crowd. Action cameras (like GoPros) are still somewhat under utilized when it comes to concert footage for Instagram recaps or concert movies. So many awesome perspectives you can reach from them. I hope in this time, everyone stays healthy, in high spirits, and continues to make creative goals. A lot of my creative projects came from sticking around at home and making myself useful. Get inspired, look for new photographers, painters, artists.
ERIC MAKWICH (MOSST GHOST)
What medium do you practice in?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist working mainly in installation, sculpture, twodimensional, and auditory work. I’m also a musician, which influences my art practice and vice-versa. Where are you located currently? Currently in Calgary, Canada
How would you describe your kind of artwork or themes surrounding your work?
My “main practice” is mostly sculptures and installations made primarily of found/repurposed electronics. I use environmentally generative procedures, and the shifting, reduction, and/or removal of certain information/stimuli to shift—and ultimately, explore—the relationship between artist, artwork, and audience. However, lately I’ve been focusing more on two-dimensional work (specifically drawing and painting) that tends to place more emphasis on internal, personal experiences like mental illness, gender identity, neurodivergence, and the feelings of loneliness and isolation they can create.
How has quarantine, or the general air surrounding COVID-19 affected you personally and your work? I’m extremely fortunate, in that my living situation is fairly secure, and my income isn’t dependant on leaving the house. Honestly, my lifestyle hasn’t had to change much at all since social distancing has started. If anything, I find myself feeling a little more productive. Staying home and not interacting with others often is a source of guilt for me, but I don’t feel it as much now that it’s what everyone should be doing. It was a bit of a revelatory moment to feel this guilt that I didn’t really realize the weight of be lifted from me. What have you been doing with the time that’s been made available to you? What measures are you taking to keep your head up in these isolating conditions? I’ve been spending most of my time—aside from deep-cleaning my house—working on music. I had already made a plan a few months ago that I was going to release an EP on my birthday (April 22nd), so this has given me even fewer things to be distracted with. I think making, or some kind of creative hobby is extremely important all the time, but especially now. My hope is that we can all use this time to foster some creativity, and to cultivate good habits around them. What do you look forward to with your artwork in the coming months? Unfortunately there were a few music and art-related things that probably won’t come to pass now. But I’m looking forward to releasing music this month, and in the coming months I’d like to just be focusing on more visual art as well—drawing, painting, making some print sales. I also do freelance work making album art for musicians, and I have a couple ongoing projects for that that’ll be keeping me busy. You can find more of my visual work at ericmakwich.com and instagram.com/ericmakwich, and my music at instagram.com/mosstghost (or on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp; basically any online music source).
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MOTOMAMA METALS AIMEE PHILPOTT
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My name is Aimee Philpott & I am the business owner, designer, & fabricator behind MotoMama Metals. My current focal practice is Silversmithing/ Metalsmithing. My creative process consists of carefully forming metal through filing, soldering, sawing, forging, casting, and polishing metal, specifically sterling silver. I would describe my art work as a mix between folk, western & motorcycle culture jewelry. I decided to create MotoMama Metals in 2018 shortly after completing my very brief jewelers course at ACAD. February 2020 was my start date of making Metalsmithing my full time job & so far, its been a roller coaster to say the least. I have always enjoyed the challenges in life & tend to be someone who can get board with routine quite quickly, this has been my main motivator to continue to keep my business above water during a global pandemic. Covid-19 has been a very scary time for my family, my partner & I are both self-employed creatives & have truly taken a hit emotionally as well as in business terms. This being said, we have worked hard to do our best to help our community as well as help our families & other families in need at this time. I try to continue to remind myself how blessed I am to be a self employed artist who is able to continue to work from home & establish some sort of normalcy in my day to day while also spending time with my family. These isolating times have completely removed me from everything I took for granted, leaving me with time, space & silence to explore my craft to a deeper understanding. As I
continue on in this uncertain time, I have tried to use my practice to bring other creatives, people & friends together in what can seem to be a very dark time. I believe that through art & personal expression, we can create light for others who feel as though they are in complete darkness & isolation.
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My goal during this time is to not only continue to create, but also create a space within my social media for people to feel cared for, safe & understood. My future goals with MotoMama Metals currently seem to be unattainable, yet, I am so excited for the future & the journey that I must take to get there. I am hoping to eventually have a physical facility for not only myself, but other creatives to join me in a curated area to present, teach & sell their work. I look forward to traveling the world & selling my art as well as to not only establish myself within the Metalsmithing industry, but in the arts community in a way that can come across as unconventional. I am excited for my future, for my adventures & the people I will meet through my craft. I believe we all need to support each other in this uncertain time, we all deserve to succeed & come out of this stronger than we were before.
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KALE SAUVERALD • What medium do you practice in?
I work 95% digitally, mostly on an iPad. I try to imitate oil and gouache painting techniques as I love the look, but do not have the patience to pursue said mediums traditionally. • Where are you located currently? Calgary, AB!
• How has quarantine, or the general air surrounding COVID-19 affected you personally and your work? Well, I’ve had more time to draw. Me and most other artists I know, haha. I’m really not much of a visually conceptual artist so I haven’t done anything to the “theme” of isolation and I don’t know if I will. Maybe I’ll try. Maybe I’ll start writing more seriously again. But personally, I don’t know. I’m more so nervous about the people around me that are vulnerable, like my dad, and I do miss my friends and being near people and going out, but as someone who also deals with serious anxiety and feels safest at home I don’t 100% hate the isolating, just the reasoning behind it. I was working from home regardless while waiting on a contract job, so my lifestyle didn’t change dramatically anyways. I absolutely know these are weird and bad times, and I am nervous. But I’m also doing okay.
• What have you been doing with the time that’s been made available to you? I started doing portrait work in exchange for charity donations as I don’t have a car or extra money, and I wanted to spend my time helping. I draw, play games, go for walks, hang with my pets, and facetime friends and family. I’m not being crazy productive, but I’m doing alright. • What do you look forward to with your artwork in the coming months?
It feels like I’m starting to hit a tipping point where my artwork is becoming the majority (if not all) of my income. I’ve wanted to be nothing but a storyteller my whole life in any capacity, whether it ended up being film or comics or writing or artwork. It’s a promising feeling, even if it is on hold right now.
MACKENZIE SEWELL mackenzie sewell is a daughter. a woman. a creative. she is an emerging artist based between calgary, alberta and montreal, quebec. in her work she takes antithetical ideas, although separate and in tension, depend on each other. as do an object and it’s shadow. and a mother and her daughter. her work centres on something essential to human existence. the presence. the human embodiment, of the antithetical but interrelated ideas of life and death. to explore this, she takes both physical and metaphorical spaces ranging from film installation to charcoal drawings. these spaces reflect on the visible and invisible boundaries, both connecting and separating, involved in all human relationships, social creations, and human existence itself. for her, living in a pandemic her boundaries have had a personal, and emotional quams. “it’s uneasy. and lonely. but i don’t have a problem with isolating myself. i feel like the majority of my regular life is distanced from most people. and as for my practice, even with losing my studio space i am using this moment for small works on paper, and doing smaller installations that allow me to use the spaces in my home.” in this series of portraits, i explore my feelings of being completely alone and isolated. focusing on the weight it can put onto a person. for these works i am using stonehenge paper, measured at 8 1/2” wide and 11” in height. using graphite to outline a blueprint of each portrait, and then working in layers of medium and hard charcoal. these portraits i kept very minimal and delicate. using a large range of tones and values. the negative space is used to talk about the untouchable and the impermanence of a shadow. suggesting a side of the physical world that is unsubstantial, but yet conceptually and fundementally real. sustaining a boudary between light and shadows. to dwell in all of this uncertainty.
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ASHLEY VELVET IS BUILDING UPON & ADVANCING THE CONCEPT OF HYBRIDITY DURING ISOLATION CALGARY , ALBERTA
WHAT MEDIUM DO YOU PRACTICE IN? I studied jazz voice at Humber College for a year and then dropped out and found a love for dissecting electronic sounds that I would turn into music. I dabble on keys and bass and do a lot of creative mapping on an instrument that looks like I’m playing a game of tetris, called the Ableton Push. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR KIND OF ARTWORK OF THEMES SURROUNDING YOUR WORK? My work surrounds a lot of heartbreak, trauma, and lust because I wanted my music and lyrics to reflect a deeper emotional understanding with others. I wanted to represent those who felt disenfranchised or underrepresented. As humans we are all seeking a unique path and you can do that by using music as a guide.
HOW HAD QUARANTINE, OR THE GENERAL AIR SURROUNDING COVID-19 AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY AND YOUR WORK? I’m very much a homebody, so now that it’s socially acceptable to stay in, my sanity doesn’t seem to be compromised too much. I now have the energy and space for my aura to recover. When i step outside now, I hear less radio waves in the air clouding up my head. Not all days are productive, sometimes I’d smoke enough cannabis to forget my name. Although, I’ve weirdly had a clear enough headspace to question the media, and develop a perspective of our current world. I’d like to think that parts of the world are realizing that systemic change is needed for all of humanity to move forward. I think capitalism has really failed us especially during these times, and I empathize for the working class because we can’t afford not to work, and cancel shows, but we need to revolutionize with optimism. I’m seeings artists find platforms to create opportunities for themselves during isolation. It’s remarkable how close I’ve felt with the music community because I’ve been able to stay connected online when the offline world remains dormant. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH THE TIME THAT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU? WHAT POSITIVE MEASURES ARE YOU MAKING TO KEEO YOUR HEAD UP IN THESE ISOLATING CONDITIONS? I’ve been making music videos on my phone, building new outfits to wear for future shows, practicing playing scales on the piano, refining my live set, [and] finding new songs through the Youtube algorithm. There’s a lot of time for catharsis and self exploration so I’m really trying to take advantage of that. Lately I’ve felt this sense of urgency in my work process that was hindering me from having fun, just by virtue of managing 3 jobs, but now I feel less bound to an arbitrary timeline that I’ve set in my head. It feels like there are no rules right now, except to care about the health and well-being of others. Right now, I have the privilege to be able to focus on my craft so that I am able to share good music! WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO WITH YOUR ARTOWKR IN THE COMING MONTHS? I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. I don’t think I would be able to evolve as an artist if I wasn’t constantly pushing myself and being faced with adversities. I want to be able to earn a place in the industry though my music.
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BRAD WOODFIN I am an oil painter living in Montreal. I have been living here the last eleven years, which is how long I have been a “professional” artist. I paint in oils on wood panels. I studied printmaking in college, not painting. I paint animals, at least in the work I exhibit, and more and more it seems like birds are becoming my main subject. My work at it’s best is devotional and I connect most with artists that do or have done this type of work. So as much as I use animals as subjects it is always more about being human. My work and life during the quarantine is not that different. I work from home. I miss seeing friends and I miss going to happy hour. Not sure if my work is, or at the end of this thing, will reflect what’s going on. My work has always dealt with solitude and loneliness, so it sort of seems apropos now, but these feelings are always present and I often tap into them for inspiration. I have been working maybe a bit more than I normally would these days. I always tell myself if I have more time I will take more chances with my work, try new things, but so far I have stayed the course. I have been going for morning walks everyday, which is new, and I have started re-listening to the old Ram Das lectures on the Be Here Now podcast. I love how spacious Ram Das makes the existence seem. I really like Ram Das. I like that he doesn’t take things seriously. Been noticing things in my neighbourhood as my world has gotten smaller. Walking through all the alleyways in the east Plateau. Nice to see all the plants waking up, birds coming back, not nice to see all the cops in the parks. I have a lot of group shows coming up this year, lord knows if they will happen, or in what form. I am trying to get as much work done as possible so when things start to reshape into what the world will be like after all this, I can take a few weeks off.
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W E A L L H AV E T H I S O B S E S S I V E
COMPULSION TO CREATE