Progress: July 15-20, 2003

Attended Interactive Screen 0.3, Banff New Media Institute Programs as part of Cyberpitch 2.0. I had been to the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1998 to work on a co-production: the Orphan Train – Trained Tales website. It was a dream to be able to revisit that breathtaking scenery, to re-experience that particular mix of seclusion and congregation. That is, a residence at the centre accomplishes two distinct but related functions in any art practice: it allows for uninterrupted production time and space, a chance to retreat from the world, as well as countless possibilities to gather and exchange with other artists from all over the world.

It is the diversity of art practices that is at first striking as I encounter artists from disparate backgrounds, at all stages of their career. My head is literally bubbling with ideas just from being around so many creative people, a sort of osmosis process. It is admittedly intimidating to present my work to a room full of more experienced artists and practitioners but for the most part, people are quite generous with their feedback. There is always someone to learn from.

The jam-packed activities in such a short stay also tends to intensify relationships, that it, people mesh — fast and tight. You make connections; sometimes develop long-lasting relationships, but for the most part, they are fleeting and in the moment. You take what you can while it’s there. You are conscious of the ephemeral nature of the experience.