AIR 2018
A review of my artist residency at Alice Yard and more
In 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to do an artist-in-residency at Alice Yard, which was located Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Trinidad, and has since moved to Granderson Lab, Belmont, Port of Spain. This was made possible with the generous support of artist Ebony G. Patterson.
Thank you, thenk yuh! (^_^)/
During my time there, I was able to immerse myself in a mysterious and captivating environment. While CARICOM countries share some similarities, each is uniquely different.
I had arrived as early as mid-August for the premiere screening of my experimental film, East Waves at the Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival (ttff) in the new media/experimental film category. In 2017, my experimental film/video artwork, Chaotic Beauty, was also screened at ttff/17 under the theme, Bearings, where it won the Best Experimental Film Prize. Fast forward to 2019, and I was honoured to be invited as the festival artist for ttff/19: Carifesta Edition.
Over the years, I’ve become familiar with various art and creative spaces in Trinidad, particularly in Port of Spain. I’ve received—and continue to receive—opportunities and support from people in and from T&T, which I truly appreciate. That’s why, ever so often, some people think or ask if I’m Trini-Jamaican.
But nope, I’m not! I’m just part of a big family, that’s all.
The official start date of the residency and research project, NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST: Part 1 — Influences (October 1, 2018)
In 2017, I started my ongoing project, NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST JAMAICA. The project serves as a platform to express my unique approach to presenting my work as an experimental artist. My main focus is on areas such as arts education, cognitive psychology, mathematics, research, and technology, which collectively inform and shape my artistic practice. I wanted to go beyond sharing my ideas online and engage in a physical space, allowing for more immersive and hand-ons experimentation.
Here I am, at 80 Roberts Street, Woodbrook a few months later, preparing to present Part 1 of my project. This educational interactive installation overlapped alternative avenues of perception. It focused on my personal influences — such as cognitive psychology, mathematics, information science, sound/music — and how I used those influences to make things.
I was there during the hurricane season, and most days it was pouring rain, keeping me indoors. This gave me the chance to focus on planning on figuring out how I could use my advertising skills to let people know that an artist from Jamaica was making waves inna di yaad.
The sketch on the right shows how I explained to Sean how I wanted the stacked rotating cubes to be built. The sketch on the right served to ensure the perfect cut for the design I was in the process of creating. Sean kindly offered me the use his office (co-rd limited) whenever needed, which is within walking distance of Alice Yard. He helped me so much during my residency. He is an extraordinary architect and teacher. His guidance has had a big impact on my learning, and I continue to apply it to this day.
The one and only Sean L, hehe. I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me. yuh dun kno, not another word! ^_^
Sean got Colin to construct the stacked rotating cubes. He was so easy to work, translating my vision and Sean’s sketch into a dynamic final piece that perfectly captured my concept.
Thank you so much, Colin. You did an amazing job!
The image is a Font:1Row conversion of NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST, created using a free text-to-ASCII art generator. I designed and printed adhesive stickers to place on the Alice Yard logo signage outside the gate. The one on the left was before the rain started to affect my plans, while the one on the right was meant to cheer me up on the day of my first presentation. I also created social media graphics and printed some to share with people.
Nicholas mentioned that they often do a simple bio-fold leaflets for for events and artists’ projects as simple documentation that the audience can take away. I sent him some designs and text for the leaflet, and he ensured I received them in time for my first presentation.
Thank you, thenk yuh, Nicholas. I learned a lot from you
Toofprints is a side project exploring contemporary graphic in a public space — Granderson Lab, a project of Alice Yard. Curated by designer Kriston Chen.
Thank you so much for everything, Kriston. You are appreciated! yuh dun kno
Thank you, Alex. much respect!
I wanted to make a screen for silkscreening a few t-shirts. I walked around Woodbrook a lot and met many people, most of whom would say I looked like a tourist or ask where I was from. So, I decided to get these shirts done to wear leading up to my first presentation. I mentioned the idea to Kriston, who recommended Alex (I had met Alex before when I was in Trinidad). I reached out to Alex, and once he confirmed, I bought a few white tees. He even had two extras that he gave to me. The rain was pouring on the day he was available, but he still made it happen. He picked me up from Alice Yard, and we headed over to Granderson Lab to get the work done.
Mi deh pon di las’lic’now ~ final prep
I wanted to use all the concrete panels in the yard. There were four in total along that wall: one had the Toofprints, and the other three were blank. I chose that colour paint on purpose because it reminded me of the land of my birth—my home. It matched perfectly with the colours of nature—the plant. The other two had been painted almost a week earlier in black as a form of storytelling. *image below*:
I called this THE BOX aka my space. The weather was causing me to make to make a few changes. Initially, my goal was to focus on engaging with students. However, the dates and times coincided with a busy school busy, which made scheduling with students challenging. Additionally, I wanted to ensure that students wouldn’t have to stay out late, so I adapted my approach. Here’s what I did:
The Interactive Concept: THE BOX
I decided to design an activity for adults on the first day, using my creative space, THE BOX. The activity explored the intersection of language, technology, and artistic expression:
- Words on the walls: I placed words from my personal art notebook on the walls of THE BOX with alphabet+number rulers and markers, arranging them like a puzzle.
- Audience Participation: Each person was invited to choose a letter or word from the walls.
- ASCII Conversion: I used a text-to-ASCII art generator to convert the selected a letter(s) or word(s) into Font:Decimal (numbers). Participants were than asked to use an alphabet+number ruler and marker to place these Font:Decimal (numbers) near the letter(s) or word(s) they had chosen, or arrange them however they preferred, showcasing how abstract concepts can be transformed into digital representations.
This exercise reflected how I conceptualize and present my art. It was an opportunity to involve the participants in my creative process and demonstrate how I explore non-standard forms of language through. Interestingly, only one or two person asked me to reverse the process by having me choose a word(s) or letter(s), then requesting permission to use the generator to convert it to decimal (numbers), after which I was to place the Font:Decimal (numbers) beside the word and also added letters to make words they like, which resonated deeply with the open and transformative nature of the activity.
THE DAY: Thursday, October 25, 2018 ~ YAY! (A few interactions that were educational for me)
Jody was the first person to stop by. She came early because she couldn’t stay for long—after all, it was during the week, and some people were still at work. I was still setting up some other things in the yard, so she offered to help me place some of the words from my personal art notebook on the wall. She also asked me a some of the right questions I had been looking forward to, including what I wanted to achieve from all of this. We also spoke about dance and other things—she is a professional belly dancer and acrobat.
Thank you so much, Jody
:) ＼(~o~)／ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗヽ(´▽`)/
Thank you for leaving work on time to stop by and participate, MG. Much love and respect, always.
Thank you so much, Melanie. I enjoyed our conversations and all your questions! :)
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By getting this structure almost the same height as me, I aimed to establish a direct physical connection between educational interactive installation and my presence. This added a kinetic, sculptural dimension, while the heartbeat motion video emphasized digital abstraction and movement. Vaporwave—a genre deeply associated with remix culture and digital nostalgia—adds another layer of engagement, reflecting my ongoing exploration of internet culture and new media. The heartbeat motion video acted as a symbolic pulse—perhaps of my creative energy, my emotional state, or the rhythm of artistic labour itself.
Some participants were asked to choose a vaporwave sticker as a way to express their experience and place it anywhere on the stacked rotating cubes, transforming the structure into a space for contemplation and decision-making. This act became a metaphorical threshold—an enclosed yet open-ended space where engagement with the interactive installation is internalized before materializing on the structure. The heartbeat motion also served as an extension my presence, embodied through technology and participation.
This activity was a way to reflect on my overall feeling after completing this residency/research.
>
Jaye-Anne and I hang out a lot whenever I’m in Trinidad, even though she’s usually busy. Even just five minutes with her feels like a day or two—fulfilling and magical. When I told her I was getting the opportunity to do an artist residency at Alice Yard, she was so excited for me. She always looks out for me, offers her support, and give the most encouraging talks—a brilliant woman.
Both Sabrina (Artist and Educator) and Adeline (Artist and Curator) were so intrigued by the concept. They were particularly drawn to the ways in which the installation engaged participants, challenging them to think critically about digital media and its role in shaping our understanding of the world. Their enthusiasm and insights added another layer of depth of the experience, making it even more rewarding.
I learned that Sabrina teaches Visual Arts and Art and Design at Queen’s Royal College (QRC), an all-boys secondary school. I asked if she could bring some of her students to participate during the remaining time I had left. She immediately agreed, which I was so happy because I meant I could still engage with young minds despite the scheduling challenges.
She also mentioned another school, Holy Name Convent, an all-girls secondary school, where Irénée Shaw-Cozier, Christopher Cozier’s wife, teaches art. The next day, I asked Christopher to find out from his wife if it was for her to bring some of her students. Irénée, along with another art teacher at the school, Marie Elena Joseph, agreed to visit with their students.
WAS SO SO SO SO HAPPY!
Thank you all, thenk all a unu
(✿◠‿◠)⛲️🐬🚀🪐ヽ(´▽`)/
As the night went on, the installation continued to evolve. Sade and Nikitha were the last two participants of the evening, and they completely reversed the process, bringing a fresh perspective that I had anticipated. Instead of following the intended sequence, they deconstructed and reinterpreted the experience in their own way. This approach disrupted the flow in the most brilliant way—introducing an element of playfulness and improvisation that energized the entire space. It was the perfect way to end the night, leaving me in wonder and reinforcing the very essence of experimentation that drives my practice.
Thank you, thenk yuh, Sade and Nikitha!
(/◕ヮ◕)/ 🌠☄️💫🌟 ˊ＿>ˋ
Although my first day focused on adults, I remained committed to engage students before I had to leave.
Next day (✿◠‿◠)
Admiring the BOX aka my space
I woke up early, feeling super excited because I knew Sabrina was going to bring some of her students after school. I did some preparation—organised my notes, charged my laptop, got some refreshments and snacks—making sure everything was ready for the visit.
The days I was happiest about!
🚀🪐⛲️🐬
my message to the students: YOU ARE WORTH IT ALL.
Friday, October 26, 2018 ヽ(^。^)ノ
When the students arrived, I introduced them to THE BOX, explaining both the previous day’s interactions and the significance of word choices with the puzzle on the walls. I provided them with tools — including my laptop with the text-to-ASCII art generator, alphabet+number rulers, and markers — and asked them to select number or numbers from the wall, transforming them into anything they liked using the generator. Since the first concrete panel with the toofprints was almost directly across from THE BOX, I allowed them to display their results there. They were highly engaged, especially Timothy, who particularly enjoyed exploring the text-to-ASCII art generator.
The Educational Interaction
Activity: Trace/Sketch anything with a PINK marker.
I gave the students the freedom to interpret the activity in their own way while maintaining a simple guideline—tracing or sketching anything with a pink marker. By encouraging them to express themselves freely, a range of responses took shape: some were playful and spontaneous, others were deliberate, and some leaned toward the experimental. This openness allowed each student to engage with the activity in a way that felt natural to them, resulting in a collection of unique and personal expressions.
Their ability to create their own spin on the activity suggests a natural inclination toward playful innovation, which aligns well with my artistic approach.
This activity provided several educational takeaways:
- Decision-Making and Problem-Solving: With minimal instructions, the students had to make choices about what and how to trace/sketch, fostering independent thinking and personal artistic decision-making.
- Observation and Interpretation: Seeing how others approached the same task highlighting the variety of creative perspectives, reinforcing the idea that there’s no single “correct” way to create.
- Exploring Playfulness vs. Precision: The range of responses—playful, deliberate, and experimental—showed that creativity exists on a spectrum and that all approaches hold value.
- Encouraging Open-Ended Thinking: Without rigid expectations, the students learned to embrace ambiguity and become comfortable with exploring ideas without fear of making mistakes.
- …
After all the engagement, I asked the students, before they had to leave, to take photos that expressed their feeling about the overall educational interaction. I also asked them if they liked the title: Be Yourself Photos, to which they responded positively, even asking that I participate in the photoshoot—hehe. These were the results. The process was incredibly fun, as each photo reflected their unique personalities and creative energy.
my message to the students: YOU ARE WORTH IT ALL.
Monday, October 29, 2018 (✿◠‿◠)
The Educational Interaction
Activity: Trace/Sketch anything using the numbers and a BLUE marker.
The students could not stay for long, as they came during their lunch break, but I was prepared with a quick and simple activity. This activity focused on sound and its visual translation. Each student was asked to choose the name of a sound or sound they liked, and some even had the opportunity to record their sounds using an app on my phone, which converted the sounds into shapes. I demonstrated that process to guide them, giving them an idea of what was to come. The names the sounds they chose were converted to Font:Decimal (numbers) using the text-to-ASCII art generator, and I wrote those numbers down in my personal notebook for each student, where they supposed to use those numbers to trace or sketch anything with a blue maker.
These results made my day, I was inspired :) thank you all, thenk all a unu for this!
This activity provided several educational takeaways:
- Sound-to-Visual Translation: Students explored the relationship between sound and visual representation, emphasizing the concept that non-visual sensory experiences (like sound) can be converted into visual forms (shapes, numbers, drawings, etc.).
- Creative Expression: By tracing or sketching their sound’s visual form, students engaged their creativity, turning abstract concepts into tangible, personalized artwork.
- Tech Literacy: Students became more familiar with mobile apps and open-source software, enhancing their technical skills while exposing them to digital tools in art-making.
- Critical Thinking: The activity invited students to think critically about how different sounds can be interpreted in various forms, fostering a deeper understanding of abstraction and representation.
- Interactivity and Engagement: The hands-on approach, especially the opportunity for students to record their sounds, made the learning process interactive, engaging them with both technology and art in a playful yet educational way.
- …
After all the engagement, I asked the students, before they had to leave, to take photos that expressed their feeling about the overall educational interaction. I also asked them if they liked the title: Be Yourself Photos, to which they responded positively. This time, I volunteered to be part of the photoshoot — hehe. These were the results. The process was incredibly fun, as each photo reflected their unique personalities and creative energy.
Tuesday, Wednesday, (October 30–31, 2018). The rain was in and out, and I was hoping this concrete panel survived so I could document the final thing.
ヽ(´ー｀)ﾉ
READ A PATTERN IN THE CHANGE: All the elements added to this concrete panel were carefully chosen to capture how I feel about my ongoing project/research, NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST JAMAICA™, which each addition serving as a reflection of open-mindedness, curiosity, and appreciation for difference. The panel became a visual manifestation of me as an experimental artist—mixing who I am with my art and showing how I enjoy learning and growing from different experiences and influences.
Thursday, November 1, 2018. GO HOME TIME! (✿◠‿◠)
See me ‘ere again! September 2019
After returning home, I knew that I was going to end up in Trinidad again. I had an idea to add something—though I wasn’t sure at the time—to Alice Yard’s archive. I mentioned it to Sean, and he was excited about the idea. Kriston and I had conversations about doing to zine, so I decided to use all the images that was documented from the residency to create something unique. Kriston told me about risograph printing technique, I Googled and instantly agreed on doing the zine using that technique. The design was, of course, inspired by Alice Yard’s logo and the colours were inspired by the Jamaican flag.
Thank you, thenk yuh, Kriston, for getting this done before I had to leave.
These people took the time and made the effort to assist me and participate. Thank you all for your contributions.
