AIR 2018
A review of my artist residency at Alice Yard and more
In 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to be an artist-in-residence at Alice Yard at its former Woodbrook location; the space has since relocated to Granderson Lab, Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad. This residency was possible generously supported by artist Ebony G. Patterson.
Alice Yard is a contemporary art and performance space and network, based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It was founded in 2006 by architect Sean Leonard, artist Christopher Cozier, and writer Nicholas Laughlin.
Thank you, thenk yuh! (^_^)/
I arrived as early as mid-August for the premiere screening of my experimental short, East Waves, at the Trinidad+Tobago Film Festival (ttff/18), in the new media category.
In 2017, my experimental film/video artwork Chaotic Beauty was also screened at the film festival 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.
The official start date of the artist residency (October 1, 2018), where I presented NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST: Part 1 — Influences
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, hand-ons experimentation.
For this artist residency, my idea was to present an educational interactive installation which explored alternative avenues of perception. It focused on my personal influences, such as cognitive psychology, mathematics, information science, music and sound, and how I used those influences to make art.
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 figuring out how to use my advertising experiences to let people know that an artist from Jamaica was making waves inna di yaad.
The sketch on the left shows how I explained to Sean how I wanted the stacked rotating cubes to be built. The sketch on the right ensured the perfect cut for the design I was creating. Sean kindly offered me the use his office (co-rd limited) whenever needed, which is within walking distance of Alice Yard. His support was invaluable during my residency. Sean extraordinary architect and teacher, and his guidance has had a significant impact on how the installation turned out.
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 easy to work with, 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! ^_^
Above is a Font:1Row conversion of NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST, created using a free text-to-ASCII art generator. I designed and printed an adhesive sticker to place on the Alice Yard logo signage outside the gate, since nothing was on it. The image on the left was taken before all that rain, and the one on the right was meant to cheer me up with two stickers from my collection, because the weather was making me nervous.
I also created graphics to share on social media and printed some to give to people as a way of spreading the word about the project.
Nicholas mentioned that they often do a simple bio-fold leaflets 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 made sure I received them in time for the first day of the presentation.
Thank you, thenk yuh, Nicholas. I learned a lot from you.
Kriston had mentioned that he usually does this project for artists-in-residence. I shared the Font:1Row conversion of NOT YOUR KIND OF ARTIST file with him so he could generate a mock-up on the concrete panel, allowing me to see how it would look. I was excited to see it at such a large scale compared to the small adhesive sticker I had made.
Toof Press is an independent print and design workspace located Granderson Lab in Belmont, Trinidad. It is led by graphic designer Kriston Chen.
Thank you so much for everything, Kriston. You are appreciated! yuh dun kno ^_^
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 the first day of the presentation. I mentioned the idea to Kriston, who recommended Alex (I had met him the year before, when I was in Trinidad). I reached out to Alex, and once he confirmed, I bought a few white tees and he even gave me two extras. 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.
Thank you, Alex. much respect! :)
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 paint colour intentionally because it matched perfectly the plants close to that panel.
The other two had been painted almost a week earlier in black as a way to experiment with narrative through colour and texture, using the panels to tell a story without words.
I called this THE BOX
The Interactive Concept: THE BOX
I designed 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 using alphabet-and-number rulers and different colour 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 any alphabet-and-number ruler and different colour markers to place these Font:Decimal (numbers) near the letter(s) or word(s) they had chosen, or arrange them however they preferred. This showcased 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 two people asked me to reverse the process.
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. 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 some of the right questions I had been looking forward to, including what I wanted to achieve from all of this. We talked 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 the educational interactive installation and my presence. This added a kinetic, sculptural dimension, while the heartbeat video emphasized digital abstraction and movement. The video acted as a symbolic pulse, perhaps of my creative energy, emotional state, or the rhythm of artistic labour itself, and it also served as an extension of my presence, embodied through technology and participation.
After the interactions in the BOX some participants were asked to choose a sticker from my collection 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 but open-ended space where engagement with the interactive installation is first internalized before materializing on the structure.
My sticker collection became a tool for play and self-expression while also reflecting a sense of digital nostalgia.
>
Thank you so much, Jaye-Anne, and for looking out for me while I was there :)
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 encouraged participants’ engagement, 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 to the experience, making it even more rewarding.
Thank you both so much for all your support. :)
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 made me 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 check his wife to see if she could 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 I had anticipated. Instead of following the intended sequence, they deconstructed and reinterpreted the experience in their own way. Nikitha added one of her favourite words with symbols, connecting it to a letter from a word I had placed on the wall. She also chose a word and asked me to use the text-to-ASCII generator to convert it to Font:Decimal (numbers), and I had to place the conversion near it. Sade did something similar, but only added one of her favourite words, connected it to a letter from the wall, converted it to Font:Decimal (numbers), and asked me to do the same.
Their 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 reaffirming 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 engaging with the students before I had to leave.
Friday, October 26, 2018 ヽ(^。^)ノ
Admiring the BOX
I woke up early, feeling super excited because I knew Sabrina was going to bring some of her students after school. I organised my notes, charged my laptop, got some refreshments and snacks, making sure everything was ready for the visit.
🚀🪐⛲️🐬
my message to the students: YOU ARE WORTH IT ALL.
When the students arrived, I introduced them to THE BOX, explaining both the previous day’s interactions and the significance of word choices in the puzzle on the walls. I provided them with tools, including my laptop with the text-to-ASCII art generator, alphabet-and-number rulers, and markers, and asked them to select a 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 or 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.
Encouraging them to express themselves freely, a range of responses emerged: some were playful and spontaneous, others deliberate, and some leaned toward the experimental. This openness allowed each student to engage with the activity naturally, resulting in a collection of unique and personal expressions.
Their ability to put 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 decide what and how to trace or sketch, fostering independent thinking and personal artistic decision-making
Observation and Interpretation: Seeing how others approached the same task highlighted the variety of creative perspectives, reinforcing that there is 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, they learned to embrace uncertainty and explore ideas without fear of making mistakes
The activity also reinforced for me the value of giving the students the freedom within a simple structure and observing how different personalities approached the same creative challenge.
After the activity, I asked them to take photos expressing their feelings about the overall educational interaction. I also asked them if they liked the title Be Yourself Photos, to which they responded positively, even asking me to join the photoshoot, hehe. The results were fantastic. The process was incredibly fun, and each photo reflected their unique personalities and creative energy.
Monday, October 29, 2018 (✿◠‿◠)
🚀🪐⛲️🐬
my message to the students: YOU ARE WORTH IT ALL.
The Educational Interaction
Activity: Trace or 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 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 the 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, which they were then supposed to use to trace or sketch anything with a blue maker.
These results were so inspiring and gave me a lot design ideas.
This activity provided several educational takeaways:
Sound-to-Visual Translation: The students explored the relationship between sound and visual representation, emphasizing that non-visual sensory experiences (like sound) can be converted into visual forms such as shapes, numbers, or drawings.
Creative Expression: By tracing or sketching their sound’s visual form, they engaged their creativity, turning abstract concepts into tangible, personalized artwork.
Tech Literacy: They became more familiar with mobile apps and open-source software, enhancing their technical skills while exploring digital tools in art-making.
Critical Thinking: The activity invited consideration of how different sounds can be interpreted in various forms, fostering deeper understanding of abstraction and representation.
Interactivity and Engagement: The hands-on approach, particularly the opportunity to record their own sounds, made the learning process interactive, engaging them with both technology and art in a playful yet educational way.
The activity also reinforced for me the power of combining creativity, technology, and open-ended exploration, showing how deeply the students engaged when given the freedom to interpret and experiment.
After the activity, I asked them to take photos expressing their feelings 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 join the photoshoot, hehe. The results were fantastic. The process was incredibly fun, and 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 express how I felt about this project. Each visual element served 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 enjoyed learning and growing from different experiences and influences.
Thursday, November 1, 2018. GOING 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 to Alice Yard’s archive, though I wasn’t sure at the time what exactly. I mentioned it to Sean, and he was excited about the idea. Kriston and I had conversations about creating a zine, so I decided to use photos taken during the residency to create something unique. Kriston told me about the risograph printing technique, so I Googled it and instantly agreed on doing the zine using that method. 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.
Everyone took the time and made the effort to assist me and participate. Thank you all for your contributions.
