a recommendation

hi there,

throughout my research so far, i wanted to share Jessica MacCormack's book that we have at the farr. at the end of my residency, i'll be putting together a small book of my findings and research, providing a little bibliography of works at the library that are relevant to the topic of depression in contemporary art.
The See its on the residency project shelf, easy to find:

see ya,

maia

the farr winter residency

hi there, 

i’m really excited to be the winter resident at the fine arts reading room. i kind of don’t believe it, but its real enough that i’ve been working on it a bunch. here is an idea of what i’m planning to work on. it’s the paragraph that got me here in the first place:

Over the past few semesters, all of my projects have followed a similar line of inquiry. It has to do with contemporary art and depression, with being a depressed person that makes art. It raises questions about the communicative nature of artworks, and the assumption that they are these powerful vessels for expression and for aesthetic communication. I’ve been wondering what happens when an artwork doesn’t solicit an interpretation, but instead makes the viewer weary. What kind of value does art have if it presents and produces the disengagement felt when depressed? When the relational property of art is exhausted, what kind of aesthetic remains? If the image can’t be seen or interpreted, what’s its function? This distance, this break of connection so often felt in a depressed state, and its properties in art, all of this has been the questions I go back to.

The prevalent scientific notions present depression as a hindrance to creativity, but I don’t think that they are necessarily incompatible. On the other hand, I see no value at all in furthering the antiquated notion of melancholy and the artistic genius, so I will stay very far away from all of that. Rather, I want to research about art that embodies depression, art where depression’s symptoms are present in its very constitution. Art that is depressed, not art that presents depression as a theme, not art that exemplifies depression.

I know I can’t be alone, that there are other depressed people that make art in the world and that their art can embody depression. I want to find it, and I want to know what value it has in current art world principles. I want to find more sources and critical essays on the subjects of depression in contemporary art, and in the end present a concise booklet of my findings.

Over the course of the residency, I want to utilize the exhibition space to showcase some of those works. Providing the context under which they are chosen and exhibited will be of importance, so I think small write-ups and text excerpts should be present and informative. Throughout the six week timeline, the exhibited works will build on each other along with the research, providing more artworks to be seen (physically if available, in images otherwise), and critical considerations to be reflected upon. This exposure of depressed artworks is important as to raise awareness and understanding of individual and collective experiences of depression. More importantly, I think it necessary to reconcile creativity with traditional psychiatric assessments of the depressive state.

so, yeah. it’s a little bit of a messy topic, and it intersects with so many other areas of study. it feels like a huge undertaking and such an important subject, i don’t want to mess up. if you are aware of any critical research/writings/artworks on the subject, or if you are an artist living with depression currently or in the past, i invite you to reach out to me if you’d like. i know it’s terrifying, i was terrified to propose this subject, as it discloses my mental health to strangers. but i think that’s a really important part of it (if you don’t feel like it, you can talk to me anonymously too). also, if you feel i am glossing over an important aspect of the realm of contemporary art and depression, or mental health in general, do please let me know and i will acknowledge all i have missed in the aim to be as inclusive as possible.
thank you to paige and everyone at the farr for granting me this opportunity.

sincerely,

maia c. donnelly

(maia@maiadonnelly.com)

ps: my first shelf install is up at the farr, i encourage you to swing by to see and have a better idea of what i'm working on 

The final blog

It’s over.


Sort of.


    Today I’m going to pick up my installation. This semester, this residency, it was a lot to take on. I chose a topic that was so much bigger than a 6 week residency, and I’m happy I did. I’m not done researching, this won’t be the last Glitch in the System zine, or my last project related to marginalized people in the arts. I learned a lot about myself, I learned a lot about how other people share similar views and experiences that I do, and a lot of people have it a lot harder than I do. Most of my research related back to myself this time, if I were to do it again, I would have gotten the chance to explore more about BIPOC*, I wanted to be able to interview and accept submissions from BIPOC in the arts. I didn’t speak on BIPOC in the arts because I’m white, I don’t want to speak over anyone, I would rather give a voice to BIPOC, but I didn’t organize my projects fast enough to allow for this. My next zine, will definitely include this.
    I think as I wrap up this residency it’s important to mention things we CAN do to be inclusive in the arts community. Physical accessibility is extremely important, hosting events at venues that are accessible is a really big deal. There are websites in Montreal that are devoted to this like “Is this venue accessible” (http://itvaccessible.com/city/montreal/) This website could use an update (and they invite people to email updates), but it’s an awesome place to start. My summer project will be to compile a list of accessible spaces in Montreal to release as a free source for promotors and people in the arts. Another really important thing is to enact safer spaces initiatives, which Montreal is actually really great for! I’m going to include a **safer spaces initiative to read over at the bottom of this page, Montreal is amazing for having these initiatives for music based shows, I’d like to see these initiatives carried over into the art world. Education needs to be accessible, university isn’t, and it probably won’t be for a long time, it will always be a struggle to try and fit into the rigid box that is post-secondary, but there are a bunch of ways for decentralized learning and educating can happen. QPIRG Concordia (Quebec Public Interest Research Group at Concordia) is a huge resource, it’s wheelchair accessible, safer space initiative is enforced, and its available to non-students (community members). Alternative Libraries is also an incredible resource for alternative knowledge. http://www.alternativelibraries.org/.
    If you are a student at Concordia, the Accessibility Centre is an great resource, they hold workshops for exam and essay writing, how to overcome common problems for people with disabilities, tools for studying, and they also give access to tutors, pdf textbooks, note takers etc.
And lastly, the Fine Arts Reading Room, which was a place of solace for me this semester any time I needed to research, use a scanner or a computer, or even just sit on the couch and read a zine, they are a student run library, that has a bunch of awesome resources (including the incredibly knowledgeable staff), tons of art/gender/queer/contemporary related texts, a zine library, a small cozy atmosphere, and there's plants in there… which is more important than you think. After staring at computer screens my entire life, its so nice to read a zine by the window with some plants.
    We need to remember how important it is to give voices to people who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to speak. Marginalized people are often looked over for multiple reasons, and talked for by people that don’t fully understand the experience, and therefore don’t have the right to speak on it. Give voices to those who aren’t normally heard. Put women in your art shows, put BIPOC in your art shows, put disabled people in your art shows, put students in your art shows. Representation is extremely important.
I want to thank everyone who’s read my posts, came to see my installation in the FARR, saw my website, provided me with resources, assistance, and support. Thank you to the Fine Arts Reading Room for absolutely everything.





- Heather Ross



*BIPOC = Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

**Safer Spaces Initiatives
http://safespacenetwork.tumblr.com/Safespace does a good job at explaining safer spaces
“A Safe Space is a place where anyone can relax and be able to fully express, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, or physical or mental ability.
A place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.”

This means, no oppressive language or acts will be tolerated.
Often safe spaces are scent free (I’m one of the people that really appreciates this)
Listing the accessibility of the space, i.e., size of the door, amount of steps into the space and in the space, if there are ramps or a separate accessible door etc.
A safe space event is usually all ages, and drug/alcohol free, I understand often art shows have bars or wine, but it’s important to remind the people in attendance to be respectful, and to list on the event whether it will be alcohol free or not.
Listing on the event if there will be food, and if any of it is vegan/non-dairy/nut-free/gluten free etc.
Many events like book fairs or talks offer first come first serve bus tickets for people in need to get home safely.
And making sure the people attending the even understand that certain behaviours will not be tolerated and if people break the guidelines they could potentially be removed from the event.

The final installation in the FARR

Mid-residency installation photo 

glitch in the system zine, available on heathrr.ca in pdf/audio and in the FARR in print.

another update

I added a few things to my website today from the zine that I'm releasing on Friday. Plus a couple links to resources and art.

heathrr.ca

here's a thing i wrote about the fact residencies are really hard.

"i want to talk about failure.

the idea of success and failure within the arts really bums me out. but how do we pay artists, train artists, curate artists, if theres no goodbadpassfailrightwrongetc.
i set out on this residency to learn about how disabled and marginalized people make art, document art, research, write, and just the research itself was difficult. tiring.
i’ve written half essays and letters about 100 times but not finishing, i’m careful about my words, so now i’m trying not to be.
digital space is accessible in the sense that you can write anything and read anything as long as you’re capable of doing those things, and have access to the internet.
and zines are accessible in the same way, if you can write about it, and if you have the ability to print and distribute, than you can do it.
so i want to do this and i want to do this write, and make my information accessible, or as accessible as i can.
the problem is that i’m a disabled person myself, and research is tiring. responsibility is terrifying. long term commitments are daunting.
and education is inaccessible at best.
and so my residency didn’t go quite as planned, these are the struggles i’m facing, and i’m starting to realize that this is probably exactly how it should have gone.
my failures are just proof that being a disabled artist is hard. being a disabled student is hard. trying to access these things and do things like residencies, to complete the promises i’ve made.
when art mimics life u kno?
like every project and thing in my life, i’m playing catch up, and getting over my fears, and writing them down instead.
i’m pretty sure thats how you make art, and i’m pretty sure thats how you make zines.
through research i’ve learned that a lot of disabled and marginalized people are absolutely killing it despite the difficulties we all face in our own respects
through research i’ve learned that we’re all struggling different struggles, but in the end we’re all struggling.
my research about struggle has been a struggle.

i knew this would all end in a weird ironic loop."

Extended Residency

This project was bigger than I knew.


I've been compiling information, and struggling with finding the time to upload it. It seems like any time I sit down to write in this blog, I remember that I have some other homework to do, some other project to work on.

My residency has been extended until April 15th. I think it's fitting given the fact I'm researching accessibility in the arts. It's something I will always have trouble accepting but, I do need more time than most, to get to the same point. I need assistance, I need understanding, I need support. I'm lucky, that the reading room has been really accommodating and has let me take a bit more time.

So while I was researching disabled people in the arts, art centered around disability, accessible ways to record research and put the information out there, I realized that... I have to put my own info out there in an accessible way as well. So I started researching people that have put out zines and art in different ways.

Content Warning: Child Sexual Abuse: This is a zine that was turned into a video for people that have issues reading.


Resonance Audio Distro has an awesome collection of audio zines

This zine was made by visually impaired teens.

Sarah Tea Rex has put all of their zines in pdf format on this site, and the get a grip zine is also available in braille.

An article about Roy Nachums braille paintings for the blind.

A free braille converter for 3d printing.

3D printed braille and picture books for blind children.

A free braille slate file to 3D print.

Ivona is a text to speech site that lets you pick voices in any language, including French Canadian.


More info on the way!

Heather

website updates

!!!

Hi.


I've been updating heathrr.ca all day because I've been slacking.  I'm guessing, that everyone else is as swamped by finals, but if you find the time go check out some of the updates.

I did a review of DEFINITELYREALALLTIMETRUETALES@LOYOLACAMPUS.COM which was a performance that happened in Feb at Loyola campus, that I helped out on... so it's a biased review, but a review anyways.

Slowly but surely, I'm compiling a zine of all the research I've done in regards to accessibility, and I'm going to be putting it out in PDF, Audiozine and paper format.

I'll update again tomorrow.

- Heathrr

Update

The website is aliiiive.

heathrr.ca

Go there to check up on what I'm doing in a more visual and less written sense. Also, the icons are all draggable so, drag em around.

I've also been keeping a book list;

-Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists
-Figurations of Violence and Belonging: Queerness, Migranthood and Nationalism in Cyberspace and Beyond
-Conversation pieces: Community and Communications in Modern Art
-Being on line, net subjectivity
-The uncanny: Experiments in Cyborg Culture


I'm posting art by inspiring artists that (i think) deserve representation. 










And I just added a few things to my workspace installation in the FARR.











Heather