Now in its third year, the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) Filmmaker in Residence program provides a local filmmaker with the resources and guidance to create a completed film work with the support and participation of the community.
The 2011-2012 AFCOOP Filmmaker in Residence was Eva Madden-Hagen. Eva's
residency project was a documentary entitled POSE. The
film explored the unique experience of posing as a nude model through the
eyes of Halifax based comic book artist Dave Cullen. Dave spent his life
studying the human form but recently realized sitting behind the drawing board
wasn’t fulfilling the complete experience. A study in contrast and
contradiction, Dave sees what it is like to be the subject of the
artist’s eye rather than the executor the vision. POSE goes with him on his
journey. Follow Eva's recidency progress with her blog with The Coast.
Eva Madden‐Hagen is a versatile filmmaker working in both drama and documentary. Her
current films Winter Wave Riders, profiling Nova Scotia winter surfers, and the short drama What Remains, chronicling a family coming to grips with dementia, have screened
internationally and on Canadian television. In 2007 she
directed the National Screen Institute of Canada/CBC Drama Prize film Eastern Shore, garnering “Best Original Score” at the 2007 Atlantic Film Festival with appearances on CBC Television’s
Canadian Reflections and Movieola: The Short Film Channel. Eva has competed in the Toronto
International Film Festival’s “Pitch This!” competition and in 2011 was selected for the “Women
In The Director’s Chair” workshop at the Banff Centre with her latest feature film script, Top of
the World. A board member of WIFT Atlantic, Eva is also an enthusiastic workshop instructor,
mentoring emerging filmmakers through programs at Viewfinders Film Festival and AFCOOP.
Filmmaker in Residence Programming at AFCOOP:
During the residency period, AFCOOP and the artist hosted several public sessions as part of the residency's commitment to sharing the creation of the film work with the public. These sessions consisted of artist talks, works-in-progress screenings, and open studio editing sessions. A gala screening of the work was hosted once the residency was completed.
Unless otherwise noted, all programming took place at AFCOOP, 5663 Cornwallis Street, Halifax.
The Naked Truth – 7 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2011 – A special presentation of Eva’s previous Super 8 films followed
by an introduction to her latest work in progress, Pose. Eva was joined by
the subject of this new film, artist and raconteur, Dave Cullen, for a
discussion about Zen and the art of nude modelling.
Exposed-An artist
talk and raw work screening, 7 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2012, at the Carbon Arc, 1588 Barrington
Street, 3rd Floor – In this session Eva screened the raw footage from
“POSE” and shared her process and techniques as well as invited feedback and
discussion from the audience about the work. This was an exciting opportunity to
observe a creative film in the making and to be a part of it’s progress.
Final presentation, Thursday, March 15, 2012 – The final presentation was a workshop in designing sound for experimental film.
Participants met to learn and discuss sound design in theory and practice
in relation to “POSE” and their own work.
Madden-Hagen also held ‘in-studio’ sessions in late February/March as
she edited POSE at AFCOOP’s facilities.
For more information, please contact Chris Spencer-Lowe, Production
Coordinatorat the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative at 902-405-4479 or
production@afcoop.ca.
Based in Halifax, AFCOOP is an accessible centre for the production and presentation of creative films in a collaborative, learning environment. The AFCOOP Filmmaker in Residence program is an HRM Residence Initiative hosted with the support of the Halifax Regional Municipality and the NFB-ON
Lisa Lipton, Point Pleasant Park December 21, 2011- March 31, 2012
Lisa Lipton was artist-in-residence at the Gatekeeper’s Lodge, Point Pleasant Park, January-March 2012.
During her residency, Lisa continued developing BLAST BEATS, a projectwhich investigates the history and spirituality of drumming. Lisa is preparing to stage the project in Halifax, and during her residency she created textile-based components for a performance, practiced drumming rituals, and conducted research on drumming and collective beats. She explains, “I am interested in establishing a sense of community and communication told through rhythmic unity within a new context—in this case, within the nature environment of Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park.”
The public took part in double drumming sessions with the artist Friday afternoons from noon – 4 p.m. until March 30 (excluding February 3). During the sessions, participants shared their drumming experiences and drummed with the artist. The Gatekeeper’s Lodge is located in Point Pleasant Park at 5718 Point Pleasant Drive.
Born in the Maritimes, Lisa is a multidisciplinary artist and musician who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the NSCAD University, and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor. Her installations exemplify a diversity of interest within the arts, combining sculpture, video, knitted costume and paint with performances that involve dance and music. She has exhibited her work on both a national and international level including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Windsor, Banff, New York, Detroit, Texas, North Carolina, Berlin and Amsterdam. Lipton recently arrived home from a series of residences at The Banff Centre for the Arts, University of Windsor and Yellowknife Centre for the Arts.
Lisa’s residency coincides with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s Emerging Artist Series. From February 10 to April 29, 2012 Lipton’s exhibition Stop @ forever, will be on view at the gallery. Curated by Sarah Fillmore Stop @ forever includes installation, video, musical and sculptural work that describes Lisa's sometimes romantic, sometimes nostalgic, always carefully considered, take on the world around her.
In May 2012, through HRM Open Projects, Lipton will remount Window Ballet, a collaborative, performance-based project which crosses boundaries between the fields of music, theatre and visual arts.
MSVU Art Gallery January 9- February 17, 2012
Ursula Johnson performing Elmiet
Photo by Krista Comeau
MSVU Art Gallery hosted Mi’kmaw artist Ursula Johnson. Johnson worked in a studio space within the gallery,
hosting basket-making workshops, open studio days and other events. As an
activist, Johnson employs contemporary, theatrical and traditional Aboriginal
practices to engage viewers in social situations. A skilled basket maker, she
frequently combines basketry with performance and relational aesthetics.
With her most recent work, she interprets the “Urban Aboriginal.” Johnson has
exhibited widely and participated in artist’s residencies across Canada.
Artist in Residence Programming at MSVU Art Gallery:
Open Studio Days
Ursula Johnson welcomed visitors to her studio during these times:
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, January 14, 2012
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2012
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012
Basketry Workshops
Free to attend.
Part 1: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2012
Part 2: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2012
Public Lectures
5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 2, 2012 – Ursula Johnson in conversation with artist and writer Shirley Bear, C.M.
12-3 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2012 - At Johnson's end of residency celebration, audienced viewed a drumming performance and the pieces she created during her residency, which they assisted in naming. The pieces were catalogued and tagged for a future exhibition.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2011, MSVU Art Gallery reflects the university’s education mission by emphasizing the representation of women as cultural subjects and producers. Its exhibitions explore various forms of cultural production, highlighting the achievement of Nova Scotia artists and themes relevant to academic programs offered by the university. MSVU Art Gallery promotes critical access to its exhibitions through publications, lectures and other educational programs.
Neptune Theatre October 17 - November 26, 2011
Award-winning Nova Scotian playwright, Michael Melski was Neptune Theatre’s Artist in Residence from October 17-November 26, 2011. During his time at Neptune, Michael completed a first draft of his newest play, Eighteen.
Eighteen is a play about an elderly Nova Scotian couple, who spend their winters in Florida and inadvertently discover the Fountain of Youth on a golf outing. Neptune is excited to expose audiences to the development process of script writing. A public reading of Eighteen will enable audiences to be part of the creation of a work in progress. Michael will also work with Neptune and the Halifax Public Libraries to offer a Master Class free of charge to aspiring writers. He will also have a class with the students of Neptune’s Pre Professional Training Program.
Established in 1963, Neptune Theatre is one of the oldest professional theatres in Canada and the largest professional theatre in Atlantic Canada. Each year over 500 performances are produced in its two theatres (Fountain Hall and the Studio Theatre), a year round Theatre School is operated and a three month province wide Young Company Tour takes place.
Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing July 2011
During July 2011, local media artist Léola LeBlanc worked with the public in the Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing, to create on-line interactive map of the historic Geary Street Cemetery located in downtown Dartmouth. The cemetery is a historic public site founded in 1830 and contains an ancient Mi’kmaq burial ground, a family crypt, early Catholic settlers, Anglican immigrants, and the relative of a French empress. The resulting on-line map will be used for school curriculum during the Bluenose Ghosts Festival, October 14-31, 2011.
Alderney Landing promotes community and cultural programming and is recognized as a unique destination and venue for business, arts and entertainment in Nova Scotia. Alderney Landing exists to enhance the recreational and cultural life of the region. The Craig Gallery’s mission is to introduce the works of professional and amateur artists as well as groups shows, collectively providing a diversity of mediums.
Watch the video by Eastlink Television to learn more about the project.
Aimée Henny Brown, Point Pleasant Park
January - May 2011
Aimée Henny Brown, an interdisciplinary visual artist, took part in a residency in Point
Pleasant Park from January to May 2011 through support from HRM Open Project. Her blog, The Gatekeeper's Lodge, chronicles her research and residency experience.
During July 2011, local media artist 