Patio Press Launches Fellowship for ECU Students
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The fellowship will echo the model developed by Sara-Jeanne and Mark for their Patio Press remote residency.
Patio Press, a virtual residency begun during the early days of lockdown by artists and ECU faculty members Sara-Jeanne Bourget and Mark Johnsen, has partnered with Emily Carr University to launch a fellowship for undergraduate students.
The project’s call for applications opened Sept. 5, with three fellowships currently up for grabs to students interested in printmaking. Applicants are asked to send in their project proposals, including a sketch, by Sept. 25.
The fellowship will operate on the same model developed by Sara-Jeanne and Mark for their Patio Press remote residency.
“Basically, we created a small printmaking studio on our patio, and started experimenting with what we had at close proximity, or what we found in the street during our walks,” says Sara-Jeanne.
“It evolved into a residency where we invited artists to participate and send us their plates so we could print them. It is a win-win situation, as we are learning from every printing experience we have with the variety of plates we received, and artists get a free edition of prints.”
Students who participate in the Patio Press x Emily Carr Fellowship will likewise receive a free print edition; the costs of other materials, including linoleum and woodblock printing plates, paper and packaging will also be covered, says Sara-Jeanne. The Patio Press virtual gallery spaces will showcase the finished work of participants, while a print from each edition will be included in the special collections archive at the Emily Carr library.
"Mark and I found ourselves craving connection with others, and wanting to (physically) see the work of our peers. This is also what I hear from students."
Sara-Jeanne notes that the Patio Press initiative has helped her, Mark and residency participants forge new paths for art-making during the pandemic — a lesson she’s keen on sharing with emerging artists at ECU.
“This project was key to understanding ‘working online’: how to collaborate online; how to keep connected with the community online; how to work from home; and what materials are accessible,” she says.
“Mark and I found ourselves craving connection with others, and wanting to (physically) see the work of our peers. This is also what I hear from students: they are missing seeing the work, interacting in the hallway after class, chatting together, forming community.”
Remote collaboration, she says, is a perfect way to make those connections, and to reflect more broadly on the nature of artistic agency.
“Both Patio Press and teaching online has made me realize that collaboration is so important and at the base of each of our practices,” she says.
You can find details on how to apply at Patio Press’ website, where you can also find a gallery of works by artists who’ve participated in the residency over the past six months. You can also see a gallery of works on Patio Press’ Instagram.
To download a PDF with further details about the fellowship, click on the "Patio Press x ECU Fellowship" button, below.
