Q. As both a farmer and an artist, how have you learned to balance the two, and how and when did you begin to integrate them into each other? My partner and I took on the task of being market farmers seven years ago, but it was only about two years ago that I started exploring the concept of farming as art. It can be really stressful at times which is why I choose to approach it more playfully. I started sketching out performance art ideas stemmed from daily farm tasks. Q. What is your artistic background, and what artistic discipline did you study in school? Has your focus changed since coming back to the Island? What’s your outlook on art, and how do you express it with the art that you make? I graduated with a BFA in Studio Art from Concordia in 2009. My focus was on drawing and video performance art. When I first moved back to the island I was living off-grid, so I did have to transition to a more lo-fi practice. I fell in love with Fibre Arts, particularly embroidery and needle felting. P.E.I. culture is so vivid and agro- culture is really a foundation for that. My role is to shine a light on what often goes unnoticed in my own unique way.
materials like corn husks, feathers, seeds, gourds, beeswax etc. Recently, I washed my first shearing of wool off of my two sheep, Nick and Nancy: wool is still a new and versatile material that I am exploring. Q. A lot of your art involves pieces made from naturally sourced materials. Where do come up with inspiration for these pieces, and how do you decide what to create from these materials? Experimentation. I just play with what properties the material has to offer. I use binding techniques to create more sculptural work. I observe juxtapositions with other materials and make decisions based from that.
CARINA PHILLIPS A & Q with www.carina-phillips.weebly.com
Q. What projects are you currently working on?
It is a challenge balancing farm work and artwork in the summer time but by bringing my video camera and tripod to the field with me I hope to make some good observations for future performances. I’ve also been newly elected to sit on the board for P.E.I.’s artist run centre; This Town is Small. We do a lot of programing of projects for the arts community in P.E.I. and I strongly encourage everyone to check out the website, thistownissmall.com
Words by Story Sheidow Photos courtesy of Carina Phillips
Q. Where can we find your art this summer?
Q. How has organic farming impacted your art and what you create?
At the moment I have three upcoming shows: August 1: The Gather, Bundle and Wip! Exhibit. As a part of this I will be hosting a craft club night Wednesday’s from 6 - 8p.m. Come, bring your current craft projects to work on and see first hand how my stick installations are made. August 8 will be the opening of a group exhibit at The Gallery at the Guild, featuring seven other local artists. And August 25 is Art in the Open . This is an open-air festival where I will be doing an Agrarian Artist Intervention between 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Victoria Park.
Nature has always been my main collaborator in art and farming. I think a lot of people want organic principles to extend beyond food production- which means, less chemicals in our daily lives and more relationships with other living organisms. Q. What are some specific projects in which you’ve used materials from your farm to create art? I’m currently working on an installation where I replicate mold formations using naturally dyed wool. I also did a series of dolls a few years ago that were shown at the Gallery at the Guild, made from remnant farm
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SUMMER 2018 www.pei-living.ca
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