Meet the AIR Mentoring Artists

On Tuesday the call to local emerging artists for the 2016 Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency program was released. The call invites local artists aged sixteen years and older to apply to two mentorship programs:

Program 1: May 30, 2016-July 8, 2016
Program 2: July 18, 2016-August 26, 2016

Up to six applicants will be accepted into each of the two six week programs. Local applicants have a choice as to which program they would like to apply for or they can apply to both. Successful applicants will receive: Access to studio space at the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre, full mentorship opportunities, a modest budget set forth by the Municipality for art supplies, and their work publically exhibited at the MacDonald Island Community Gallery presented by the Kirschner Family Corporation. The call will end on April 29, for more information please visit www.rmwb.ca/air. 

Meet the Mentoring Artists

Kritsana Naowakhun

The first mentorship program will be instructed by Kritsana Naowakhun. Born and raised in Bangkok Thailand, Kritsana’s first impressions about art came from his grandfather, a painter for Buddhist temples in mainland China. From a young age Kritsana always enjoyed painting, drawing and sculpting, and had big dreams of being an artist. Being accepted into the most prestigious fine art university in Thailand, Silpakorn University, Kritsana studied all different forms of media but chose to focus on sculpture. During that time, he was involved in many group shows all over Thailand and was accepted in the 52nd National Exhibition for his sculpture thesis project. Upon graduation Kritsana continued to create works, but his main profession was creating intricate window designs for high-end fashion designers all over Thailand. Since arriving in Canada in 2011, Kritsana has dedicated himself fulltime to purse his dreams of creating and inspiring others through visual art. He has had many group and solo exhibitions in Ontario and now here in Fort McMurray at MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery and Keyano Art Gallery. Kritsana is currently teaching art classes for children, youth and adults at the Suncor Centre for the Performing Arts and offering special workshops for adults at MacDonald Island Park. He is truly grateful for the opportunity to spread his knowledge and skills with this community.

Alma Louise Visscher

The second mentorship program will be instructed by Alma Louise Visscher. Alma is an artist based in Edmonton, working in textiles, installation and video whose actions and built environments are inserted into the landscape. Her work is influenced by sail and kite making, medieval philosophies, architecture and cloud formations. Most recently, her research has centered around intermediary spaces, surface architecture and archaic forms/structures. After receiving her MFA from the University of Alberta in 2011 she has exhibited in malls, closets, abandoned schools and city parks. In 2012 she was commissioned by the Edmonton Arts Council to create a temporary public art installation in Whitemud Park. Other recent projects include a residency at the Icelandic Textile Center (funded by the Edmonton Artist Council), a solo show at the Art Gallery of Alberta in the RBC New Works Gallery, and an installation for the 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art.

For more information about the Artist in Residency Program please visit our website www.rmwb.ca/air or contact Michael Beamish, michael.beamish@rmwb.ca, (780) 788-1498