THE URBANITE
May 20, 2014

Six weeks ago, Toronto visual artist Shary Boyle knew the same about Detroit as many other Canadians, “which is a lot of bad news.”

From afar, Boyle viewed Detroit’s music history and the “rugged integrity” of its people as inspirational. So when she received an invitation last fall to participate in a residency for Canadian artists in Detroit, curiosity took hold.

“… Detroit is a city I’m very curious about and it has a lot of history that connects with my interests; but I [didn’t] know anything about it. I tend to take opportunities that have to do with place and meaning,” said Boyle.

Boyle is the first of four Canadian artists to participate in Canadian Residency. Other 2014 artists in residence include Jessica Korderas, Suzy Lake and Kelly Richardson. From April 1 to May 15 Boyle spent time painting and working with ceramics in the Detroit Eastern Market.

Boyle’s art makes use of drawing, painting, sculpture and performance work to explore gender and class issues through a feminist lens. She is particularly known for crafting porcelain figurines.

“My work has dealt in a weird way with those same types of ideas (that exist in Detroit) … kind of revealing what’s happening underneath surfaces and saying there’s really difficult or painful or beautify things that people don’t talk about. But in Detroit you can’t help but talk about it because it’s right in your face. I found that actually a great match for my spirit.”

Canadian Residency is founded by Detroiter Peter Rozek, who admits to being “obsessed with Canadian artists Tom Thomson, Arthur Heming and Kenojuak Ashevak.”

“I wanted to highlight my favourite thing about Detroit: that Canada is so close. Not just geographically … but how our countries have a shared history of friendship, struggles, war, sport and economic ties that creates an exciting environment for both tourists and residents,” he said.

For Rozek, the residency is all about enabling Canadian visual artists to experience the value of living and working in the city of Detroit, and “trading creative capital endemic to Detroit/Windsor, and [turning it] into economic gain for the binational region.”

“The artists are able to set their own priorities for their stay at the residency…,” he said. “Our goal is to make sure they get the most out of their visit, and see all the wonderful opportunities for artists and other creative entrepreneurs that the region has to offer.”

Rozek said the program provides “an accessible interpretation of the region’s long term goals” to people, but he maintains that promoting the program can be difficult.

“I think trying to get the word out about what we are doing, and getting people to see how it is inline with the policies put forth by community stakeholders and a good thing to support would be the biggest [hurdle],” he said.

Last fall, Canadian Residency received a $30,000 grant from the Knight Foundation and those funds have been matched through private donations. To continue the program for a second year, Rozek’s launched an online Kickstarter campaign. He hopes to receive $50,000 in donations when the campaign expires May 31. So far he’s reached $7,919 of that goal, roughly 15 per cent.

Boyle and fellow Toronto artist Lake have created art collectibles as part of their participation, which are only available through the Kickstarter campaign. Lake made a limited edition, 8” x 10” postcard print entitled The Wannabe Windsorite, while Boyle collaborated with Pewabic Pottery to make a 4” x4” 3D tile, The New Detroiter, which is finished with Pewabic’s notable coloured glazes. The artwork are priced at $313 and $51.90 to represent Detroit and Windsor’s respective area codes.

Boyle would like to see Canadian Residency continue because of the amazing opportunities it provides artists, and how it allowed her to fall in love with Detroit.

“We know so much about them (Americans), and they know so little about us. … We don’t have cultural currency in the same way that larger countries do,” said Boyle, who would like to see Canadian Residency expanded to bring American artists into Windsor.

“Peter is probably the most pro-Canadian American. He’s so interested genuinely and supportive of all things Canadian culture,” she said. “I really celebrate him for attempting to strengthen those curiosities and those relationships with this geographical neighbour. Like it’s right there, you guys, right? And there’s not that much exchange and there could be.”