Reviews in Cultural Theory: On The Commons

This special issue follows the first Banff Research in Culture summer residency On The Commons: being-acting-feeling together with University of Alberta and visiting faculty at the Banff Centre,  May 2011. Reviews in Cultural Theory is published twice annually by the University of Alberta's Department of English and Film Studies.
'Remaking the Commons' is now online, ISSN:1918-9710, available at: http://reviewsinculture.com/media/issues/RCT-SP-On%20the%20Commons.pdf 

The richness and diversity of the articles give a good insight to the residency programme and the wonderful international and transdisciplinary mix of people exploring the ground of the commons, together.

My essay, Pervasive Media, Commons and Connections: Research as Reflective Studio Practice at Banff, written as an interactive studio process whilst creating the installation And Where [Are You Goung]/ [Do You Go To] When You Go There?, can be found on pages 43-62 of the journal pdf or read online at: http://reviewsinculture.com/special-issue/review4.html

Here's an extract about the essay, from the guest editors'  introduction....

Editors’ Introduction: Remaking the Commons 
M A T T H EW  M A C L E L L A N  A N D  M A R G R I T T A L  P A L A R U 

In a whimsical text defying academic writing straightjackets, Jackie Calderwood draws us into an exploration of language, location, and self-awareness. Calderwood muses on her time in Banff, while also revealing some of her inspirations, her multifaceted portfolio, and herself. The artist’s works come to life through her vivid descriptions and her lyrical and playful asides. By and by, Calderwood’s seemingly scattered text comes together to nudge us exactly towards the ludic, the spontaneous, the importance of living in the moment; her insistence on the process, rather than the polished oeuvre makes the reader acquiesce and accept her terms rather than look for resolution. Ultimately, the literal threads contouring the Rockies in her studio become metaphorical to suggest communities always in formation, starting with “one self.”            p.6

And Where [Are You Going] / [Do You Go To] When You Go There?

Installation complete... rocks, threads, mountain horizons, pins, colour grids, text, and plenty of spaces for thought in between. Audio playing: recording from Lake Louise visit with conversation in passing with the red beret lady. 

 

 

  

 

  

Making the most of studio space for a few extra days...

 

Changing spaces

 

Colourful Commons: BRiC researchers' colour grids on the themes of the Common(s),

and a 'proof' artwork reclaimed from the recycling paper bin as suitable frame!

Last night of BRiC

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172104,-115.560745 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

Reflections of refractions, planes interact, subtleties diffuse

I notice:

Light in the night and a shift of pace and energy, feels good

The colours in this grid are like:

Night light glass and space

Open Studios of La Commune

Full Thursday Ahead

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.171543,-115.560944 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

Complex patterns sitting together

I notice:

Interlocking and where one thing leads to another. 

Complexity sometime looks out of place at first, on superficial/surface glance

The colours in this grid are like:

A dynamic multifaceted full day ahead

Spaces of Thought: Where Do You Go To When You Go There?

Studio installation taking form:

Near Complete

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.171284,-115.562782 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

A studio installation nearly done

I notice:

Some grids have the same strength at different times

The colours in this grid are like:

Parts complete, parts that need more text, paper, stone. 

When does the journey come to an end? 

Then, now, or when?

Another Commons guest colour grid

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172066,-115.561966 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

A pattern

I notice:

It was colourful

The colours in this grid are like:

The joined up patterns

On Commons and Sharing, Guest Grid

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172066,-115.561966 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

I see a family under the cloudy blue sky

I notice:

There nice

The colours in this grid are like:

A whole family

Rocks and maquettes

 

 

Time flows forwards and backwards

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172081,-115.561035 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

A plan for the day, starting now and working back 

from a warm feeling of completion

I notice:

Starting top left, completion bottom right

The colours in this grid are like:

Waking with a focus, swimming, studying, 

feeling-being-acting, together

Two weeks passed...

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172157,-115.561417 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

Rhythms in different directions with complex patterns and relationships

I notice:

Two weeks have passed, a third just about  to begin

The colours in this grid are like:

Looking forward, Looking back

Waterfalls and Ink Pots

Group hike up Johnson Canyon, passing lower falls, upper falls, and up through the forest to regain the river higher up at the Ink Pots: geyser-fed colourful clear pools at a constant temperature all year round - wonderful to see as I've been modelling this in landscapes, even to the extent of the reflected upside-down mountains - and tasty mineral water too!

Inspired by Jen's walk and interactions last week, I recorded the audio of our walk - huge contrasts from the deafening waterfalls in the canyon to the silence of the forest absorbing every sound, moments when the lands rises and the train rumbles from way down the valley, and a specific corner where 'hear the forest' interpretation synchronises with sudden choruses of bird song!

Curious rock surfaces along the way: this is a very ancient place. The strange surface covering is from primitive algae that take CO2 from the water (rather than air) and calcify creating a new limestone layer over the rock surface. 

Spaces of Thought Interact

Finding the way to turn mountains into words:
I write as I make as I draw, reflect, learn, think, move

A full and productive day: completed the mountain range mapping in the studio (ran out of pins...) yoga, swimming, very interesting and enjoyable public talk by Lauren Berlant, and 1700 words interspersed with making - a dialogue of movement between thread and text, a new kind of warp and woof.

Late night creativity

I made this colour grid at http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.172127,-115.56089 using http://twitter.com/gathererapp

Things I see here are:

Dark night, lights all round the campus

I notice:

How easy it is to come and go.

 All care and thoughts well in place.

looked after.

The colours in this grid are like:

Coming back from the studio at 1.30am

First threads, fragility of acupuncture