A First Nations focused lab with artists Henrietta Baird, Shana O’Brien, Josh Staines and Jasmin Sheppard. Amy Flannery could not attend due to Covid.
Henrietta and Shana worked on their current projects while exploring shared concerns around relationship to the environment. The artists also explored local connections, along with Josh and Jasmin. Delving into their own practices the group engaged with questions and ideas that spark across their diverse making and presentation processes.
They were supported by guest practitioner Jasmine Gulash, Critical Path First Nations Producer.
Artists were invited, along with a parallel regional artists residency with the intention to
- support each artist and their research/development in their own right, with paid time and space for your practice in general and your specific project/s
- create a space that feels safe to undertake their own research and to support each other as appropriate
- focus the time so that Critical Path can better contribute to your research/development
- Connect those living, working and with relationships in regional NSW to make the most of any existing or potential connections and support
Across the week it was clear that a number of shared connections and concerns were at play across the group/s. Participants highlighted the importance of
Connection between First Nations and Regional Artists
Regional Networks and relationships
Being in the bush, outside of the studio, relationship to the land
Time and space in and for practice
Participants fed back –
“This time with CP will inform many projects to come if not redirect them.
It was great to collaborate and share not only approaches to practice but networks and experiences.
Love critical path and will investigate how to further work with CP moving forward.”
“how deep the importance of experience and stepping out of the studio is to creating content that is full”
“Learning from others was a highlight and having the time and space to explore truth telling.”
‘it really highlighted to me the importance of time and space in the making process, to let exploration happen”
Critical Path’s residencies and labs targeted to First Nations artists draw on the learning and understanding from our conversations and support with BlakDance. We are working to support the identified need/s to provide space for Indigenous dance artists to test out new ideas, share with their peers and work within First Nations frameworks and protocols.