About this project

I am an artist whose work involves creating assemblages with found objects, photographing the assemblages with 35mm slide film and producing Polaroid Transfers with those images – yeah, old school Polaroid film!

I have been accepted at Arteles Artist Residency in Haukijarvi, Finland for the January, 2011 term. Out of 214 artists internationally who applied, only 35 were accepted for the Winter and Summer terms. I am one of the 7 artists selected for the month of January. Arteles also awarded me with a partial grant for my stay at the residency that will offset part of the cost of the residency. Once I arrive in Finland, everything, except food, is paid for. I JUST NEED TO PAY FOR MY OWN AIRFARE.

Funding will go towards:
Airfare from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to
Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (TMP)

Any funding left over will go towards minimal additional travel expenses and, of course, food.

SYNOPSIS AND PROCESS:

The Kalevela Epic is the source of my concept and project that I will draw from for creativity while at Arteles.

The Kalevala Epic is Finland’s national pride and the basis of its cultural identity. The Kalevala Epic consists of 50 epic poems that, in its final form, was published in 1849. These 50 poems were, and still are, the building blocks of Finnish music, art, and most importantly, its independence. The Kalevela allows the reader to develop his or her own visions of each story line through stories about how the characters relate to each other and the natural world. The Kalevala empowers your imagination to soar while developing an amazing culture identity.

My assemblages will be built from natural Finnish items I will collect there, and which I feel express the Finnish history and culture, seen through my experiences and explorations while living in Finland over that month.

After building the assemblages, I will photograph them with 35mm slide film and then, using a Daylab processor (A small black box) and 669 Polaroid film, Polaroid Transfers will be produced. What makes my rewards and art original and one-of-a-kind is that when Polaroid ceased making instant film almost 2 years ago, I was able to purchase several thousand sheets of the now-extinct film. Luckily, Fuji continues to produce a similar film, so that the art of Polaroid Transfers will not be totally lost.

To live and create in the most heavily forested country in Europe... For 2010, Newsweek magazine voted Finland the “BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO LIVE!!!!” I have just got to get there and experience it myself!

Your time, interest and donation is very greatly appreciated! I promise, you wont be disappointed!
Hugs,
Susan