As an art student, I learned the value of collaboration, even when it looked like I was working alone. One of the most beneficial things for me was access to studio spaces where people were collectively creating, problem-solving, brainstorming, or researching for their upcoming work. Finding inner calm within chaos provided a nice contrast to solitary working time, both were vital to balance my practice. Many of my favourite artworks were conceived when my brain was able to let go and dive into exploration through hands-on creativity. Actively creating work while attending artists’ talks, critiques, and discussions provided invaluable room for creative exploration and personal growth.
This collaborative and responsive approach to art-making unites Kelsey Ford, Lauren Warrington, and Emily Zdunich, who are known as Biofeedback Collective. They are focused on creating feedback-based programming for underrepresented and emerging artists. I discovered Biofeedback Collective in 2022 when they co-hosted a series of in person and online workshops and events with Levi Nicholat and The Gallery / Art Placement under the title The Community Project. Funded by PAVED Arts, Feedback with Biofeedback: A [Digital] Gardening Project culminated this series of Saskatchewan-based events. The Community Project’s Feedback Sessions, Get Togethers, open studios, and critiques created space for those in the art community to gather, discuss, share opinions, and receive feedback. The structure of the workshops also left room for those magical moments that come from collaborative workspaces and creative, focused discussions.
Feedback Sessions are similar to an artist talk but with a less formal structure. Twelve artists, established and emerging, were invited to host Feedback Sessions, centred around a prompt or question inspired by their own practice. The hosting artists were encouraged to be creative in their planning, which inspired discussion and made room for feedback in a variety of mediums. With support and facilitation from Biofeedback and The Gallery / Art Placement, each session provided space for connection, discovery, and audience participation ranging from serious to playful, conceptual to crafty.
New York-based Saulteaux artist Wally Dion hosted a Feedback Session while back in Saskatoon for his show “skodenstoodis” at the University of Saskatchewan’s College Galleries. Guests each prepared an anonymous story inspired by one of Wally’s prompts, Humour vs. Seriousness, Tell a Lie to Tell the Truth, or how Failure Makes Success. Once gathered in person, submissions were read out loud and Wally responded with stories, teachable moments, and pivotal experiences that have influenced his practice. Each submission was destroyed in a paper shredder after reading to encourage the idea of impermanence.
Russian/Canadian artist Evgenia Mikhaylova hosted an online discussion centred around the question: What forms of research are you doing in your practice to stay attuned to the world around you? Participants reflected on how they stay informed about things taking place locally and globally as well as how their work is affected and influenced by the state of the world. Evgenia’s practice is heavily research-based and explores how her knowledge impacts her work.
Asian/Canadian artist Qiming Sun took a more hands-on approach with his prompt: Create a page of a commonplace book using textiles, pressed plants, collage, paintings, paper cuttings, poetries, etc. Qiming’s work often involves elements of storytelling and narration portrayed in a rich vocabulary of visuals, symbols, and performance.
As part of Feedback with Biofeedback, the final event in the series, the collective installed a temporary greenhouse in studio space shared by PAVED and AKA, an artist-run centre. The greenhouse was closely surrounded by three green walls, lights, and plants. Within the greenhouse were a table and chairs, various arts and crafts supplies, and paper and writing materials. The prompts from the twelve Feedback Sessions were displayed on the wall alongside a final prompt from Biofeedback: What does community care look like to you? Reflect on how this appears in your life or practice. Community care is an underlying theme behind the Biofeedback Collective’s mission, and the need to nurture it was a driving force for the collectives inception.
Image description: The image shows three women, Kelsey Ford, Lauren Warrington, and Emily Zdunich, standing together, smiling. They are in a studio with white walls standing in front of a text with prompts for their feedback sessions.
Above: From opening reception for Feedback with Biofeedback: a [digital] gardening project. People gather in and around the greenhouse. 2022. Photo courtesy of Jane McWhirter.
Image description: The image shows several people standing near the entrance of the indoor greenhouse; ¾’s of the surrounding walls are painted green. Several ceiling spotlights are on grids above, and plant grow lights hang closer to the ground with a long extension cord. There is faux fur along the floor outside the greenhouse. Within the greenhouse, a few adults and children are creative with the supplies provided.
Biofeedback acknowledges a need for overlap between in-person and online engagement. Using digital spaces, Biofeedback can reach further and create more inclusive programming. Their Digital Garden is where prompts and responses exist online in a non-linear space. Ideas are shared in fragments as they develop, making them more about the process and less about the final results. The non-linear structure reflects the informality of the initial Feedback Sessions.
By taking the work from the initial Feedback Sessions into the greenhouse and online, those unable to attend can explore the prompts and submit their responses to be added to the digital garden. The prompts act as seeds for the community to connect with, nurture, and grow.
You can explore the prompts and submit your responses to join the digital garden here: adigitalgardeningproject.com
Biofeedback collective is supported by PAVED Arts, AKA, Art Placement, SK Arts.
Image description: The image shows three plants of various types in small ceramic pots on the floor, on top of a lemon-coloured faux fur. Behind them you can see the green mesh walls of the indoor greenhouse.
Jane Reväe McWhirter (she/her) is a visual artist from Saskatoon, SK, on Treaty 6 Territory. Jane received her BFA in Studio Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, majoring in painting and ceramics but explored everything from embroidery to sound-based installation.
Jane creates as an outlet, channelling emotion into her work while exploring a multitude of mediums. Jane’s work often involves themes of healing, vulnerability, connection, personal growth, overcoming trauma, mental health, feminism, nature and body positivity.
Jane is currently employed by the Western Development Museum as an Exhibit Design Technician. She is the Curator for Nuit Blanche Saskatoon, where she works with a board of directors to organize a contemporary arts festival each September. [www.janerevae.com]
Since you're here
BlackFlash exists thanks to support from its readers. We are a not-for-profit organization. If you value our content, consider supporting BlackFlash by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation. A subscription gets you 3 beautiful issues per year delivered to your door, and any donation over $25 gets a tax receipt. Your support helps compensate our staff and contributors for their hard work.