Alchemy 2018

In August, 2018 I participated in my first residency organized by Make Alchemy and held in Hillier, Prince Edward County, Ontario. Alchemy is an Ontario-based artist residency committed to fostering community engagement through the exploration and sharing of art, food and conversation.

We were 12 women (including our organizers) billeted amongst 3 houses. We had a shared studio space in the Hillier Town Hall. The Town Hall was very spacious and had a great community kitchen where we shared some workshops on cooking and different art practices.

Each house (the Loyalist Parkway House with Lisa Wood, Sonja Hebert, Barbara Brown and Tonia Di Risio; the White House with Adriana Ciocci, Ashley Culver, Barbara Brown and Claire M Tallarico; and the Yellow House with Hyun Jung Jun, Katie Belcher, Liz Nilsson and myself) had to host a dinner for the entire group sometime over the two weeks of the residency.

Our first meal was in White House was the planning meal to map out our two weeks.

I kept a daily journal painted on 33 feet of Mylar. I also kept a written journal which I eventually incorporated into the Mylar art work (I finished this in 2021).

It was a profoundly exhilarating experience of self discovery, growth and new friendships.

Prince Edward County Daily Journal, 2018, part 1

Prince Edward County Journal, 2018, part 2.

 

Prince Edward County Daily Journal, 2018

click on image

 
 

Details of Mylar Journal and Alchemy ‘18 Photos

  • Day 1 & 2, Visit to Jamie Kennedy's Farm and local area

  • Day 3, Station Road

  • Day 4, Local Farm

  • Day 5, 6 - Visiting country roads

  • Day 7, Wellington Market

  • Day 8, Lake Ontario from Wellington Town

  • Day 8, Picnic at North Beach

  • Day 10, The Yellow House

  • Incomplete Mylar Journal photographed at home.

  • Pasta Making Workshop, Hillier Hall Kitchen

  • Pasta Making Workshop, Hillier Hall Kitchen

  • Visiting with Chef Jamie Kennedy on his farm

  • Roast lamb at the potluck dinner

  • Picnic at North Beach

  • North Beach Maze

  • Artist Talk at Stanner Winery with Mary MacDonald

  • Katie's beautiful peach pie with lavender crust

One of Liz Nilsson’s many creations while participating at Alchemy 2018.

A wonderful project that came out of the 2018 year was a beautiful book created by Barbara Brown with contributions by Adriana Ciocci and Liz Nilsson. A compilation of beautiful photographs and family recipes.

Introduction to the book:

Many of us think of food as fuel. It sustains us. But food also causes changes both physically and spiritually. Aromas, tastes and textures can create startling memories.  Art can also do this. Making Alchemy Artist Residency brings these, not so very diverse, objects together.

In Prince Edward County, a beautiful area of beaches, wineries and farm land, twelve women met, many for the first time. We all came with our own objectives for the week and ideas about food. We experienced first-hand the importance of farm-to-table through visiting local organic farms and wineries.  Meals were created not by going to the local grocery but by what was available at the farmers market or local stand. We ate well, from beautiful stuffed squash blossoms, to grass fed lamb to an amazing peach pie with a lavender crust and every possible international treat in between.

I met amazing women. It was my first artist residency. I had no expectations. I left feeling fulfilled and overwhelmed (and little stuffed too).  At one of our first dinners together twelve women talked about food memories. Not surprisingly they all revolved around a meal with family.  We spent ten days sharing anecdotal stories about meals, sharing recipes, making fresh pasta together and delving into our individual artistic practices.  We became a family.

Liz Nilsson was one of my house mates. She never stopped cooking or creating art using whatever food was at hand to create her imagery. Adrianna Ciocci’s personality reflected the depth of thought and meaning that you find in her art work.  The alchemy between the two of them during our time together was palpable. Their shared heritage and remembrance of Kanelbullar, cinnamon rolls, brought about this book. We all have memories of baking, either with our mothers, (and fathers) grandmothers, and aunts. Many of us have our own cinnamon bun stories. I know I do.

Barbara Brown, the editor of this beautiful piece of art, came to Prince Edward County with the intention of creating a book, documenting our activities and creative processes. She initially wanted to document the entire ten days, but it was too broad in scope for the precious time we had. However our collective memories of making cinnamon rolls, buns or bread twigged another idea.  

As an installation artist and photographer Barbara’s vision is what brought these pages together.   The result is magic. The alchemy of different women’s lives, stories, and art coming together, to create a newer, more inspiring version of themselves.

Enjoy Kanelbullar!

Patti Randazzo Beckett

2018 Alchemist participant.

A Storied Recipe

Kanelbullar / Swedish Cinnamon Buns

Purchase the book at: Blurb