Distributed Identities Residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

I have just returned from Distributed Identities, a 5-week thematic residency led by artists Deanna Bowen and Brendan Fernandes at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta. My residency was supported by the Canada Council and the Banff Centre. It was a remarkable time of experimenting with new mediums and ideas that are sure to have a lasting impact on my practice. During my time there, I worked with the elements—the snow, ice, below-zero temperatures— and saris to consider the ways in which climate and landscape impact upon a migration journey to Canada. You can find work-in=process images and thoughts on my time at Banff on my Instagram feed. Thank you to the Canada Council, the Banff Centre and the facilitators, colleagues and staff for an incredible experience nestled in the Canadian Rockies and the land of the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot, and Tsuut’ina Nations.

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Canada Council Research and Creation Grant for Outerwhere

I am thrilled to share the news that the Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s national arts funding body, has awarded my work-in-progress project, Outerwhere, a major Research and Creation grant.

Outerwhere is currently in production is a series of fibre-based, sculptural installations of embellished second-hand winter coats. Combining found objects: old winter coats from Canada; small trinkets, objects, food wrappers, plastic flowers, fabric ribbons, mirrors and bells from India, fabric swatches, conductive yarns, and small sound players, Outerwhere will explore the binaries of inside/outside, personal/public, past/present as they relate to material culture, climate and the migratory experiences of South-Asian-Canadians.

With this grant, I am able to expand this project and explore new material inclusion into the coat linings. You can see some images of the process so far on Instagram under the hashtag #outerwhereseries.

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2018 Melissa Levin Emerging Artist Award

I am honoured and delighted to be one of two recipients of the 2018 Melissa Levin Emerging Artist Award juried by the Textile Museum of Canada. This museum is a favourite of mine and with this award, I will be researching their collection of South Asian garments, textiles and fibre collections. Stay tuned for a public presentation on my work at the museum in Spring 2019 alongside Catherine Blackburn, the other recipient of this award.

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From the Textile Museum of Canada Press Release:

The Textile Museum of Canada is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Melissa Levin Emerging Artist Award - Catherine Blackburn and Meera Sethi.

“We are so pleased to be announcing Catherine and Meera as our 2018 Melissa Levin Emerging Artist Award Winners. This award allows us to foster the potential of artists at a critical stage of their careers and we look forward to supporting their growth over the next year. We are honoured to be continuing Melissa’s legacy as a mentor and artist.”

- Sarah Quinton, Curatorial Director

Now in it’s second year, The Melissa Levin Emerging Artist Award helps emerging artists conduct self-directed activities such as art production, apprenticeships, residencies, and research. The Textile Museum of Canada supports the applicant’s customized program of research and access to the Museum’s library, exhibitions, and permanent collection. The award is in memory and honour of Melissa Levin (1958-2015), an artist, mentor, and teacher whose career as a textile and costume designer was synonymous with her exuberant love of colour and pattern.About Melissa Levin

Melissa Levin (1958-2015) was an artist, mentor and teacher whose career as a textile and costume designer was synonymous with her exuberant love of colour and pattern. This award was established in honour of Melissa’s passion for mentoring emerging artists, with generous donations made by family, friends and communities. www.melissalevinartist.com

The Textile Museum of Canada is the only museum in Canada that explores ideas and builds cultural understanding through the universally relevant media of textiles. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Museum’s permanent collection spans nearly 2,000 years and consists of more than 15,000 artifacts.

The Textile Museum of Canada is a non-profit cultural and internationally renowned educational institution, which marked its 40th anniversary in 2015. A leader in the digitization of collections and interactive environments, the Museum has been recognized the world over for innovation in the development of landmark educational, research, and creative initiatives.

Open seven days a week, the Museum is located steps from the St. Patrick subway station and just a few blocks from Toronto City Hall and the Art Gallery of Ontario. The Museum Shop specializes in textile related merchandise including books and toys and globally sourced artist-designed and artist-made products such as scarves and jewelry. More information about the Museum and its exhibitions can be found online at textilemuseum.ca.

For more information, please see the full press release.