Photos by Kayla Isomura
Interdisciplinary artist and musician Katayoon offered a glimpse of her world-building process through the discography of her band Puzzlehead. The nostalgic, handycam feel of her music videos is paired with the Liquidation World storefront and P.L.U.R.O.M.A. runway show to create a “manifestation of alternate realities” brought to life by the commercial potentials of these narratives.
“It’s hard for me to jolt out of the kind of conditioning that makes things I find unnatural seem natural, so [rearranging] space is a strong tool for me to recondition my mind to not accept walls where they are.”
Referencing the work of anthropologist and anarchism activist David Graeber, Katayoon’s Fellowship is culminating into the effects that administration and bureaucracy have on spirituality and community rituals.
Photos by Kayla Isomura
Visual artist, Lauren, shared insights into both the conceptual and the technical aspects of her painting practice in conversation with artist, friend, and former classmate Douglas Watt. Revolved around Indigeneity, from the symbolism and romanticism in her subjects to the physicality of the research and art-making process, she drew examples from recent exhibitions at University of Lethbridge, Liquidation World, and Macaulay & Co.
“I want my paintings to feel like a question mark,” said Lauren, “There are so many different directions they could take.”
Photos by Kayla Isomura
Artist and curator, Christian, offered poetic introspection into their practice across paintings, publications and curation, centred around immigration and diaspora. Working with water-soluble materials in their paintings, their use of water “as a trope in both migrant narratives and personal and familiar histories” offered spaciousness to think through abstraction and poetry.
“Collaborating with other people allows me to think about the lineage of decisions and consequences in my work differently. It situates myself in place—it’s a way to think about a place and the complication of one’s positionality.”
About the 221A Fellowship
The 221A Fellowship program is an 18-month studio-placement award at 825 Pacific Street. With a focus on artists from historically excluded communities, the program provides three artists each with a studio space, a $72,000 CAD stipend, and a $10,000 CAD project funding to activate online and in-person cultural outputs—making it one of the most generous studio-placement awards in Canada.
221A would like to thank the BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and City of Vancouver for their generous support.
On-Site Childcare
221A provided on-site childcare with the support of Pacific Immigrant Resource Society (PIRS)—a longtime dream of 221A Head of Finance, Michelle Fu since the start of the organization.
“Childcare offers invaluable support, allowing parents to fully engage with the Fellows’ work and connect worry-free with their community,” said Michelle. “Not only does childcare make programs more inclusive for families, but PIRS’ services also support immigrant and refugee women through childcare training and employment.”