THE SHED – Artist Residency at the Walter Morgan Studio Launches

The Campbell River Arts Council is launching an Artist in Residence Program in the Walter Morgan Studio this summer.  Plans have been altered somewhat due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Residency will not be open for public drop-in but will instead focus on providing working space for the development of local artistic practice.

“We had originally planned to begin an Artist Residency in 2020 that would aim to attract national interest and would include public workshops, talks and access to the resident artist, but Covid changed our plans,” says Ken Blackburn, Executive Director of the Campbell River Arts Council. “However we wanted to make use of the amazing studio space that we now have in the Walter Morgan Studio.  The City completed renovations last Fall.  Even though we are in difficult days, the Studio, or ‘Shed’ as it has been called over the years, can be put to good use by local artists working on specific projects”

Two artists are beginning the Residency, one a sculptor and one a writer.  

Orland Hansen (Simutuk) was born in Aklavik, Northwest Territories. His father Hans came from Denmark, and his mother was Inuvialuit, whose family originated from Alaska. While growing up with his family at their bush camp Orland learned to carve, mostly driftwood. Orland started carving soapstone in 1992 and in a short period of time became an accomplished artist. Orland now carves various types of stone, bone, horn and antler, and often combines these materials together in an innovative way. His sculptures can be found in many private and corporate collections throughout Canada, the U.S., Australia and Asia. Orland recently moved to Campbell River after living in the Calgary area for over 30 years.

Writer Libby King is originally from Adelaide, Australia. Libby has lived in Campbell River for ten years. She started writing seriously after a writing course at Sybil Andrews Cottage and has since had short stories and essays published in PRISM International, Prairie Fire, Grain, and Meanjin. She is spending 2020 working on a novel with the support of a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She’s looking forward to settling into the Walter Morgan Studio and seeing how more time at the Cottage and the sea will influence this work.

It is hoped that as social distancing guidelines open up there may be opportunities for community interaction with the artists during the summer months.  For more information on the Residency please contact the Arts Council through arts.council@crarts.ca.