January 3 2021
Dear Reader,
Hammock Residency is back!
This time, it’s online. There are 6 residents a year. Each resident gets a 1 month Instagram takeover.
If they want to, they can do an artist talk, and release a 11×17″ black and white publication as well.
I’m doing the first residency to introduce the Hammock Archives. I won’t be able to cover all of them, but a little dip will do!
Thank you for joining us again!
January 3 2021
Dear Reader,
When I started Hammock Residency I was obsessed with the idea that the best conversations were around the kitchen table, unscripted, intimate, and actually talking about things, not just moving your mouths and clinking glasses.
You can have the grants that everyone is fighting over, the freshest, most slick white walls, and at the end of the day, the best conversations were held in a dilapidated building, with rent barely paid, and some shitty pasta. It’s the spaces between the things that hold everything together. The spaces are what hold things and make them great. Or just empty.
I was into this idea of the analog: how you can zoom into it, and it would never be broken. There would be spaces and info in everything, one movement informing the next.
So I wanted to offer a space that could help with that. The space I had available to me was my home, so I offered that. My roommates graciously supported me, as did my neighbours. If you loved the Hammock, please go up to every one of my old roommates, and thank them! They held space for it as much as I did, but in different ways.
Hua Jin (aka Phoebe Jin) took these photos in 2009. She wanted her residency to express what happened in the home. I have no way of thanking her enough. Her photos are beautiful, and really capture the ephemeral spirit of what was happening.
January 4 2021
Hand drawn fonts in sharpie markers: black, light green, green, blue; another one in smokey red and black; one finger-knitted hammock sculpture made of grey yarn.
Originally I had a whole rainbow of these fonts, each one hand made by me. I was against putting them into photoshop and changing the colour because I was committed to the analog nature of recording time, space, and the energy of that moment through a physical object.
Hammock was built on the energy of doing it yourself, doing things together, mutual aid, and making the most of everything you had. There was a prevalence of folks feeling like you needed the fanciest fonts, a Mac, and knowing the “right” people.
I wanted to show that all you need to do is start somewhere. You may not have the fanciest thing, you might be socially awkward, you might work on a PC (shame, shame), and that’s OK.
I didn’t have much at Hammock Residency, but my time, energy, and whatever space at the house that was available. I learned the other things I needed to learn on the go. I did things over and over again until I found out how to do things.
When I didn’t know how to do things, I would ask for help.
I kept all the graphics, “branding” for lack of a better term, and objects that reflected the Hammock ethos simple, and handmade. If someone wanted to know how to do something I would skill share with them. If someone was jealous that I knew someone they didn’t, and they wanted a studio visit, I would introduce them at the next opening I saw them both at.
If I wanted to know someone, and thought they were cool, I would ask to be introduced to them.
If someone can’t do something, that’s valid, but you at least have to try. I got rejected. I got recieved. Somethings work, somethings didn’t work. I wanted my emotional, physical, social, intellectual, and physical labours to be seen and transparent.
As humans, we are very insecure. We compare ourselves to others. We compete. We are so dumb. We are better together, and when we are helping each other, we can get so much done. I wanted anyone that was feeling insecure and checking me out, to feel like they could do anything I was doing. Just in their own way.
Like I can’t be anyone but me, I was not interested in making anyone else to be me either. I didn’t want anyone to “do Hammock” just take the ethos and do whatever you are going to do with that on your terms. Do something that I couldn’t do, and can’t do, because I’m over here doing my thing, not yours.
Materially, I think markers and homemade crafts look cool, and they draw me aesthetically, but more importantly, they are humble.
The font itself was inspired by a font on a kitchen faucet. I liked the swooping letters, and I thought to myself, “there’s nothing like the domestic to keep things grounded”. Making an artist residency space out of my home, the inspiration itself resonated with me, and I went from there.
January 5 2021
Kitchen Fires, 2009-2010
Photography by Hammock Resident Hua Jin @hua_jin
Hua Jin was living with me when I started Hammock Residency back in 2009, along with Debra Zhou. Phoebe’s residency centred around taking photographs of the Hammock Residency.
At that time, there was a tradition in the Hammock Residency called Kitchen Fires. It’s basically a little fire on a plate. You would move the plate around the kitchen table with a piece of kitchen cutlery or something, to avoid the kitchen table from being burned or catching on fire.
The table was covered with burn marks from these burnings because inadvertantly, the table would char. I am using that old kitchen table in my tarot cave now as my work table, and am writing this post from that table now.
Kitchen Fires were probably one of the first performances of Hammock Residency that I did, although I never called them that, because they were quite ritualistic for me. Fire is an ongoing theme in the Hammock Residency, from kitchen fires, to fires in the backyard fire pit, to bowl fires later on. The idea of taking one item, and transmuting it through fire is something that speaks to me, and many a resident participated in these fires in their various forms.
January 6 2021
Hammock Residents, 2009
Dawn Johnston
Debra Zhou @debrazhou
Francisco Fernando Granados @franfergra
Joomi Seo
Joy Dutcher @joydutcher
Karianne Blank
Lesha Koop
Lois Klassen @loisklassen
Lupe Martinez @gadal_quasar
Maggie Boyd @maggieboydceramics
Hua Jin @hua_jin
There might have been others, but that’s what I have from the files that I have found. The website was well archived with all the residents, and I’m in process of applying for a professional development grant with @canada.council and @bcartscouncil to get it all off the cloud and back on line, so we can start to develop and organize the archives more.
The Hammock Residency website was lost in what I call the 2005 web fire and now its all up in the cloud, waiting for us to take it down again. I thought it was gone permanently, but it was uploaded, thankfully for us.
These artists were a huge part of 2009 at the Hammock Residency. Using the kitchen table, back yard, phone calls, studio visits, the porch, the front porch; where ever it worked, basically.
January 8 2021
Absurdus, 2009
Joomi Seo stayed with us for the summer of 2009 after Deb moved out to be with Mike (her now husband). Joomi and Deb and Phoebe were all friends, and we would spend a lot of time hanging out. Joomi was officially a resident in 2009, but it was a lot of art/life time.
At this time we were listening to a lot of Sun))), Terry Riley, Paulive Oliveros, Phillip Glass, Sun Ra. I don’t know, there are so many. Joomi is an amazing musician, and made these compositions that I just LOVED, so I made vocal tracks for them. They were essentially 20 minute tracks of Joomi playing instrumental keys, with me making noise art from poetry I wrote. Sounding all the words out as long as I could bear, it made the vowels hit all the insides of my mouth and produce these weird noises. Meanwhile Joomi is just jamming forever in her sweet wild trance melodic way.
At the time I was working at Solder & Sons (run by Robert Pederson, now disfunct), on Mondays, and in exchange Rob gave me the upstairs storage space as an art studio. We would dose up on espressos and jam after the store was closed.
Abusrdus was what we called ourselves, because we couldn’t really explain what we were doing, even to ourselves.
We performed once: at LIVE Biennale 2009. Joomi made this big projection of abstract shapes, and projected it on the wall adjacent us. We both got nervous and didn’t really do anything with it after.
January 11 2021
Backyard house show with @jeremygordontodd
2010
There were about 25 people there max. We all laid around on blankets talking. The night air was warm, but not sticky. At some point I got on stage and wrapped myself in Christmas lights and started dancing. Someone took this photo, but I don’t know who. It was a nice late September night.
January 12 2021
Home Studio, Hammock Residency, 2010
Hammock didn’t have much, it was just my home. No fancy anything. Just grassroots resilience and a desire to do things differently. Here are some shots of the studio that we would work out of which was also my bedroom.
Not included in studio shot, but should have been: kitchen, bathroom, livingroom, back porch, back yard, front porch, top of the fridge…. We used it all for adhoc studio space.
January 15 2021
CARAPACE, Patrick Cruz, 2010
Paintings became raingear, masks, plants, and a sound music show, held at the now defunct Artbank space run by Mandy Hardwick @gladysdoom
Patrick Cruz was a huge force in Hammock Residency, and one of my good friends, especially during this time of hyper production of events. Patrick came to everything, supported everything, and made hella art.
One of the bad things about losing my footage was that most of the footage that I do have has me in it, because it was on my facebook, instagram, gmail etc. Patrick did so much!!!
And I’ll never fully be able to put it on this feed how much it all meant to me either. Love you @pcrust
January 15 2021
Redirecting Traffic, 2010
Not an official Hammock Residency piece, but it was held by the residents and processed by many a kitchen table conversation. I guess you could say I was the resident in this case.
At this time Hammock Residency was hosting a lot of folks from the anti-Olympics stuff. Pete Rockwell came out from Victoria to document the rallies. Items were gathered and donated to the Tent City that was happening concurrently to the resistance.
As someone who was working in inner city schools, seeing the funding getting cut to schools and the more wealthier schools covering it through PAC and the inner city schools sharing text books that I had used the same edition as when I went to school 20 years previously gave me the chills.
There was a well meaning but glib group of parents from the west side schools that wanted to include the inner city schools in the celebration of the Olympics and fundraised to buy every child a set of Olympic mittens.
There was huge photos taken in the school gymnasiums with these children crossing their hearts with their mittens. Meanwhile they go to class and they have run out of construction paper by mid year. Mittens were not the answer to a systemically unjust and 50/50 PAC/VSB funded school system.
So I crocheted these Pylons out of flagging tape, bought the flagging uniform after a rally downtown from Army & Navy and Redirected Traffic to highlight the absurdity of all of this.
Many a Hammock conversation revolved around these events during this time, as it just tore my heart out.
January 16 2021
Back Yard Music Festival, 2010
My neighbours were friendly, the house was clean, I invited 40 or so artists to come over and do a festival in the back yard.
@jessecolinscott took these photos. If anyone else has photos, send them over or tag them with #hammockresidency#backyardmusicfestival so I find them.
It was a magic day. Dawn Johnston did all the gold things. The first slide is of Daniel Karrasch playing an experimental guitar set. I MC’d while the artists set up. You can see David Leith setting up behind me in the second shot.
We kept it quiet so all the neighbors could put their kids to bed, but also kept it warm enough in our hearts so that we could enjoy ourselves.
@tincanstudio was there serving refreshments and snacks, and a mini lounge area. There were installations in the house as well. I think @hauntedbarbie put their drawings up and it was their first art show I think? They were 13 then I think. Correct me if I’m wrong, it’s all memories, and 10 years ago now.
It was going to be a Biennale – and there was another one in 2012 – but the neighbors changed and life moved on, the Hammock shifted. It might come back in a different flavor, you never know.
January 17 2021
Hammock Free School, 2011
Hammock Free School is a project that Golboo Amani facilitated at Hammock Residency that really took the community building, skill sharing, and mutual aid energy of Hammock and gave it a real focus. Golboo is an amazing artist with a heart of gold, and fierce vision. I am so glad that she did this, and documented heavily. You can see it all at: https://hammockfreeschool.wordpress.com/
Below is text from the website:
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The Hammock Artist Residency is the initiative of well known Vancouver based artist Heidi Nagtegaal. Since 2006, the Hammock Residency invited and worked with a variety of artists, providing numerous resources to help artist realize their ideas. Located in East Vancouver Hammock is a place that offers ” space to focus on the process of making art”. But more importantly the Hammock Residency, “is a community hub, happenstance event space and a good space to let things happen. It’s the spaces between the thoughts that inform the thoughts, and ultimately the art object.”
Artist Golboo Amani (http://golbooamani.blogspot.com/), has taken on the initiative to open a temporary free school as part of her Hammock Residency. Hammock Free School is a laboratory of non-hierarchical collective art production. At the Hammock Free School one can freely and organically inform themselves through access to a variety of resources. Workshops, research groups, experiments, lessons, reading lists, instructions, discussion groups, open studios, presentations, and field trips, are some of the pedagogical tools we use to carry out investigations in knowledge production and distribution. With a specific focus on community, space and local experience, Hammock Free School examines the relationship between art and the community by working directly with local community groups and organizations.
Hammock Free School will be running at various locations in the East Vancouver area from May 25th to June 30th, 2011.
Balcone and Hammock Residency would like to acknowledge the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia and ArtsBC for supporting this project.
Blog designed by G.Amani. Logo by Heidi Nagtegaal
January 19 2021
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
Eddie’s Spray Day, June 12
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Eddie was my neighbour who wanted to learn how to spraypaint, cuz I was frequently spraypainting things in the back yard, and he was curious and eager to learn.
He became a super spray painter and taught this workshop at the Hammock Free School. Golboo used part of her artist fee to buy the entire rainbow of spray paint colors that you see in the next slide. Eddie and I were ecstatic, and made this skid sign together.
The official event invite is below. You can find more at: www.https://hammockfreeschool.wordpress.com/
January 19 2021
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
Planting Seeds: Reclaiming the Backyard Workshop
June 4
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Planting Seeds: Reclaiming the Backyard Workshop will take place in the beautiful backyard of the Hammock Residency. This will be a hands on workshop in which participants transform a section of the backyard into a working vegetable garden. We encourage you to take part in this workshop by getting your hands dirty, bring any garden tools (shovels) and starter plants you would like to contribute to the Hammock Residency garden. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Sat 04 June, from 2pm – 5pm Urban farmer Sasha Faminoff is offering an afternoon workshop on the beginning stages of transforming a backyard into a sustainable vegetable garden.
Hammock Residency 1923 Graveley Street
Sasha Faminoff – Guest urban farmer, Planting Seeds: Reclaiming the Backyard
I’m Sasha Faminoff, born and raised in the Lower Mainland and now living in wonderful East Van. After visiting numerous amazing places around the world, I’ve come to the conclusion that I love BC the most, and feel very happy to have my roots in this part of the world. I work as a teacher in the Burnaby school district, and as a farmer at the Richmond Sharing Farm. And at the little shared urban homestead I live in, I like to practice gardening, fermentation, fibre crafts, cooking… among many other things! I am always looking to learn more DIY skills, and like to learn and teach best through experience.
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 20 2021
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
Coiling Grass Baskets, May 28
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The Hammock Free School is hosting a Coiling Grass Baskets Workshop at the Hammock Residency, we encourage the community to take part in this workshop. We will provide some materials for the workshop but encourage you to bring raffia and any materials you’d like to use in your basket. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Sat 28 May, from 2pm – 6pm guest artist Mandy Two Pants is offering a one day workshop on making baskets from reclaimed and recycled materials.
Hammock Residency 1923 Graveley Street
This workshop is on the same day as the Community Book Drop Off. If you have any books, magazine or literary materials you’d like to give away, bring them to the book drop off!
Mandy Two Hearts – Guest Artist, Coiling Grass Baskets
Originally from Calgary, AB, Mandy graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2005, with a focus in Textiles/Fibres. She has since moved to Vancouver, continuing on with her studies at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute, from which she will graduate as a registered Art Therapist in 2012. Mandy works and lives in East Vancouver, BC, as an artistically informed support worker and friend to all.
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 20 2021
Open Sound Jam, June 9th
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
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!!!!!!OPEN SOUND JAM!!!!! Lets make some noise at the Hammock Residency. This Open Studio session invites participants to bring any kind of sound/noise maker and make some noise. We encourage the community to take part in this workshop as it will be so much fun!!! Bring a healthy snack to share and a cushion to sit on. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Thur 09 June, from 6pm – 9pm Hammock Residency 1923 Graveley Street
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 20 2021
Freewares @ FREEGEEK
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
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!Event! –June 7 Freewares @ FREEGEEK
Freewares @ FREEGEEK Workshop will take place at FreeGeek located in East Vancouver. This will be a hands on workshop where we explore various open-source software and various free programing available to those that don’t want to pay to play on their computers. We will also be taking a short tour around FREEGEEK which is an ethical computer recycling depot and computer co-op. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
OnTues 07 June, from 6pm – 9pm FREEGEEK 1820 Pandora Street
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 21 2021
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
Patrick’s Pocket Food Woekshop
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!Event! – May 31th Prep, Cook, Feast: Patrick’s Pocket Food Workshop
The Hammock Free School is cooking up a storm. Prep, Cook, Feast: Patrick’s Pocket Food Workshop will take place in the beautiful kitchen of the Hammock Residency. We encourage the community to take part in this workshop by bringing by an ingredient to add to the pot or a beverage that will be enjoyed by all the participants. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Tue 31 May,from 5pm – 9pm guest artist Patrick Blaeser is offering a one day workshop on making food that can fit in your palm or in your pocket.
Hammock Residency 1923 Graveley Street
Please be aware that the Hammock Free School and the Hammock Residency can not cater to all food allergies. We apologies for any inconvenience.
Patrick Blaeser – Guest Artist, Patrick’s Pocket Food Workshop
Patrick Blaeser has a BFA in Photography form ECUAD and MFA from the Glasgow School of Art. He uses a variety of mediums including photography, textiles and illustration and to express apocalyptic and Utopian attitudes. Blaeser’s practice consists of examining society to pick apart issues through the lens of possible futures and pasts. By reevaluating these fictions he tries to discover new routes for understanding and adjusting those ideas and how they may aid the present moment. Blaeser currently lives in Vancouver BC and has shown work in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the U.S.A.
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
OPEN STUDIO: GROUP COOK OFF
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
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!Event! – June 2nd Food for Thought: Caroline’s Caramelized Onions Workshop & Open Studio: Group Cook Off
RAINCHECK for Caroline Caramelized Onions but we still have the OPEN STUDIO: GROUP COOK OFF
There’s never too many cooks in the Hammock Free School kitchen. Food for Thought: Caroline’s Caramelized Onions Workshop will take place in the beautiful kitchen of the Hammock Residency. This workshop will be followed up by a Group Cook Off Open Studio session. We encourage the community to take part in this workshop by bringing an ingredient to add to the pot or a beverage that will be enjoyed by all the participants. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Thur 01 June, from 6pm – 7pm guest artist Caroline Ballhorn is offering a one hour workshop on making her delicious signature caramelized onions.
Also on Thur 01 June, from 7pm – 9pm guest artist Monique Levesque is hosting an improvised group cook off made of the ingredients brought to the HFS by participants.
Hammock Residency 1923 Graveley Street
Please be aware that the Hammock Free School and the Hammock Residency can not cater to all food allergies. We apologies for any inconvenience.
Caroline Ballhorn – Guest Artist, Caroline’s Caramelized Onions Workshop
Monique Levesque – Guest Artist, Open Studio: Group Cook Off
Raised in a white washed suburb of Calgary and currently living in Vancouver, I reflect on my time spent in cul-de-sacs of the early part of my life, surrounded by stucco. A recent Graduate of Emily Carr University, my work is based on the remnants of the performance of everyday life, an examination of the production of subjectivity, through the production of community. Creating a portrait of a group of people where commodity, class and conformity serve as modes of elitism, and escapism.
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 22 2021
Hammock Free School, Golboo Amani, 2011
Clowning Around With The Cruz Brothers
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!EVENT! – June 14 Clowning Around with the Cruz Brothers
Come clown around with the Cruz brothers. On Tuesday June 14 join us for Clowning Around with the Cruz Brothers Workshop, where artist Patrick and Francis Cruz will be hosting a clowning workshop. Bring your silly selves over to the Purple Thistle to join us for this great chance to play around. Check out the Hammock Free School Events page for a schedule of events as well as details about each workshop.
On Tues 14 June, from 6pm – 9pm Patrick and Francis Cruz are offering an evening workshop on clowning at the Purple Thistle.
Purple Thistle 975 Vernon Street, unit 260 (Clark & Venables-ish)
Francis Cruz
Patrick Cruz – http://patrickcruz.tumblr.com/
Born and raised in Manila Philippines, Vancouver based artist Patrick Cruz is a multi-disciplinary artist who studied Painting in the University of the Philippines Diliman and received his BFA degree studies from Emily Carr University Art + Design with a major in General Fine Arts.
G. Amani – Artist, Hammock Free School, Facilitator
Heidi Nagtegaal – Artist, Hammock Residency, Founder
January 2024 2021
Hammock Studio, 2012
Kori came over when I was sick and colored with me, and brought me Emergen-C which I drank, when I wasn’t laughing with them.
January 25 2021
Stay Gold, Heidi Nagtegaal, 2012 and the Give/Take Station with George Rahi, 2012
This sign eventually wore right out and faded away, but was on the front porch of Hammock Residency until it finally died out. This front porch area was also the Give/Take area where you could leave something and take something.
Sometimes we would come by and something unexpected would be there, like these flowers. I have no idea where they came from.
The Give/Take Station was made with @george.rahi.sounds one afternoon either in 2011 or 2012. I think Spring 2011. The neighbour kids came over too and were helping make that when they weren’t climbing on things. Their mom was a friend of mine and all 3 of them would drop by and hang out.
George helped make the Give/Take Station out of an old dresser, 4×8″, found plywood and salvaged materials. We all helped him, but George led the skill share FOR SURE. He’s a real gem.
Mireille Rosner made a hand typed note that explained the station after some folks were confused and wanted more clarity. That little sign cleared up so many questions! @fictional_anatomy
January 25 2021
Jenny Lee Craig and Heidi Nagtegaal, 2012
Over the years @jennyleecraig did many a Hammock Residency. The most epic one was probably the HALF DIAMOND HALF TRIANGLE, an absurdist play she put on at ArtBank (ran by @gladysdoom) in which home made props, yarn, costumes, and very extra characters came to life. If you were there, you know. That was in 2012, I think. The Half Diamond, Half Triangle goes on an epic adventure to find themselves.
In 2014 Jenny came back to do a research + development residency for a project she later did in 2015 in Templeton Pool. Again using community members as actors, diy costuming, experimental sound tracks, and a bizarre visionary plot line this time titled FUTURE SMUGGLER: a story about a smuggler in the future. In this world, the polar ice caps have melted, and it’s only synchronized swimming mutant octopuses that can deliver the elixer which allows humans to change the toxic waters into drinkable waters.
When we weren’t scheming up some great idea, Jenny and I spent a lot of time around a fire, going on an adventure, and supporting each other through various projects.
January 26 2021
Dawn Johnston, 2012
Covering the back yard in gold, going to the Arctic to document sunsets, going to grad school in Guelph, and then coming back. Dawn was a presence at Hammock the whole way through. Now she lives on her boat, fixes wooden boats, and lives part time, sometimes full time on Galiano Island.
January 26 2021
Single Mother Virgin Mary, Coral Short, 2011
One in four people would turn away the Virgin Mary if she turned up on their doorstep looking for help, according to a survey.
Coral Short, a Montreal artist has arrived in Vancouver to perform SINGLE MOM VIRGIN MARY every Saturday afternoon for the month of December at Georgia and Granville Street.
Short combines high camp theatre, body as sculpture and guerilla street art creating a contemporary art practise seldomly seen on the streets of Vancouver. Short will remain motionless in the blue and white robes of the iconic Jewish maiden, her long flowing brown hair, very pregnant belly and a peaceful expression on her face. She will perform the Virgin Mary’s famous matriarchal gestures surrounded by a flurry of frantic holiday shoppers. After Christmas Day a child will be born through the legendary immaculate conception.
Short wishes to call attention to the status of single mothers who are living at or below the poverty line due to many budget cuts to their social programs. Single mothers are also more apt to suffer from stigmatization, discrimination and abuse/violence.
All donations to the SINGLE MOM VIRGIN MARY statue will be going to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. This time of year is the time to think of others and show generosity to those in need. Please visit on this site to give donations even if you can’t make it downtown to see this thought provoking performance. A few clicks will make a difference in a single mom’s life today during this holiday season.
The Hammock Residency is supporting Short in this endeavour. This piece is dedicated to all the strong single mothers out there who are full of grace.
https://coralshort.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/single-mom-virgin-mary/
January 26 2021
Mireille Rosner, 2012
Mireille participated in Hammock Residency a few times, notably to perform I LOVE IT in the Back Yard Music Festival in 2010, and then again in 2012 to create BURN IT UP / BURN IT DOWN with Heidi Nagtegaal.
After travelling around the world in a clockwise direction for a few years with partner @jessecolinscott working in various artist colonies, workshares, and experimental projects, Mireille found herself back in Vancouver, and having a studio in Hammock Residency.
https://vimeo.com/mireillerosner
January 28 2021
The School Of The Free Hammock, as part of the Feminist Art Gallery, Access Gallery 2013
After hosting many artists, shows, and events in Hammock Residency, I decided to host a residency for myself, in which I asked 8 of my femtors to guide me through the process of getting my own MFA through non crushing, skill sharing, self developping means.
Allyson Mitchell @creeplez
Deidre Logue @in_dank_cave
Kim Kozzi @kimkozzi
Cease Wyss @cedarcopperwoman
Kristina Lee Podesva @kpodesva
Margaret Dragu @ladragu
Krista Dahl
Margot Leigh Butler @mlbutler2018
were the ones who talked with me, directed me, and fielded questions with me. Some more than others, but all in their own ways.
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Shaun Dacey curated this show at @accessgallery in 2013, and as a part of it, I held artist talks, unlearning school tours with @zoe_cry with her foundation ECUAD class, a writing workshop with @anotheramyfung, and activist Jessica Lee Whitbread.
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For TSOTFH, I was only able to graduate when I felt at peace with my practice, and I had paid off all the loans / debt I had recieved while completing my BFA.
I graduated in the summer of 2018, just before my 40th birthday, while Hammock Residency was on hiatus.
I still have yet to do a grad ceremony, but I’m not too sure if this was the kind of school that even had a grad ceremony…
I did make an art piece while at #coppermosstuwanek in which I hiked a mountain, covered the PAYING OFF MY STUDENT LOANS banners in bolete mushroom paste and buried them. I still have to show these though. There are 3 videos, and some high resolution stills from that process that are still in the archive.
January 28 2021
Hammock Free School, and Hammock Studio at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 2012
For a month, the lobby entranceway of KPU Library became a Hammock Studio space, where students could join in on various projects. Hammock Residents were able to workshop ideas, and present new works.
Artists
Mary Rothlisberger @bangbangboomerang
Guadalupe Martinez @gadal_quasar
Lois Klassen @loisklassen
Coral Short @coralshort
Golboo Amani @gamani
Patrick Cruz @pcrust
Chloe Gammon @different_daughter
Neal Rockwell @nealrockwellphoto
and others participated in this project.
Curated by @heidinagtegaal through KPU
January 29 2021
Bam Bam (previously known as Annie Chivarolli), 2012-2014
Bam Bam was both a hammock resident, and she rented a studio at the hammock. First, the little room, then the front room. She would wake up early, meditate, and then draw. She listened to everyone. Was quick to understand. Slow to judge. Canned everything. She now lives on Quadra in a tiny home she built herself on an eco commune. Living the life.
January 30 2021
Hammock Manifesto
Hammock Print Residency at C Magazine
C Magazine generously gave me a riso print residency to make a publication, which would launch with the Vancouver Art / Book Fair with Hammock Thoughts vol 1.
I wrote it out at a 24/7 convenience store that had a wifi internet lounge in the back, which doubled as my home office because they had printers there, and would let me work on my art without being disrupted. Local community support is the best!
After writing and drawing, this came out, and it felt right.
It reads: Second wave artist led centre. Who cares if its dirty as long as its clean. Let’s get real. Power with. Third spaces. The spaces between. The things you can’t see. I love you. Hammock Residency 2013 xo
It’s all handwritten. I chose a red font because it was like blood, and this felt like blood to me, just the basics. If I was going to make a manifesto, this was it.
January 30 2021
Hammock Residency, artist residency at Vancouver Art / Book Fair, 2013
This was also at the time of Hammock Thoughts: vol 1, the first book ever. Project Space graciously helped us publish the book, and birthed me through that process.
VA/BF gave Hammock Residency a an artist residency, which I turned into a public library and reading space, encrusted with relics from the Hammock Archives (those bundles you see around, full of memories, wrapped and kept).
Part of the People’s Library from the Occupy movement was given to Hammock, and that was on display, as well as the Hammock Residency Give/Take Library.
Performances from Hammock Residents happened all weekend, in the residency zone, and in the main room where Hammock Residency had a table at.
Hammock Thoughts: vol 1 was sold there, and very kindly put on the top 10 art books of 2013 list by Artspeak.
January 30 2021
Hammock Artifacts, 2013
Vancouver Art / Book Fair
Every time an artist would leave the hammock, they would typically leave a note, a song, a piece of clothing, a sacred dust ball. I could never bear to throw them away, as I felt like they held the spirit of the hammock in ways that photography never could capture.
I would bundle these up, wrapping them in my love, and keep them. I didn’t want anyone to see inside them – although they were asked to be bought and opened many a time – they were sacred to me. Special.
This was the first time they were ever displayed. Although they were displayed as well at Access Gallery, for Thoughts on Text in 2012, in the FAGS: The School Of The Free Hammock exhibition in 2014, and again at Hello World in 2016.
In 2016 when I closed the hammock, after my final show with the Hammock Artifacts at Hello World, I burned all these artifacts in a series of fires in an attempt to release all the magical energy of the hammock collected and stored in those objects, to go back to whoever needed comfort or magical support, in the times that hammock would be sleeping.
January 30, 2021
Hammock Residency, VA/BF 2013
Curated by Heidi Nagtegaal
Performances by hammock alumni / participants (alumni is such a strange word, isn’t it? open to new suggestions..)
Jake Hardy (aka Holzkopf)
Bill Young @this.phone.is.a.cloud
Videos by
Neal Rockwell @nealrockwellphotography
Billie (previously known as Tori Abernathy) @no_fireworks_allowed
//
The first 4 slides are of Bill Young’s performance, where by linking everyone’s hands together and attaching each end to a patch cord, attached to a speaker, we were able to play music through our bodies.
The last 6 slides are of Jake Hardy’s reading from a publication he was writing about his travelling experiences while playing music in different alternative communes, farm and land based collectives, anarchist collectives, etc. Playing experimental music over the last 15+ years has formed connections with all kinds of different artistic and political leaning folks that have evolved over the years, shared a lot with them. The writings reflect this.
January 30 2021
Hammock Residency: An Investigation Into Institutional Alternatives
A text piece that I did for “Public Schools” at Audain Gallery, 2014, which was then later shown at Recess Gallery that same year.
It was a wall piece that was 5′ x 7′ and went over all the different ways of learning.
A printed publication was made in 2018 and released at the Vancouver Art / Book Fair to notify my progress in The School Of The Free Hammock, because I had just finished paying off my student loans, which was a prerequisite for graduation.
January 31 2021
Hannah Jicklings and Helen Reed brought their first year class from ECUAD down to Hammock Residency to talk about social practice, art, and life.
Zoe Kreye did this too, and I always loved the conversations. Such fresh perspectives. Everyone crawling everywhere, checking things out, being curious.
January 31 2021
Hammock Thoughts, collected / curated by Heidi Nagtegaal
A letter was sent out to all the Hammock Residents letting them know that this publication was being made, and to submit something if they wanted to be included.
The first volume was published in 2013 with Project Space Press; the second volume was published in 2014 by Hammock Residency Press. Both launched at VA/BF, during their corresponding years.
Contributing artists:
Francisco Fernando Granados @franfergra
Jessica Lynn Whitbread jessicalynnwhitbread
Lois Klassen @loisklassen
Luciana Freire D’Anunciacao @luchi_freire
Patrick Cruz @pcrust
Devon Michigan @devonmichigan
Golboo Amani @gamani
Christina Swintak @swintakswintak
Hua Jin (pka Phoebe Jin) @hua_jin
prOphecy sun @prophecysun
Lisa Lipton (aka Frankie Frankie)
Bill Young @this.phone.is.a.cloud
Bam Bam (pka Annie Chiavarolli)
Charlie Rae Walker @charlieraewalker
Jenny Lee Craig @jennyleecraig
Julia Feltham @juliafeltham
Michael Birchall
Tracy Stefanucci
Neal Rockwell @nealrockwellphotography
Billie (pka Tori Abernathy) @no_fireworks_allowed
Amber Phelps Bondaroff @amberpb
Catherine Dong @chun_hua_catherine_dong
Natalie Doonan
Stefanie Loveday & Renee Rhodes @stefanieloveday @reneearhodes
Byron Peters @byronjpeters
Mireille Rosner (aka Mirae Rosner) @fictional_anatomy
Jay Tan @jaywendytan
Heidi Nagtegaal @heidinagtegaal
The first 7 slides are from Booklit.com
The 8th slide is from the Hammock Residency porch, after I finished spray painting the covers.
January 31 2021
thoughts on text
16 Aug 12PM to 18 Aug 2012 5PM
MagScene with OCW Magazine, Project Space, Access Gallery, Fillip Magazine, and Hammock Residency present:
Thoughts on Text: A Hammock Residency Project
August 16 – 18
Special Event: Friday August 17, 8 – 11:30pm.
@ Access Gallery 222 E. Georgia St.
Including current, previous and past Hammock Residents: Golboo Amani, Patrick Cruz, Jordan Bent, Chloe Gammon, Danielle Gotell, Mandy Hardwick, Kristina Lee Podesva, Lisa Lipton, Stefanie Loveday & Renee Rhodes, Neal Rockwell, Mirae Rosner, Heidi Nagtegaal, Justin Wright, and special guests Lucky Dragons (co-presented by Fillip Magazine). Curated by Heidi Nagtegaal through Hammock Residency.
>> Exhibition from August 16-18, 2012 during open hours (12-5pm)
>> Exhibition performances during open hours by Mandy Hardwick, Danielle Gotell, Mirae Rosner, and Kristina Lee Podesva
Event Performances by: Patrick Cruz, Ghost Taco (Devon McKellar), Lucky Dragons (co-presented by Fillip), Heidi Nagtegaal & Mirae Rosner, and Mirae Rosner (solo).
>> Event on August 17, 8-1130pm.
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TIME LINE
Exhibition opens August 16, 2012
Artists with work physically installed in the space:
Golboo Amani, Jordan Bent, Patrick Cruz, Chloe Gammon, Mandy Hardwick, Kristina Lee Podesva, Lisa Lipton, Stefanie Loveday & Renee Rhodes, Neal Rockwell, Justin Wright
Open hours, August 16-18 during gallery hours, 12-5pm
At 222 E Georgia, Access Gallery and Project Space
Workshops, conversations, performances, and events:
Thursday
12-5pm On site Hammock Psychologist, Danielle Gotell
Friday
12-5pm On site Hammock Psychologist, Danielle Gotell
6-730pm How To Start A Riot (on Pussy Riot), with Kristina Lee Podesva
8pm doors open for Official MagScene Event
830pm Mirae Rosner & Heidi Nagtegaal (performance)
930pm Patrick Cruz, music performance with sculpture
1030pm Lucky Dragons
Ongoing: Mirae Rosner, Hammock Dance
Ongoing: Hammock Residency Kombucha Bar
Saturday
12-5pm On site Hammock Psychologist, Danielle Gotell
12-5pm Dance Letters with Mirae Rosner
2-330pm Reading from the Lesbrary, and discussion with Mandy Hardwick
Gallery open during open hours, and for special events, as listed.
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Websites of interest
http://www.magsceneonmain.com/
http://www.hammockresidency.com/
http://www.projectspace.ca/
http://accessgallery.ca/
http://www.fillip.ca/
http://www.ocwmagazine.ca/
http://www.heidi-nagtegaal.com/
January 31 2021
SaunaTruck!!!! 2012-2013
Sauna Truck was one of the best things at Hammock ever. ST had a long and drawn out residency at the Hammock until the fire department literally kicked us out and we were forced to say goodbye.
Every week for over a year, sweating, sweating, sweating.
So many good nights of sweating, community, and friendly nudity. Although you did not have to be nude, it was optional. But truth be told, I saw more skin tones in my back yard than I ever did at Wreck Beach.
This is a photo from when the fire pit was in action before that got shut down too! We had a ceremony to close the fire pit just because that was very emotional for me. The fire feeds the soul.
I have a lot of love for these times. Many thanks to Adrian, Karlis, Brandy, Robyn, George, Sharpie, Trish, and all the old school sauna crew. There are more faces and names than I can remember now, but you are all in my hearts forever.
February 1 2021
Hammock Residency Outtakes
There is way too much to put it all on here, even with the lost data and documentation. I wish there was more footage of the shows at the house, because those were special, but unless folks have them on their cell phones from long lost times, I think they are gone, and those times live in our hearts now.
I am going to try to get the websites back, and as much documentation as is still on the archive; but I am also going to launch a bit of a punk documentation project over the next few years, where if you have a memory, you can send it to me, and that will be the documentation. Stories, pictures, scents, vague memories, senses, these all count.
A big highlight was when galleries would ask me to do a Hammock Residency show and I could curate the hammock artists. I felt that was a great way to do it. Just because I was holding the aesthetic frame does not meant that it belonged to me. It was created together, and it was shared together. Yes, I alchemized it, but what is form without content?
Things that were not able to make it into this slide show was the video night at VIVO, complete with pre dj tracks by Scorpion Rider (aka Justin Devries); the group show at Surrey Art Gallery (graciously curated by Jordan Strom); the grants that Justin Muir put together with Balcone Art Society that I then later rejected because I didn’t trust the funding bodies to properly back what I did without compromising my vision (now 10 years later, am in the granting system again, full circle, new perspective).
So many people, places, vibes, curators, vagabonds, and many that I am forgetting to mention here. Not to mention all of Sweaty Bones and Headbands and Bracelets, which were full on raging at the time of Hammock Residency.
Artist Quick Links
Heidi Nagtegaal
Heidi Nagtegaal is an artist, writer, and facilitator based in Vancouver, Canada. With a focus on care, embodiment, consent, and trauma- and queer-informed approaches, they work across social practice, installation, performance, and sculpture. Nagtegaal is the founder of Hammock Residency, an organization that focuses on inclusive models of art making.
