Biography
Our first resident artist in 2022 is sculpture artist Sydnie Nislow (“Syd”) coming to us from Maryland. Syd is an artist and designer working between the US and the Netherlands and received a BFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2016. Syd’s work deals with the concepts of stability, structure, balance, and support. Syd will be focused on a new piece conceived and created during the residency that is heavily influenced by the surroundings at Surel’s Place – while also related to the older works. While it may include a variety of mediums, the unifying structure will be from paper pulp.
Research into the local traditional craft-making around Boise, including indigenous and imported craft from different immigrant groups, will be a large inspiration in this residency. “I am drawn to such forms of ancient craft (i.e. weaving of carpets, stone carving of towers) that are used to monumentalize culturally specific stories with the hopes of informing future generations,” Nislow explains. “Like the strangers I often meet, everyone has a story worthy of being kept sacred and being passed on, and in my work I strive to tell the story of what connects us all. I view my artmaking process the same as I view interacting with strangers. The moment of interaction with another person brings forth new ideas, new emotions, and new perspectives that would have never occured otherwise.” This exchange of ideas is the starting point for all of Syd’s work, so meeting members of the community, including the contributions of those participating in the workshop, will be especially important.
WORKSHOP
WOVEN: A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTING STORYTELLING & COLLABORATION
Saturday, January 15th | 1:00pm – 4:00pm MST
at: Surel’s Place | 212 E. 33rd Street in Garden City
Sculpture artist Sydnie Nislow will lead this workshop introducing tapestry making, symbolism, and storytelling. Participants will be guided on the making and using of paper pulp (blended up waste paper) and will create their own personal symbol with a story or meaning behind it. Together the participants will arrange their symbols in a rectangular format, which will later be solidified altogether by Sydnie, who will place paper pulp in between. One collaborative sculpture will be created in addition to each person receiving a symbol from someone else (a gift) and a photo print-out of the completed work one week following the workshop. This workshop highlights craft, storytelling, and collaboration.
FINAL EVENT
ARMATURE
Friday, January 28th | 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Sydnie Nislow is a sculptor by nature, and Syd’s new work deals with the concepts of stability, structure, balance and support. Nislow will share about Syd’s process and exhibit a work created by the group in the earlier workshop featuring personal symbols, some recently completed work, and a new piece conceived and created during the residency that is heavily influenced by Syd’s new surroundings at Surel’s Place – while also related to the older works. Nislow’s goal for these pieces is to incorporate different mediums along with paper pulp. During the art talk, Nislow will also share the results of Syd’s research into the local traditional craft-making around Boise including indigenous and imported craft from different immigrant groups. This is a large inspiration for the work. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
Gallery
