Artists take Residency in PEI

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts and the city of Summerside have awarded the first two positions for the PACE Self-Directed Artists in Residency program starting in July.

Troy Little, author of the graphic novel Angora Napkin and Eisner award nominee and Nancy Cole, a visual artist, were selected after an application process to take part in the program.

The two artists will complete a two-month program inhabiting the house on Notre Dame street. The artists will be given stipend for food and essentials while living there.

Little, who will be going from July to August, will be working on a new graphic novel titled “The Allusion of Life” plans to have a 24-hour comic event, where he will encourage people to come down and do as many pages for a comic as they can within the 24-hour frame.

Little said he will be setting something up to let people know when he’s around and when he’s not if they want to come check out some of his work.

“I think it’s really neat in that anyone can come in and check it out. Hang-out, talk, in my case, comics, animation, art, whatever you know, that’s what I’m there for.”

He said he’s done the 24-hour comic event before and would like to be able to share it with the community.

“It might be kind of a fun thing to have people drop in at two in the morning and see what’s going on or take part in it,” he said. “It’s the Iron man marathon of comics.”

Cole will be doing her residence during September and October where she plans to do a conceptual piece about youth diets. She will be getting submissions from kids about their favourite foods, tracing them into a quilted textile. For visual purposes, she will colour each piece of the textile the colour of the food.

“I want to see what the nature of their favourite foods is. Is it all going to be junk food, is it all going to be bars and chips? Or is there going to be any element of health? I’m hoping it will be sort of a reflection of the state of our diet.”

Cole said she will be looking for participants to help work on the piece with what she calls “quilt busking.”

“It’s not for money, but basically to be demonstrating and have a couple extra chairs if people want to sit down and try it. Get a needle and thimble and have a chat. I’m going to try to pick good locations on good days.”

Cole ran Perrywinkle Bears with her husband John Perry out of their house for 10-years and at 53-years old is now a full time artist.