Artist Talk: Turn Your Pain Into Honey
On Monday, January 20, Sweet Water Foundation gathered an intimate group for the inaugural Artist Talk at the Gallery at [Re]Construction House, featuring Janelle Dunlap. Janelle, a SWF Human-in-Residence, delivered the first of a series of talks that SWF will host to bridge artistic practices with communal and personal healing. Her presentation explored how her own ancestral reflection led to a practice of creative beekeeping that connects her work as a socially engaged visual artist and curator. Read on to learn more about the inaugural Artist Talk at the Gallery at [Re]Construction House.
The Gallery at [Re]Construction House
The Gallery at [Re]Construction House opened on September 27 during SWF’s Annual Harvest Celebration. The gallery is located on the first floor of the [Re]Construction House and features artists from within the Sweet Water community as well as historical objects found throughout the home. The found objects reflect the rich history of the structure and the people who once called it home and aim to [Re]Member the family and community. These materials share the story of the home’s evolution and devolution, and its place amidst the greater historical context of the South Side of Chicago.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibit - People, Energy, Light, Power: the [Re]Construction of Ethos involves explorations and investigations in such topics as architecture, education, urbanization, race, identity, gentrification, and the transformative processes of community economic development through intersections of food security and sustainable design innovation. These works explore the role of art and social praxis as a key component of community, urban design, urban agriculture, and sustainability with a particular concentration on the creation of a new paradigm for Regenerative Neighborhood Development.
Inaugural Artist Talk at the Gallery at [Re]Construction House
In 2020, SWF will host a series of Artist Talks at the Gallery at [Re]Construction House. Artist Talks will welcome small groups of artists, community members, and partners to engage in conversations about the [Re]construction of Ethos and the rootedness of locality. SWF Human-in-Residence, Janelle Dunlap, delivered the inaugural Artist Talk: Turn Your Pain Into Honey. Janelle has been connected to the SWF family since the summer of 2019 when she helped the SWF team learn best practices in beekeeping. She returned to SWF from January 19- 24 for a week-long residency during which she delivered the inaugural Artist Talk.
As guests arrived, they became acquainted with one another and viewed the Gallery at [Re]Construction House during an opening reception. They then gathered in the main room of the gallery for Janelle’s talk. Janelle shared her creative journey that connected pieces of her past to what led to her creative practice in beekeeping and how that influences her work as a visual, conceptual artist and curator. She also shared her relationship to her ancestors and the way they influence her work and practice today.
“In order to evolve as a person, you need a hive.”
In the days following the talk, members of the SWF team met with Janelle and Thad Smith from Westside Bee Boyz, to begin the process of redesigning fractal seats into custom bee hives for both native and honey bees. Janelle will be returning to SWF in the spring and summer for another part of her residency, during which she will build the prototype of the fractal beehive and engage in beekeeping and art workshops about bees.
During her artist talk, Janelle said, “In order to evolve as a person, you need a hive.” The hive is a manifestation of how community could be built. The SWF community has created a “hive” that welcomes and supports artists, youth, and local residents with shared values and is a demonstration of possibility for a new future.
At this time, the Gallery at [Re]Construction House is open by appointment only. Please contact info@sweetwaterfoundation.com to inquire about scheduling a tour. Visit our events page at www.sweetwaterfoundation.com/events for more information about future Artist Talks.