Finland 2018
William M Boot & Stephanie Kim Collaborative Art Residency
Takahuhti Art Residency - Tampere
This was our second stay in Finland and as before in 2015 we enjoyed being there. When we arrived in the 1st week of March it was -20 C and brisk to put it mildly. We caught the train from Helsinki Vantaa (airport) to Tampere (2 trains,) which took about 2 hours. Takahuhti AIR is just East out of the city about 10 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bus (no 80,) which runs right past the station.
The residency is situated in a large older style wood building that was once an old folks home in parkland suburbia. There are a couple full time residents living in the building as well as a dozen studios and a number of exhibition/work spaces. Our apartment was more or less separate with living and work space adjacent to each other which is always very convenient. The apartment has 1 bedroom, bathroom (shower room is separate and shared with other artists) and combined dining, kitchen space with sofa. The studio is large with very high ceilings and enormous windows providing good light and serves also as an exhibition space. Parkland surrounds the building providing a buffered quiet zone conducive to reflection and a relaxed working situation. All windows look out on flowering trees and bushes which is delightful in the spring. There are also many walking paths near the residency going in all directions leading through woods and open fields.
Three months is long enough to really settle down and feel at home in a place without feeling a schedule. Tampere is a small city in south central Finland with a population of around 220.000 and big enough to have a variety of amenities but not so big that you can't walk around the centre in 30 minutes. There are many parks and transportation is good. This isn't the place for you if you need mega city noise and a raging lifestyle but is perfect if you want a modern city with a great balance of recreation and leisure activities combined with work. Ten or fifteen minutes drive takes you right out of the city into the countryside.
The staff at Maltinranta Art Centre in the city are helpful to make sure you settle in and find your way around.
Residency details can be found at: http://tampereen-taiteilijaseura.fi/en/workshops-and-residence/artist-residence/
Note: There are NO workshop facilities (power tools) available including printmaking presses at this residency and only a minimum of basic hand tools so if you use/need special tools for your work make sure that you bring them with you. This i found to be a drawback and it forced me to cancel my original plans to work with wood and go with hardboard (dense cardboard) instead. I guess the lesson is never assume that these facilities are provided at ALL residencies. Most art materials can be purchased at Artljee which is on the way into the city.
There is a full printmaking facility in the city at the Maltinranta Art Centre, which artists can book and use but the charge is € 20 per day. This may prove to be restrictive, cost and time-wise for artists on a tight budget. We had already resolved to bring our own Halfwood Press mini etching press so were reasonably unaffected by these conditions and Stephanie was able to work freely every day in the residency studio 24/7.
The residency is situated in a large older style wood building that was once an old folks home in parkland suburbia. There are a couple full time residents living in the building as well as a dozen studios and a number of exhibition/work spaces. Our apartment was more or less separate with living and work space adjacent to each other which is always very convenient. The apartment has 1 bedroom, bathroom (shower room is separate and shared with other artists) and combined dining, kitchen space with sofa. The studio is large with very high ceilings and enormous windows providing good light and serves also as an exhibition space. Parkland surrounds the building providing a buffered quiet zone conducive to reflection and a relaxed working situation. All windows look out on flowering trees and bushes which is delightful in the spring. There are also many walking paths near the residency going in all directions leading through woods and open fields.
Three months is long enough to really settle down and feel at home in a place without feeling a schedule. Tampere is a small city in south central Finland with a population of around 220.000 and big enough to have a variety of amenities but not so big that you can't walk around the centre in 30 minutes. There are many parks and transportation is good. This isn't the place for you if you need mega city noise and a raging lifestyle but is perfect if you want a modern city with a great balance of recreation and leisure activities combined with work. Ten or fifteen minutes drive takes you right out of the city into the countryside.
The staff at Maltinranta Art Centre in the city are helpful to make sure you settle in and find your way around.
Residency details can be found at: http://tampereen-taiteilijaseura.fi/en/workshops-and-residence/artist-residence/
Note: There are NO workshop facilities (power tools) available including printmaking presses at this residency and only a minimum of basic hand tools so if you use/need special tools for your work make sure that you bring them with you. This i found to be a drawback and it forced me to cancel my original plans to work with wood and go with hardboard (dense cardboard) instead. I guess the lesson is never assume that these facilities are provided at ALL residencies. Most art materials can be purchased at Artljee which is on the way into the city.
There is a full printmaking facility in the city at the Maltinranta Art Centre, which artists can book and use but the charge is € 20 per day. This may prove to be restrictive, cost and time-wise for artists on a tight budget. We had already resolved to bring our own Halfwood Press mini etching press so were reasonably unaffected by these conditions and Stephanie was able to work freely every day in the residency studio 24/7.
Final Collaborative Artworks
Untitled 230518
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
Untitled 240518
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
Untitled 250518
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
Encaustic, digital prints, drypoint etchings on linen on hardboard
William Boot Support Collage Designs
Stephanie Kim Etching Support Designs
Final Drypoint Etchings
More Finished Work In The Exhibition Space
