Artist Talks: Alli Johnston & Nicole Travers – VANL CARFAC Mentorship Program 2022

VANL-CARFAC is pleased to present the first of two installments of artist talks by the participants in our 2021-22 Mentorship Program. Please join us via Zoom on September 19th at 8pm, where Alli Johnston and Nicole Travers will discuss their work, their practices, and their experiences with the mentorship program. Please sign up through eventbrite and a link to join will be sent prior to the event.

Alli Johnston is visual artist based in Ktaqamkuk ( Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.) Of settler descent, she was born and raised in southern Ontario, the traditional territories of the Attawondaron. She moved to Corner Brook in 2001 & now splits her time between her homes in Corner Brook, Exploits Islands & on Fogo Island, the traditional territories of the Mi’kmaq and Beothuk people.

Alli’s multi-disciplinary art practice focuses on her sense of place as well as her connection with and responsibility to nature.

Nicole Travers is a Mi’kmaw woman & artist, born and raised in the small hamlet of Little Port, Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk. She is a self taught beader who started practicing just after the birth of her first child in 2015. Nicole always admired the intricate detailed beadwork of her Mi’kmaq ancestors that is now located in museums. Life had taken Nicole to Alberta for several years but returned to her hometown with her partner to raise their two girls. Nicole felt it was imperative that her children be raised with the same relationship with traditions, culture, and land as she. For Nicole, creating art is a process of remaining connected to nature and finding the natural flow of each piece. By following her intuition, visions, and dreams it often allows her to see the completed piece prior to it’s completion.

The VANL-CARFAC Mentorship Program was created to provide opportunities for productive and supportive relationships between established professional artists and artists wishing to develop and enhance their practice. The mentors provide one on one encouragement, advice, information and resources to mentees, who are aiming to achieve specific professional goals. Funding for The program was drawn from the $120,000 Art in the Time of COVID fund established by ArtsNL to help the Newfoundland and Labrador arts community during the COVID-19 crisis