CARFAC Saskatchewan / CARFAC Alberta Wednesday Webinar

Achieving an Authentic Voice in Artist Statements with Bruce Watson

Wednesday October 26, 6:30pm – 8:00pm CST/MDT

A clear, well-considered artist statement is an essential component of a professional artist's career.

Bruce Watson teaches writing at SAIT Polytechnic, and he knows the pain of writing an artist statement, both from his own artistic practice and from years of reading artist statements in his tenure at the Calgary Allied Arts Foundation. Few artists enjoy the process, and fewer still do it well. In this discussion of artist statements, we’ll look at how to achieve an ‘authentic voice’ in your statements by

• Determining the real purpose of your statement

• Focusing on the relationship you have to your reader

• Using plain language to express the intention of your work

• Using playful language to enrich your statement and make it more interesting

• Aligning the tone and attitude of your statement with your work

• Aligning the tone and attitude of your statement with your own personality

We’ll look at examples of real artist statements that achieve an authentic voice and several that do not, and we’ll work in small groups to reflect on our own statements and consider how they might achieve “authenticity.” By the time you turn to the chore of writing your own statements, you’ll have a few new tools to do it well. 

This session is hosted and moderated by Chris W. Carson (Executive Director, CARFAC Alberta) + Joviel Buenavente (Program Assistant, CARFAC Saskatchewan). In this ninety-minute workshop, there will be time for you to work on your artist statement and to ask questions about artist statements.

 Join us on Wednesday October 26th. Register on Eventbrite for this online webinar. Free for all CARFAC members across Canada. $25.00 for non-members. If you cannot afford the fee, email general@carfacalberta.com.