Ayatana residents looking for micro plastic in the Rideau River

Ayatana residents in Philippe Lake

Artist Jamie Ramsay measures disolved oxygen levels in Brewer Pond

Ayatana Residents sailing the Ottawa River with captain Devon Bartley

Artist Ivetta Sun Young Kang taking water samples for testing

Residents watch the Hogs Back lockmaster on the Rideau Canal

Residents discuss the physics of water with a resonating bowl

Residents test water for pesticides at the National Wildlife Research Center

Writer Raimundo Nenen observes the Gatineua River

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Submerge
July 2020
Deadline to apply: Feb 28, 2020

Submerge is a research residency for visiting writers and conceptual artists to study human relationships with water. It will take place over a week at the confluence of the Gatineau, Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, in Canada in July of 2020. The residency involves daily excursions into water with a variety of experts like river keepers, biologists and engineers. Residents will gain a rudimentary understanding of natural water systems, urban water treatment and wetland wildlife.

Ayatana residencies focus on research by visual and conceptual artists. Submerge facilitates experiences particularly suited to writers and is designed to offer a nourishing context for thinkers to explore concepts for creative projects. Artists, musicians and dancers are invited to apply. This residency will host five or six selected international artists. This action packed research residency leaves little time free for making art, so brainstorming ideas at the conceptualization stage is encouraged at all times.

Artist talk: We invite you to give a private artist talk to share your work with the group.

Limnology and microplastics
Visit the Water and Ice Research Lab at Carelton U.

Tour a working hydro electric dam.
A behind the scenes look at the Farmer Rapids Dam

Water Purification and Using DNA to test for bacteria in drinking water at the Delatolla Lab

Physics
Demonstrations of the physics and molecular structure of water at the University of Ottawa

Underwater microphone building workshop

Talk on Contemporary artists working with water

Aquatic navigation
Sail the Ottawa River on a 29 foot sailboat

Visit a lockmaster along the Rideau Canal to learn about the locks and their history

Aquatic policy
Explore the Gatineau River with the River Keeper to learn about the health of the Ottawa water shed

Talk to the Director General of Oceans Management at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Effects of Pesticides on wildlife
Collect fresh water and test for pesticides with Environment and Climate Change Canada

Microbiology
Collect pond water samples and view micro-organisms under a microscope

Location:
Residents will be picked up in Ottawa, Canada and driven to the Ayatana Residency House, near the small town of Chelsea, Quebec. This culturally vibrant town, surrounded by the Gatineau Hills is nestled between Gatineau National Park and the Gatineau River.

Cost 
$1300 USD
Residency places are limited to 6 artists. Official invites will be given to accepted applicants to help in the procuration of grants and funding.

What is included:
All activities.
Transportation to all activities.
Supplies, equipment and technical gear.
A comfortable bed in the Ayatana residency house.
Most meals will be provided, cooked by our resident chef. *Residents will be responsible for paying for their own meals from restaurants, which will happen 2 or 3 times during the week.

Only applications that follow these guidelines will be considered.

Disclaimer: Those who do not like the outdoors or to talk about art, need not apply.

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Photos of previous Ayatana water residencies:

Submerge 2019

Submerge 2018

Submerge 2017

Quench 2016