Residents examine moths in the field with entomological photographer Jim des Rivières

Researchers at the Pelling lab show us new human ears growing on apple scaffolds

Artists working with the Innis Point Bird Banding Association

Residents tour the National Museum of Nature's archives

Residents hike Gatineau Park

Residents learn which wild plants are edible

Biology for Artists
Gatineau Hills, September, 2017
Deadline to apply: April 5th, 2017

Biophilia is the urge to affiliate with other living forces. The term literally means the love of life or living systems. 

Biophilia is a residency for Canadian and international artists interested in ecology, nature and life sciences to interact with the living world. It will take place over a week in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada in the autumn of 2017. The residency will involve daily excursions into natural habitats for collection of materials and exploration of a wide range of Canadian wilderness. Expeditions into forests, wildlife sanctuaries, farms and research labs will be enriched by biologists, naturalists and experts.

Ayatana residencies are designed to facilitate first hand experiences that will enrich visual and conceptual artists' practice within a group of like minded creative people. Artists, writers, musicians, film makers and dancers are invited to apply. The jury will select five or six international artists based on their portfolio rather than how they fit into any description of an artist.

At least half of Biophilia field trips will be spent outdoors.

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

Biodiversity:
A guided hike through the Gatineau Forest with an expert on invasive species.

Backstage tour of the Museum of Nature art collection and archives.

Field mycology:
Hike and forage with a mushroom expert in the Gatineau forest. The goal of this walk will be to appreciate and be inspired by the wild life with an emphasis on wild mushrooms. While enjoying the forest and collecting natural materials we will learn about the life cycles of mushrooms and some of their practical uses and industrial applications, including dye and ink making.

Sterile technique workshop: 
During a demonstration of sterile tek for DIY biology experiments, we will inoculate grain with bioluminescent fungus for residents to take home and grow on their own glow in the dark mushrooms. 

Herpetology:
Guided tour of the frogs, salamanders, snakes and turtles of the Ottawa Valley.

Botany:
A tour of the local wild flowers and herbs of The Wild Garden to learn about their healing properties and sustainability.

Venture into the forest with an arborist and learn about climbing trees.

Artists talk by Kirilian photographer Marie Jean Musiol.

Entomology:
We will set up a moth lure to observe the local moths with artist Jim des Rivieres who will give a workshop on high resolution scanning of insects.

Visit the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes.

Visit a local honey farm to look at the hives and to learn about colony collapse and urban bee keeping

Ornithology:
Bird tagging for scientific monitoring of wild birds on an outing with the Innis Point Bird Banding association.

Synthetic Biology:
A guided visit to the Andrew Pelling Research Laboratory for Biophysical Manipulation to learn about synthetic biology.

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 mountains and nestled between Gatineau National Park and the Gatineau River, is home to many scientists and artists.

Cost 
$1200 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.

Friend us on face book for future calls for applications and posts about art and science

For more images of past Biophilia adventures see our face book albums

Sept 2016, Chelsea, Quebec

Sept 2015, Chelsea, Quebec

July 2015, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

May 2015, Chelsea, Quebec

Sept 2014 Wakefield, Quebec

Aug 2014 Wolfville, Nova Scotia

July 2014 Wolfville, Nova Scotia