The Riding Mountain Artists’ Residency gives Manitoba artists time to focus on their work in the beautiful natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park.
The next artist-in-residence for 2024 is Brady Allard. Ahead of his time in the historic Deep Bay Cabin, Brady answered a few of our questions about his work and how he’ll be spending his residency.
MAC: Tell us a little about yourself as an artist and your practice.
Brady Allard: I’m a Métis composer and audio installation artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I work in electronic music, composition, and experimental sound design. I build immersive sonic environments and I hope to challenge music conventions.
Tell us about your project. What will you be working on in the Deep Bay Cabin?
My project centers on the creation of sound art, an exploration of new methods for sound manipulation using modular synthesis and algorithmic sound generation. A considerable amount of my time will be devoted to designing electronic sound instruments. Additionally, I will be collecting field recordings of the surrounding nature to integrate into my compositions connecting the electronic compositions to the natural world.
What is your relationship with the park, and what are you most looking forward to exploring?
I have visited a friend who lives in Onanole and performed in the park years ago with my former band. I visited briefly for 2 days in 2023.
How do you hope the park will influence or inspire your project or practice?
As an artist who lives in Winnipeg, it’s been years that I’ve had the opportunity to be in nature. We may have city parks but true nature is hard to come by. I have felt a deep longing to reconnect with the environment that once surrounded me during my childhood in the country. I am eager to break my prolonged fast from the natural world and I know this will have a profound impact on my writing.
What would you like the public and park staff to know about you and your work?
I’m nice – don’t worry it’s all safe.
Anything else you’d like to share with readers and the Riding Mountain National Park community?
I used to be a jazz musician, and now I make music with handmade synthesizers. Almost none of it involves western tonality, it’s based on programming, and generative modules, with little or no contact from the user.
The Riding Mountain Artists’ Residency is offered in partnership by the Manitoba Arts Council and Riding Mountain National Park.
Interested in the staying in the Deep Bay cabin? Find out how to apply to the Riding Mountain Artists Residency through the Learn – Residencies grant stream. Apply by January 15, 2025 for a residency in the summer of 2025.