ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Courtney Turner

April and May​

 

Courtney Turner is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist, predominately creating

mixed media artworks featuring painting, rug hooking and a variety of textile

applications and found object elements. Through her art practice, Turner investigates

themes of discovering her true self, the dualities of belonging and unbelonging, feeling a

sense of home and place, reconnecting with her child self, celebrating her feminine

energy and her connection to natural and supernatural worlds. Turner was born and

raised from settler ancestry on the unceded and ancestral territory of Mi’kma’ki/Nova

Scotia, Canada and currently resides in Steam Mill, Nova Scotia. She completed her

BFA in Textiles & Fashion at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in May, 2020.

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Artist Statement:

My artwork reflects my journey of healing and self-realization, my interactions with

natural and supernatural worlds, and my perpetual pursuit of seeking comfort and

wonderment in daily life. I have found that I cannot simply express myself fully using

one, singular medium in my practice. Although the combination of rug hooking and

painting for creating mixed media artworks has proven to be what feels especially

authentic to me so far in my artistic journey.

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The textile components in my artwork often echo the memories of soothing, nostalgic

and/or familial textiles, as well as elements of nature that bring me solace and strength.

This often appears in my artwork abstractly through specific textures, colours and/or

patterns. Incorporating these elements often helps to offset the uncomfortable matters

that I might be working through in my art and in life.

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Most of my paintings are representational self-portraits, as I find painting my physical body

as the main subject to be grounding and a means of self-care to reconnect my mind and

spirit with my body. Additionally, whenever I incorporate themes and elements from the

natural world, I am able to connect physically and emotionally to a sense of place and feel

rooted in that healing environment. Once I am grounded and feel secure, I am able to

channel my inner child when I create. In turn, I can approach my art practice in a more

playful way, while fulfilling my ever-existing desire for whimsy and wonder. Sometimes I

think my inner child is indeed my most authentic self in her essence. Through channelingher, I am healing and nurturing my inner child and working through shadow work, while also

inviting opportunities of play, experimentation and curiosity.