Cover Image: Save Us UltraViolet by Leslie Bell from Hibernation 2019.
Welcome to the 4th Hibernation Project — an annual DIY domestic art intervention bridging Winter to Spring. A tool for embracing and combating Winter in Canada, each weekend an open community of artists, musicians, performers, and participants respond to a theme, making new work and sharing old work for an intimate audience. Intended as a gratifying, productive, and immediate experience, artists are free from the pressure of bureaucracy and perfection. The Hibernation Project is intended as a gestation period for concepts, for developing ideas, for snowy day projects, for the dreams of we who wake to sleep.
Read more about us and our mandate.
We’re delighted to announce the themes for The Hibernation Project 2022!
To participate as an artist, follow this link.
To attend as a viewer, follow this link.
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The Hibernation Station 3: public access TV from our house(s) to yours!
Saturday, January 15, 2022 // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett
An evening of artist-made Zoom-television in the spirit of public access TV, fresh from the computers of contributors in Calgary, Edmonton, Whitehorse, Regina, Victoria, Lethbridge, Toronto, and LA! Artists made cooking shows, hosted trivia, shared music videos and performances, baked with the audience, played video art, and brought viewers on a televisual adventure – from our house(s) to yours!
ARTISTS: Eric Hill & Jeff Meldrum, Ingrid Vargas (featuring The Velveteins), Jennifer Crighton, Jett Thunders, Kino Sum (featuring Melted Mirror), Lollipop! (Jessica TheWitt), Migueltzinta Solís, Natasha Jensen, Patrick Hamilton & Fiona McTaggart, Sarah Smalik & Jamie Tea, Swampy Communications Network (Amber PB, Sean Dunham, and Teale Phelps Bondaroff), Who Cares (Jiajia Li & Laura Reid), Yes Nice & Old Saw, and Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett.
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SNOWDOWN: a gathering place for snow sculptures
*Ongoing!*
DATES: Beginning Jan 23 until the snow melts. Sculptures will gradually be added and melt away.
“Snowdown” may sound like “Showdown” but the title of this collective creative endeavor should instead invoke a resemblance to “Slowdown”. Rather than being a competitive experience, “Snowdown” invites artists to come when the weather suits them to the Hibernation Project headquarters, Caitlind and Wayne’s house in Ramsay, make snow sculptures then leave them to mingle with those left by others. With each new flurry more snow creations may arrive and with each Chinook or sunny day some may go.
Viewers can drop-in during daylight hours for a self-guided tour of the sculptures in the yard. Please spread out and wear masks if others are around.
ARTISTS: Maggie Schaefer, Caitlind Brown & Wayne Garrett, more to come! // Theme by Maggie Schaefer
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SLIPPERY-ER SLOPE: the second annual build-your-own-toboggan and tobogganing race!
Saturday, January 29, 2022 // Theme by Mike Tan
After many Chinooks and freezes, we gathered in Royal Sunalta Park for a socially distanced sledding extravaganza on homemade toboggans! A returning favourite from last year (see 2021 sleds here) participants reimagined an essential wintertime activity by designing and building their own toboggans to race (casually) on a very icy hill.
PARTICIPANTS: Aiden Tan, Audrey Lane Cockett, Caitlind Brown, Chad & Edward Saunders, Dan Schaefer, Desiree Nault, Maggie Schaefer, Mike Tan, Sasha & Carter White, and Wayne Garrett. Also featuring excellent sledding by Sloane & The Bristowe-Turners, Mark, Maria & Phil, John, Lauren, & Elise, Khalid & Maude, and Diane & her sister!
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EARS HAVE EYES: spatial conjuring and ear-specific art for the radio
- LOCATION: the radio waves on CJSW 90.9 FM and http://www.cjsw.com
- SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: Sunday, January 30
- AIRING DATE: Wednesday, February 9 from 8 – 9 pm MST
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett
The first of three radio-based Hibernation themes, EARS HAVE EYES explores the interspace between senses. This radio program invites artists, musicians, and other participants to submit audio works exploring the spatial aspects of sound to “illustrate” invisible worlds. Whether creating synaesthetic experiences, mapping the relationship between sound and sight, or using sonic means to create shapes, volumes, or places, EARS HAVE EYES invites you to reconsider the relationship between sight and sound.
Learn more about how to participate here. New or pre-existing work is welcome. EARS HAVE EYES airs monthly on CJSW 90.9 fm for the entire duration of 2022! New themes will be released each month.
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BEACONS: light sculptures & illuminated installation for winter darkness
- LOCATION: Caitlind & Wayne’s yard
- DATE + TIME: Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13 from 8 – 11 pm. Self-guided drop-in with social distancing*
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett
During the longest and coldest nights of the year, we yearn for more light. This desire is both visceral and social, as much about our visual desire for more sunlight as our interhuman desire for a metaphorical “fire” to gather around. During the lonely nights of winter, we are subliminally searching for beacons – proof of life in the distance, something to aim for, hope on the horizon. With this in mind, participating artists are invited to create beacons, in the form of light sculptures, projection installations, or illuminated works of any medium.
*This is a socially distanced theme where viewers can drop-in for self-guided tours. Please spread out and wear masks if others are around. There will be no bathroom access or official gathering.
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EXCUSES: art you’ve been meaning to make, a place to share it, people to talk to
- LOCATION: Caitlind & Wayne’s yard and Zoom (by request, if necessary for specific artworks). Details TBC!
- DATE + TIME: Saturday, February 19 from 4 – 7 pm
- ARTISTS: TBA
Hearkening to the early intentions of The Hibernation Project as a place to workshop ideas, explore impulses, and build imperfect experiments, EXCUSES invites artists to feel “the right kind of pressure*” to finally finish (or start) rainy day projects. Whether installing a piece in the yard, sharing a sketch over zoom, screening a half-finished video for feedback, or discussing an imaginary project currently in development, this is a space + time for critical feedback, encouragement, and discussion.
*A previous artist described The Hibernation Project as offering “the right kind of pressure.” We can’t remember who said this anymore (was it you? Let us know!) but we often think about what it means to facilitate pressure that is kind, nourishing, and helpful.
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CLEAR FOR TAKE-OFF: a carnival of paper planes, tricks, stunts, and flying high!
- LOCATION: TBC – Probably the hill behind Ramsay School
- DATE + TIME: Saturday, February 26 from 2 – 4 pm
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Jett Thunders
Tired of staying at home? Ready to go on vacation? Is your favourite part of every trip the AIRPORT? Buckle your seat belts and join us for an afternoon of flying paper planes in the park, as moderated by our Air Traffic Controller Jett Thunders! You can design and build your own aerodynamic model in advance, or make one with materials onsite. Trick flights and long-distance flyers are encouraged! Don’t forget to dress up like a pilot or wear an outfit that matches your plane! It’s time to go where no paper airplane has gone before… you are clear for take-off!
*Social distancing and mask-wearing is encouraged.
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WILD(ER)NESS: beyond human soundscapes
- LOCATION: the radio waves on CJSW 90.9 FM and http://www.cjsw.com
- SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: Sunday, February 27
- AIRING DATE: Wednesday, March 9 from 8 – 9 pm MST
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett.
What is the relationship between soundscapes and landscapes? Between sound and place? Between wildness and wilderness? Our second radio-based theme invites artists, musicians, radio journalists, and other sound-based participants to share work exploring the too-often ignored sonorous experience beyond human landscapes.
Learn more about how you can participate in the radio show here. New or pre-existing work is welcome. EARS HAVE EYES airs monthly on CJSW 90.9 fm for the entire duration of 2022! New themes will be released each month.
BLACKOUT DATES:
No Hibernation Project Events!
We will return after this brief break from March 10 – April 2, 2022.*
*Please Note: the artist deadline for the third radio-based Hibernation theme is still March 30 to allow time for editing before airing on April 13.
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SNOWMANCE SLOW DANCE: a social distancing social
- LOCATION: Caitlind & Wayne’s yard
- DATE + TIME: Saturday, April 9 from 8 – 11 pm
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Desiree Nault.
Featuring winter wear glamour and a high school band, this social distancing social invites new and old couples alike to sway beneath a disco ball in a romantic backyard slow dance party! Bring a date, bring a mask, bring a beverage, and prepare for the best slow dance this side o’ winter.
*Subject to AHS safety protocol TBC closer to the event date.
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THE TIME BETWEEN US: anticipation or duration, chronological or non-linear
- LOCATION: the radio waves on CJSW 90.9 FM and http://www.cjsw.com
- SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 30
- AIRING DATE: Wednesday, April 13 at 8 pm
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett.
Like light, sound is a time-based medium, travelling across space in waves. How does our perception of time impact our experiences with sound or music? Can sound or music impact our perception of time? Artists, musicians, storytellers, and sound artists of all disciplines are invited to explore, deconstruct, or reimagine the relationship between sound and time.
Learn more about how you can participate in the radio show here. New or pre-existing work is welcome. EARS HAVE EYES airs monthly on CJSW 90.9 fm for the entire duration of 2022! New themes will be released each month.
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GATHER BY FIRE: wooden sculptures for burning
In honour of our friend Matthew Mark 🖤 who loved art, fire, and a little bit of wildness.
⭐ UPDATE: we’re delaying the sculpture burn until April 16th! ⭐
- LOCATION: Caitlind & Wayne’s yard with social distancing
- DATE + TIME: Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 8 – 11 pm
- ARTISTS: TBA // Theme by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett.
The last theme of The Hibernation Project 2022 is a sculpture burn and fiery tribute to our dearly departed pal Matthew Mark Bourree. This theme is open to all artists and viewers, regardless of whether or not they knew Matt (as we believe he would have wanted). Participants are invited to construct sculptures out of non-toxic, unpainted woods, to share and burn in a communal ritual to combat the Winter and call for the Spring.
Hearkening to primal relationships, GATHER BY FIRE was named for an artwork by Sarah Smalik & Matthew Mark Bourree, and speaks to the great and mystical magnetism of people towards light, heat, and each other.
*Subject to AHS safety protocol TBC closer to the event date.
THE HIBERNATION PROJECT 