Contrails by Laura Millard
In keeping with our 2019/20 Season theme of “old meets new” we are thrilled to share the work of some of Canada’s and the world’s most exciting contemporary artists as part of our season campaign.
These stunning images were chosen to complement both the season theme and the theme of each individual concert. We chatted with Laura Millard, the photographer behind the image for Gone with the Winds.
Tafelmusik: Tell us a little about yourself, and how you started in your field of art?
Laura Millard: My artistic practice combines drawing, photography and painting.It is informed by conceptual and minimal art and is inspired by contemporary representations of the landscape. I am interested in opening up a space in which to play with gesture and mark within a photographic space.
Born in Calgary, I have exhibited in artist-run, commercial and public galleries across Canada and internationally. An artist, writer and educator, I am currently an Associate Professor at OCAD University in the Drawing and Painting Program.
TM: Tell us more about the artwork featured in our season campaign and your concept behind it. What was your process while creating it?
LM: The image is a combination of vapour trails photographed at an air show. The momentary line drawings they left after the roar of the jets passed by were of interest to me as traces of an event momentarily suspended, then dissipated.
My process was to overlay the images of the vapour trails, print these as photographs on a very large scale, then overpaint that photograph with oil paint; adding a materiality and density to image.
TM: Tafelmusik’s 2019/20 season theme is “Old Meets New.” How do you feel your art fits with this theme?
LM: My work combines digital photography with ‘older’ techniques like painting. In this sense, the resulting hybridized practice is one where ‘old meets new’.
TM: What is your favourite music to listen to when making art?
LM: Currently I am listening to Sigur Ros as it has a sense of space that reflects my current work in progress.
TM: What shows or exhibitions are you dying to see? Is there an artist or organization you’d encourage our followers to explore?
LM: The exhibition I am most excited to see is Àbadakone | Continuous Fire | Feu continuel, the second exhibition in the National Gallery of Canada’s series of presentations of contemporary international Indigenous art, features works by more than 70 artists identifying with almost 40 Indigenous Nations, ethnicities and tribal affiliations from 16 countries, including Canada.
TM: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
LM: Trust your instincts!