Fern Crescent Residency - 23740 Fern Crescent

Artist Colleen Brown at Fern Crescent Residency

Artist in Residence: Colleen Brown

Location: 23740 Fern Crescent, Maple Ridge (below the Maple Ridge Lapidary Club)

Colleen Brown is an award-winning sculptor from Vancouver. Brown holds a BFA from Emily Carr University, a BA Psyc, Simon Fraser University and an MFA from the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts, Bard College, New York. Her recent solo exhibitions include, If you lie down in a field, she will find you there, Ranger Station Gallery; That Mountain is a Good Listener, Burrard Foundation and Low Pressure Idaho, Unit 17. She has participated in exhibitions and events at Living Lab, Emily Carr University; Cooper Cole, Toronto; Vancouver Art Gallery; Western Gallery, Bellingham; and Hedreen Gallery, Seattle.

Colleen's first book, If you lie down in a field, she will find you there, was published in the fall of 2023 by Radiant Press.

Colleen is a committed teacher. In the last few years, she has taught students of all ages, working with young children in galleries, with teens in the classroom and seniors as part of community-based work. She is an instructor at Emily Carr University, teaching Continuing Studies Department.

Colleen is the General Manager of Vancouver Poetry House, a not-for-profit supporting spoken word artists.

You are welcome and encouraged to get in touch with Colleen.

You can follow Colleen's work related to the residency at Fern Crescent Residency Facebook Page

You can find out more about Colleen's work on her website or follow Colleen on Instagram @colleen_v_brow

Panorama of mountains. On the foreground, Colleen Brown is leaning against railing. Colleen Brown is waring a brown coat with gloves. Behind Colleen Brown there is a large body of water.

Artwork by Colleen Brown. There is a vase with flowers in it and a small rectangular piece of art made up of different coloured textiles. The works of art are displayed in front of a beige wall.

Piece of art by Colleen Brown. There is a yellow wooden window hanging in a room with various other pieces of art.

Piece of art by Colleen Brown. There is what looks like a tapestry hanging from a wall. Interwoven between the gapped threads, there are silhouettes of tree branches. The art piece is hanging from a being wall.

Projects

HUTCH

You may have seen Little Free Libraries popping up in your neighbourhood. The “take a book, leave a book” exchange libraries have inspired a new version: tiny galleries.

Some tiny galleries allow artists to show small collections of their work. Others operate as an exchange, a “take an artwork, leave an artwork” concept. HUTCH has tiny spaces for both.

The Fall season will include three themed shows: River in September, Land in October and Clouds in November. Some of the work will be made by people joining Colleen on Tuesday nights at Albion Community Centre in the Fall. If you want to add something to these themed shows, drop it off in the lower cabinet, and Colleen will add it to the show.

The beginning of the model sculpture garden is on the roof of HUTCH. You can add a sculpture if you like.

The Latest at HUTCH

Get Involved

Calling all folks interested in arts-based projects! Explore the tabs below to get involved with Colleen's current projects.

Large room with white wooden walls displaying different art pieces by Colleen Brown. The works of art consist of small pieces of shag carpet-like material. There are basic geometrical shapes in bright colours.

Colleen is very curious about Maple Ridge and excited to meet members of the community. If you are a member of a club or group who would like to get involved in the residency program or learn more about it, you can schedule Colleen to come speak with you. In the first year of her residency, Colleen can be scheduled to conduct drawing, collage and writing workshops. To find out more, contact Colleen at colleenvbrown@gmail.com.

Over three years, Colleen is going to facilitate group storytelling through pictures, words and performance. Year One will be all about close observation through drawing, writing, collecting and collaging. Year two will be all about building, arranging and assembling. And year three… that's a long way away… some dance, some theatre, some costumes? We will see.

Portrait image of Colleen Brown. There is a person with glasses, necklace, and sweater over collared shirt with their gaze facing the left. They have their arms perched on top of a table.

Zoom One-on-One Artist & Writer Studio Visits & Discussions

Colleen is inviting local artists and writers across to participate in a one-on-one virtual meet-up using Zoom, offering a chance to share and discuss work. The conversations could range from discussions on arts practice to critique, or mentorship. Colleen is a skill art viewer who will be able to give you insightful feedback and references for your work.

If you wish to learn more or participate, please email Colleen at colleenvbrown@gmail.com