Swarm is a research residency for artists interested in insects. The weeklong residency will facilitate 10 excursions into natural habitats and laboratories enriched by biologists, naturalists and experts to learn and collect materials.

Course Outline

All activities are subject to change depending on ecological conditions, expert availability and other uncontrollable variables. Outings will go ahead rain or shine.

Artist talk: Residents are invited to give a private artist talk to share your work with the group.

Taxonomy: 
A lesson on identifying insects with the Ottawa Field Naturalist Club

Moths:
We will set up a moth lure to observe the local moths.

Butterflies:
A walk in the field to see local butterflies with a lepidopterist.

Caterpillars:
Visit a lab at Carelton University where audible caterpillar communication is studied.

Fireflies:
We will hike out to catch fireflies with a local entomologist who will describe the 8 local species and their distinct flash patterns.

Dragonflies:
A guided hike through Petri island with expert entomologist to learn about the many local dragonflies and damselflies.

Bees:
A visit to a local honey farm to look at the hives and to learn about colony collapse and urban bee keeping.

A visit to a bee physiology lab at Ottawa University.

Invasive species:
A walk through the forest to look for evidence of bark beetels and to talk about insect tree relationships.

Art in the Dark:
Insects in Contemporary Art.

Insects in Art History.

Pinning and preservation:
Visit to the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, and a tour of one of the best collections of its kind in the world, with approximately 16 million specimens.

Illustration:
A meeting with a national entomological illustrator from the CNC.

Macro Photography workshop

Pests:
We will spend an afternoon with a progressive exterminator who will teach about local pests and cutting edge methods of dealing with them.

AMO:
The Ayatana Moth Observatory houses a small collection of live showy moths each year. 

Duration of residency:

The residency will take place over a week in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada in the spring of 2020.

Disciplines supported and technical information:

All disciplines are supported. No science experience necessary.

Accommodation:

Residents will be picked up in Ottawa and driven to the Ayatana residency house, where they will have a bed and bedding and will be driven to all activities. Meals will be provided.

Fees: 

Residency fee is $1300 USD

Expectations towards the artist:

Residents are not expected to produce work during the program. Residents are invited to give a 20 minute artist talk to the group.