Eveline Kolijn

Eveline Kolijn is a printmedia and multidisciplinary artist. An international childhood and Master's degree in Cultural Anthropology from the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, The Netherlands, nurtured her interest in the diversity of human culture and nature. She graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design with a BFA in print media in 2008. She has exhibited nationally and internationally. She is a board member of the Alberta Printmakers’ Society and the THIS IS MY CITY art society. She teaches for Extended Studies at the Alberta College of Art + Design and the Royal Conservatory’s Learning Through The Arts program.

“The Artist ranch residency has been a great experience.

Although I often go hiking into the mountains or Kananaskis country, it is different to immerse yourself in Ranch Country with the purpose to create art. The opportunity to absorb the feel of the land and its history, breathe the air and experience the sounds of rustling grass and crickets was very inspiring. I collected a lot of sketches, pictures and physical materials that have directed the development of a body of art.

I have collected information and material on “ranch-ecology” - on the relationship between the ranch and the land. What is the relationship between raising cattle and the ecology of the land? I am also interested in traditional versus modern approaches and subsequent environmental impacts. Prairie grass will therefore be an important theme in developing  my body of work.

The ranch owners were very hospitable and told us many stories that contributed to my understanding of the rich history of ranching and the Stampede. We talkedabout the traditional role of the horse in ranching and how that has changed with the “mechanization” of farming and ranching. I really liked Mac’s observation how the pace of traditional ranching was determined by the pace set by the cowboy and horse. It served as the inspiration of my first finished piece, “The Western Rider”.

The residency also served to get to know the other artists better and proved to be a bonding experience.

I fully ascribe to the goal of this project to widen the perception of “Western Art” and to produce contemporary art, based on the local traditions and history of ranching.”

http://evelinekolijn.com/biocv.htm