Artist Lab Report:
Untethered – Kristin M Roach

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Lakeside Lab Report

Artist-in-Residence

July 1 – July 12, 2024

Kristin M Roach

12 days

 

One cannot speak of Iowa Lakeside Lab without mentioning the incredible community housed there. The residency was a wonderful experience in itself—12 days in the studio, untethered from daily responsibilities, surrounded by nature, with a dedicated workspace and meals provided at set times. But it was this supportive community that elevated the residency experience and pushed my art practice to a new level.

I want extend special thanks to the professors, students, and staff who welcomed me into their mealtimes, classrooms, and studio visits—stopping by to share feedback, stories, and their expertise. The volume of work I was able to produce during this time would not have been possible without their generosity and engagement.

In 2023, I completed a major project—the culmination of over a decade of creative exploration, physical labor, and the final effort of bringing the series to the public. The Iowa Lakeside Lab residency offered the perfect space to reflect on that work about backyard ecology and plant the seeds for future.

From a young age, I’ve found solace and restoration in nature. It is the place I go to recover my sense of self and prepare for the work that must be done. My art practice reflects this process of recovery—a careful attention to the interworking parts of life that, when reconnected, make me whole again.

This residency allowed the rare opportunity to spend a near continuous time workflow in the studio, to accelerate the process of clarifying what comes next and what form it will take. For me, more than any singular project, capturing ideas for future projects and trying different variations of each was the primary purpose. A journal/sketchbook dedicated to the residency became the place to capture ideas, thoughts, experiment results, and pathways for future research —a blend of sketches, notes, and experiments in natural dyeing and ink making.

Below, I’ve included a selection of images from the residency and scans from my journal (over 100 pages of notes), which tells the story of my exploration during these 12 days. These records embody the tactile, sensory experience of working closely with the materials and environment around me.

 

Using plentiful plant types like Goldenrod, Burdock, Nettles, and Duckweed, I refined the process for extracting the pigments for dyeing as well as ink making.

An extra thank you goes to Professor Paul Weihe and his wife, who took me out to explore the waterways and shared insights into the impact of flooding—both on the people and the local ecology. He also generously taught me along side his students, showed me lab techniques, shared ideas for lines of inquiry, and gave insights into Iowa ecology. Despite all my preparation for the residency, I could never have anticipated working in a region recovering from a flood disaster. This experience rekindled a personal interest in riparian zones, a connection rooted in my childhood spent between the Mississippi and Rock Rivers. It was a deeply reawakening moment for me.

 

A heartfelt thank you to the program coordinators for their dedication and support in creating such a meaningful and inspiring opportunity. To see more of my work and explore my portfolio, visit: http://www.kristinmroach.com

Until next time!
Kristin M Roach

“Artists and scientists are both asking questions about the world, they’re just doing it in different ways”
Alex Braidwood
Director, Iowa Lakeside Lab Artists-in-Residence Program

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