Garden Ritual 2021. Featuring Gerry Morita, dance, Chenoa Anderson, flute, Allison Balcetis, soprano sax. Film and sound by Ian Crutchley. Funded by the Edmonton Arts Council.

An artist grant from the Edmonton Arts Council supported residencies for myself and four groups of artists in my urban permaculture garden in the summer of 2021. The garden provided inspiration, light and shadow, sound, a safe venue, a refuge, and we dreamed in sound and movement within it. Thank you to all the artists involved - Allison Balcetis (saxophone); Ian Crutchley (instruments, found objects, camera); Gerry Morita (dance); Kelly Ruth (solar-powered drones, loop pedals, contact mics); Scott Smallwood (handmade solar-powered instruments); and Katrina Smy (dance). And thank you to the EAC for supporting a vibrant arts ecosystem in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan/Edmonton. Photos by Ian Crutchley and Chenoa Anderson.

Dancer Gerry Morita is lying on a plank in a garden. She is wearing a burgundy, patterned kimono and her hands are reaching to the sky. Flutist Chenoa Anderson is in the background under a tree. She is wearing a black and white dress.

Gerry Morita, dancer. Chenoa Anderson, flutist.

Dancer Gerry Morita is offering a flower to Allison Balcetis, who is playing soprano saxophone. They are standing amongst tall plants and flowers in a garden in summer.

Gerry Morita, dancer. Allison Balcetis, soprano saxophone.

Dancer Katrina Smy is lying amongst plants with yellow calendula flowers on her eyes.

Katrina Smy, dancer.

Dancer Katrina Smy and improvisor Ian Crutchley are in a garden. Kat is wearing a sparkly bronze top and blue jeans. Ian is standing in front of a fence wearing a pale hat, dark shirt and beige pants. There are tall green plants and yellow flowers.

Katrina Smy, dancer. Ian Crutchley, instruments.

Improvisor Scott Smallwood is sitting in a garden with a solar-powered electronic instrument. He is wearing a grey t-shirt and hat, and is surrounded by green plants and yellow flowers.

Scott Smallwood, solar-powered instruments.

Picture of Chenoa Anderson playing bass flute and Kelly Ruth, playing solar instruments, contact mic, wheelbarrow and mulch. They are sitting under trees in summer. Chenoa has her back to the camera, and Kelly is dropping mulch in a red wheelbarrow.

Kelly Ruth, solar drones, wheelbarrow with contact microphone, and pedals. Chenoa Anderson, bass flute.

Kelly Ruth is sitting in front of a small table with a mixing board, loop pedals and solar powered drones. There is a wheelbarrow to her left with contact microphones.

Kelly Ruth, solar powered drones, contact-microphone wheelbarrow and mulch, loop pedals.