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    • Home
    • Field Notes
    • Artist Residency 2022
    • Table Settings
    • Photo Gallery
    • Meet the Alchemists
    • Our Stories
    • Media
    • Friends of Alchemy
    • Apply to the residency
  • Home
  • Field Notes
  • Artist Residency 2022
  • Table Settings
  • Photo Gallery
  • Meet the Alchemists
  • Our Stories
  • Media
  • Friends of Alchemy
  • Apply to the residency

Alchemy Artists Residency

Alchemy is an Ontario-based artist residency bult on four pillars: art, food, farm and community.  Attracting artists from Canada and throughout the world, its programming initiatives are led by artists Claire Tallarico and Tonia Di Risio.

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Alchemy is a magical setting for inquiry and discovery

Our current programming stems from what we have learned in offering artist residencies and community engaged programming on the Toronto Islands and in rural Prince Edward County (PEC), Ontario since 2015.   

   

Alchemy's artist led initiatives engage and encourage artists to continue work in progress or undertake new work inspired by the people and land in this dynamic rural agricultural setting. Participating artists live and visit "The County"  to create site-specific art and explore, learn, create, and share lines of inquiry. Through a strong commitment to a collaborative process, we collect, document and share multiple stories showcasing what compels people to continue to create, grow, farm, and live here. The result is an ever growing constallation of collaborations between and among residents, farmers, makers, growers, seasonal agricultural workers,

Alchemy 2022

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Non profit status for Alchemy

While our programming and residency offerings will continue to be guided by the principles of collaboration and consensus, our governance will be through our new Board of Directors. Alchemy co-facilitators Claire Tallarico and Tonia Di Risio are excited and delighted to welcome Erin MacInnis to our newly constituted  Board of Directors.  Now a small and mighty board of three, Claire and Tonia continue in their long-time collaborative roles as conveners and facilitators of all things Alchemy, Erin’s business acumen is welcome as we look to expand the reach of Alchemy post-pandemic. 

Alchemy's Board of Directors

Claire M Tallarico

Claire M Tallarico

Claire M Tallarico

Alchemy founder and co-facilitator


A visual artist, trained cook, and  

long time policy and communications advisor in the health and non profit arenas, Claire Tallarico's work explores the fertile ground between creative and culinary traditions and the sharing of food and dialogue through community engagement. Working with plants, textiles, and found objects, Claire documents what she grows, cooks, and forages through mono- printing, eco-dyeing, collage, and conversation.


Claire holds an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Concordia, studied 

public policy and journalism at New York University, and graduated from George Brown with a culinary arts diploma. She has taught at both Humber and the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design (NSCAD University), where her work explores  questions of how community-based art practices can further connect to land, food sovereignty, and belonging. 

Tonia Di Risio

Claire M Tallarico

Claire M Tallarico

 Alchemy co-facilitator 


A multimedia artist living and working in Southern  Ontario, Tonia received a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Art History from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, and a Master of Fine Art from the University of Windsor. She identifies as an artist, maker, coordinator, and collaborator. A practicing visual artist for over 25 years, Tonia has exhibited in galleries across Canada and has been awarded Canada Council, Nova Scotia, and Ontario arts grants. She is the co-facilitator of Alchemy and an active member of the Toronto artist collective, the Red Head Gallery. 


Tonia is currently the Cultural Supervisor for the Town of Oakville, leading cultural programs for the municipality. As an arts administrator, she has also worked with artist-run centers, public art galleries, university art galleries and participated in panels and juries. In addition, she taught Time-Based Art and was the Gallery Director at Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University.

Erin MacInnis

Claire M Tallarico

Erin MacInnis

Erin currently works as the General Manager for Closson Chase Vineyards, one of Prince Edward County's oldest vineyards, established in 1998.  In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the winery's human resources, sales, production, and agriculture business. Under Erin's leadership, Closson Chase was awarded Employer of the Year for 2020 by the Prince Edward County Chamber of Commerce. 


A graduate of Loyalist College (Belleville, Ontario) Human Resources Management program, Erin spent her early career fine-tuning her business acumen in the hospitality industry. Erin has worked in management for several fine dining restaurants and event management for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in Jasper, Alberta. Throughout her professional life, she has developed a passion for food, wine, and organizational management.  Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Erin's life and work are immersed in the wine, food, and creative arts culture in Prince Edward County.

Land Acknowledgement

Alchemy Artists Residency acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. These peoples

agreed to mutual sharing obligations and responsibilities as stewards of the

land and water. We recognize that these are now our shared obligations in

partnership, to continue to protect the land and water. As we talk about the

land, we honour the Indigenous ancestors who came before us and who

continue to be present in lands which we occupy. We acknowledge and

honour the First Nations who despite attempts of colonialism, continue to

hold and share their rich history, traditions, and cultures that are proud,

modern and vibrant. As we move forward, we hope that every time we get

together we acknowledge all those that have come before us.


Approved by Troy Maracle, Indigenous Education Lead for the HPEDSB


Dinner at Redtail Vineyards by Kirstyn Mayers summer 2020. 

Thank you

hmc

 We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario, for our residency program in Prince Edward County from June - October 2022.

Copyright © 2022 make alchemy.com

Contact us: info@makealchemy.com 

All Rights Reserved.


 All photos courtesy of Donna Greenstein, Peggy Taylor Reid, J. Pierre, Kirstyn Mayers and Tonia Di Risio

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