Erika Germain Named New Arts Habitat Artist-in-Residence

Arts Habitat Edmonton welcomes Erika Germain (she/her) as the newest artist in its McLuhan House studio.

Erika received her BFA from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2018, where she was selected as undergraduate valedictorian, and her MFA from Cornell University in 2022. Her practice has been situated within the contexts of Vancouver BC, central New York, New York City and most recently has expanded across Canada.

Throughout her time at the historic McLuhan House, Erika plans to create a body of work centered around two community events. The initial months of the residency will be spent producing a large edition of monoprints that she will give away to members of the public in exchange for hand-written notes. These notes will then be altered into small paintings on paper, as well as translated into new paintings and sculptures. At the end of the residency, the public will be invited back to view these translations of their gifts, and to have their altered hand-written notes returned back to them.

“I’m extremely grateful to be this year’s McLuhan House Artist in Residence,” Erika said. “As an emerging artist, the resource of a dedicated studio space is incredibly valuable, but even more so, the experience will allow me to situate my work within a community, exploring themes of community participation, connection and social practice that are integral to my research.”

You can learn more about Erika and her work on Instagram or her website.

Arts Habitat’s annual studio program offers one artist or artist collective access to the 540 square foot McLuhan House garage studio in the Highlands community. Artists have full-time, private access to this working space for a calendar year at no charge. For more about the studio program and previous artists in the studio, please visit the McLuhan House Studio Program web page.

Arts Habitat leads in advocating for appropriate and accessible spaces for the arts in Edmonton and the surrounding area. We recognise that appropriate art spaces are essential to creating dynamic, sustainable and entrepreneurial artistic communities, and actively support the arts as a chosen career path.