Guardiana
A STEPS PROJECT
Guardiana is a public artwork by 2022 CreateSpace Public Art Residency artists Laura and Valentina Caraballo (RAZA) in Calgary, Alberta. The project integrated community engagement and research creation, including an artistic workshop with local women-identifying participants to explore notions of safety, representation, and belonging in public space.
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Artist(s): RAZA (Laura and Valentina Caraballo)
Year: 2022
Photographer/Videographer: May Shi
Services: Artist Capacity Building
2
artists in residence
1
community celebration
20+
participants
1
community arts workshop
1
acrylic and neon installation
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
“Although it’s not the end of the conversation, we hope that somehow this piece brings some sort of safety to the women who need to access this community center or the [nearby transit station] and the outdoor area around the installation.”
– Laura, Lead Artist
“This experience has provided us with a deeper understanding of what public art is and it’s made us more confident to continue to pursue public art in the future.”
– Valentina, Lead Artist
Guardiana is installed near the Women’s Centre of Calgary where RAZA hosted community-engaged public art workshops. A project unveiling and community celebration took place with Sabi Mind. This project was also made possible by the support of Calgary Arts Development (CADA), The Women’s Centre of Calgary, Skipping Stone, and Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA).
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ABOUT THE ARTIST(S)
RAZA
Lead Artist
RAZA is a transregional multi-medium art collective based in Calgary formed by Colombian artists Valentina and Laura Caraballo. Their artistic practice explores ways to further their understanding of self and the social world through art by developing concepts from a psychosocial approach.
RAZA’s current work focuses on engaging with underrepresented groups in marginalized communities to create art that contributes to the pursuit of equity in the public space realm. The duo is working towards creating interactive public art pieces that invite both past and present inhabitants of the land to engage and create new perceptions of the land through art.
PROJECT PARTNERS AND FUNDERS
The 2022 CreateSpace Residency is supported by the City of Toronto as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021 – 2022, TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council. We also acknowledge the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada.
STEPS believes that public art should reflect the diverse identities and perspectives of the communities that host it. Artists have a critical role to play in shaping cities, and our Artist Capacity Building Programs are designed to amplify the work of Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, female, LGBTTQQIAAP and newcomer artists in public spaces.
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