Regina: Belinda Harrow

photo credit: Zoe Schneider

Belinda is one of the most productive people I’ve ever met! She has been a huge inspiration in terms of making time for a personal practice. Belinda is represented by Slate gallery in Regina slategallery.ca/artists/669/. You can also check out her work at belindaharrow.com/.

KC: What kinds of projects are you involved in right now?

I’m working on a number of different things at the moment. I’m doing some renovations to improve my basement art studio, taking a summer mould making and casting class at the University of Regina, and making art. In the studio I am continuing on a series of paintings that explores the relationship that we, as humans, have with the animal population. I am also in the very early stages of starting some new work that I hope will incorporate some of the casting skills I develop this summer.

KC: What’s your day job? What do you like about it? What’s challenging?

I am the Outreach Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Arts Board Permanent Collection. I love working with a collection of exclusively Saskatchewan art, which I consider a privilege. My job requires me to be creative and allows me to work with public and private sectors as well as the arts community. It is by far the busiest job I’ve ever had, but that said, it is never boring.

KC: What’s important to you?

Trying to find balance in my life. I work hard at keeping up my art practice alongside a full time job while still making time for personal relationships with friends and family. Sometimes being so busy is a rush, like riding a wave, staying just ahead of deadlines and commitments; sometimes it’s completely overwhelming.

KC: What do you like most/least about Regina?

I moved back to Saskatchewan three and a half years ago. I love being back after living away for over ten years. I found the Regina arts community very welcoming and open. It has been easy to get to know other artists, curators and arts administrators. Regina itself is an easy city to live in although it was a pretty big shock discovering how much the cost of living had gone up while I was away.

KC: What is your impression of Saskatoon?

I lived in Saskatoon for my last year of high school and while doing my first degree at the University of Saskatchewan so it always reminds me of being a student (hanging out at Place Riel, listening to live music at Amigos and Louis’). I’m often in Saskatoon for work and I still have friends and family living there. I still eat lunch at Amigos when I’m in town.

Proust Questionaire: If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I would come back as a goose. I’ve always wondered how exactly geese decide who to pair up with. They all look the same, act the same, so what is it that sets one apart to choose the other? I’d like to know if it is as easy as it appears.