Artist Residency Open Studio: Patrick Fernandez
About
The MacKenzie welcomes Patrick Fernandez as our Artist in Residence. Patrick will be onsite on February 15, 22, March 1, and 8, 2025, designing and building an impactful environment for people of all ages. All are welcome to visit the Learning Centre on these dates to meet Patrick and watch his installation take shape. Once complete, this space will be open to the public to enjoy and explore through an ongoing self-directed program of creativity and discovery from March 11, 2025, to February 8, 2026.
Feel free to drop by the Learning Centre from 1 to 4 PM to meet Patrick and tour the space.
For more information, please contact Ken Duczek, Coordinator of Learning Initiatives, at kduczek@mackenzie.art or call 584-4250 ext. 4290.
Residency Statement
One of the fascinating aspects of the Philippines is that it boasts 42,000 minor and major festivals. In my province, we celebrate two consecutive events during the months of April and May. The first is the Bangus Festival (Milkfish Festival), which honours a bountiful harvest, and the second is “Pista’y Dayat” (Feast of the Sea), which celebrates the abundance of the ocean. These festivals clearly reflect the Filipino culture’s deep appreciation for celebration and festivity.
I am embracing these ideas for the residency. The artworks embody a celebration of one’s personal journey, capturing the uphill climbs and downhill struggles that make the experience truly worthwhile, along with the invaluable life lessons learned along the way.
Artist Biography
Patrick Fernandez is a contemporary visual artist based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Originally from Pangasinan, Philippines, he creates vibrant paintings that incorporate symbolism and reimagine folklore imagery to tell stories. His artwork reflects his personal experiences with displacement and adaptation, using these circumstances as pivotal moments for growth.
His process begins with gathering news clippings of current events, taking notes, and conducting research on places and social and ecological issues. He draws heavily from Philippine folklore, customs, traditions, and idioms, often finding inspiration in selected elements and symbolic references from these sources. The Philippines has a rich native culture that offers limitless inspiration, which he translates into his art-making. He connects these references to more universal themes, intertwining them with contemporary experiences and his perspective as an immigrant.
By using repeated patterns to express feelings of displacement, Patrick creates ornate surfaces built up through numerous layers of paint application. He juxtaposes visual elements to generate a sense of organized chaos. His imagery aims to stimulate audiences’ understanding of the socio-political issues embedded in his works. Through art, his goal is to create new meaning, provoke thought, engage with audiences, and encourage dialogue. Website: www.patzfernandez.com