Shayla Bond's reflections at the Akin x Salmon River Studios Residency
We sat down with Akin Dupont member Shayla Bond (@byshaylabond) to talk about her experience during the August residency as the first recipient of the Akin x Salmon River Studios Residency.
Akin: What were you working on during the residency?
Shayla Bond: During my residency I worked on an intimate natural dye and memory project rooted in place, relearning natural dying through a reflective approach. I spent time walking the property and responsibly gathering plant materials and fallen matter that connected me to memories of Maus Park, my in-laws’ former 12 acre property near the Grand River in Paris, Ontario, a place that became deeply important to me over the past decade.
Rather than trying to recreate Maus Park, I was interested in exploring how a place can continue to live through memory, colour, and observation. I translated what I gathered into natural colour on cotton and linen, documenting each dye through technical notes, photographs, and written memories. The result became a swatch journal, an archive of relationships between plant, gathering site, colour, memory, atmosphere, and place.
The residency finished with an artist talk where I shared the project and introduced the basics of natural dyeing. We then walked the Salmon River property together, stopping at places where dyestuffs had been gathered or where the landscape made me reflect of memories of Maus Park. At each stop, I read excerpts from my dye journal. Sharing those personal connections in the places where the colours originated became a particularly meaningful way to bring the project full circle and felt quite intimate.
Akin: Did being away from your usual studio environment change how you worked?
SB: Yes, absolutely. I brought only the basic equipment and materials I needed and nothing more. In my usual studio, I’m surrounded, and sometimes inundated, by projects and works in progress.
The barn studio was so open and spacious, with these beautiful high ceilings. Having only the task at hand to focus on made me incredibly productive. I accomplished more dye tests than I had originally planned and found that I was able to take in and retain what I was learning more deeply. And the sound of the rain on the roof, wow!
Akin: What was your favourite part of your time at the residency/How did having dedicated time and space to work affect your practice?
SB: My favourite part was having dedicated time to let go of everything else and focus on a project that continuously gets pushed aside in favour of client work and commissions. That, combined with being immersed in nature and pretty off-grid, was truly restorative. It felt like the first time my cortisol levels had lowered in a while!
Eco-glamping is just comfortable enough that you still have your creature comforts, while keeping you really connected to nature. That side of the experience almost forces you to slow down, fully immerse yourself in the process, and let go of the distractions of daily life.
I had actually taken a week of vacation only two weeks before the residency, but it was nowhere near as restorative as this trip. So, I’d have to say my favourite part was the overall feeling of relaxation and having this little pocket of time away from the daily hustle and bustle, and to get back to play and exploration.
Akin: Did you develop any new techniques or ideas that you plan to continue exploring?
SB: During the residency, I returned to natural dyeing for the first time in 12 years. It gave me the chance to relearn the process, experiment with materials, and reconnect with techniques I’ve wanted to bring into my current practice for a long time.
Moving forward, I want to incorporate more naturally dyed materials into my quilting and textile work. I’m interested in gradually moving the beginning of my creative process further back, not just working with the fabric, but creating the colour itself.
Akin: Was there a particular moment, discovery, or day that stands out to you?
SB: The property is 52 acres, so there was a lot of land to walk and explore. When reading about the ethical harvesting of natural dyestuffs, I came across the philosophy, “Ask the plant for permission before harvesting, you will feel the answer.”
I really appreciated the idea and sentiment behind it. When I was gathering goldenrod from the eastern fields, I decided to ask the plant for permission, and I felt good about harvesting it. Later, when I went to gather goldenrod from the western fields, it just didn’t feel right, so I left it.
In that moment, I felt like I had formed an emotional bond with the land I was staying on. It felt quite profound to share that experience during my artist talk, and people really responded to it. I also read personal excerpts from the swatch and memory journal I created during the residency. Sharing those reflections felt very open, vulnerable, and beautiful.
Akin: What advice would you give to another Akin member considering a residency at Salmon River Studios, including what they should bring and anything you wish you had known before arriving?
SB: I was the first artist-in-residence at Salmon River Studios, so I walked into the experience somewhat blind. They had also basically finished building the space the day I arrived, but amazingly, I never would have known! They did such an incredible job putting everything together and had thought of pretty much every detail.
Because the residency is still new and the accommodations are eco-glamping, I’d suggest reaching out to the hosts, Gabe and Ashley, ahead of time about any equipment or technical needs. Do you need outlets? How much power will your equipment require? Is reliable Wi-Fi mandatory for your project? Having those conversations in advance will help make sure what you want to accomplish is feasible. It also shows that you’re arriving with intention and have really thought about what you want to work on! Also, be aware it's outhouse only if that's not your thing!
I’d also recommend planning your meals and groceries ahead of time, bringing extra art supplies, and packing clothing, footwear, and swimwear for spending time outdoors. It can get cold and damp at night. Also, I love bringing my own pillow lol
