Mr. Kevin Calisto, head of visual arts at Portsmouth Abbey, recently completed a week-long residency at Spark Box Studio in Ontario, Canada. Kevin and his two friends from graduate school applied together - no small feat, as Kevin lives in Portsmouth, and his friends Denise Sokolsky and Mikelle Lindsey live in Kingston, Ontario, and San Diego, California, respectively. Their proposal, "From Within and Without," which stemmed from their journeys crossing borders and reuniting, was accepted, and they set off to Canada.

Kevin working in the studio

Spark Box Studio is run by Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping. Both are practicing artists and graduates of the Fine Arts and Art History programs at Queen's University, they welcomed Kevin, Denise, and Mikelle into their farmhouse in the country fields of Picton, Ontario. "Prince Edward County was inspirational, peaceful, and the perfect getaway to make art and reconnect with fellow artists," Kevin says. "I was inspired by my peers, their feedback, and presence in the studio."

Artists in residence enjoyed use of a professional studio for the duration of their stay. Open 24-hours, the studio was stocked with painting, drawing, and printmaking materials for their use. In addition, the two-acre property was available for all of the creativity and inspiration needed.

Denise, Mikelle, and Kevin at the farmhouse

The pieces of art created during the residency can be found on Kevin's website. Most pieces are acrylic and pastel, though there are several charcoal and ink pieces in the collection. The two series, "Within/Without," and "Alone Together," clearly reflect Kevin's journey to the residency: "We traveled from three different areas, alone working in our studios, to reunite in a small town and make some really beautiful work together."