During their Research Residency, Blise Orr and Christie Swallow will research the islands’ birdlife. Over an initial 4 day residency period they will work through print, drawing, sample and collection to develop a body of research. They will further investigate shipping traffic, relating the port city to the island and looking at the nautical links these birds may have with passing ships. Centuries of shipping people, matter and more than human kin across the world can be read into bird populations thriving in the port towns of Rotterdam, London, Lisbon, etc.

This in depth look at the more than human life on the island will delve into historical lineages through both tactical hands on research as well as more secondary digital sources. They will look at how both digital and physical comes together, deploying grassroots, citizen science methods of observation.

During the residency, the studio will be open to all visitors of the space who are welcome to participate, or just observe what is being made over the 4 days. On Saturday between 2-5pm Blise and Christie will host a walk around the island, in which local stakeholders (islanders & anyone who may have an interest in the project) are invited to join the research process. On Sunday evening between 4-6pm they will offer conclusions to the work through a physical presentation of the research so far.