Kathryn and I met a little while ago. She contacted me for a press kit for her stop motion film. Kathryn, I am so excited for you. I loved the movie. You are so talented… go shine…
Artist Biography
Kathryn J. is a Canadian artist who uses illustrated journals to record the realities of the world around her. Recently she spent 6 years (2011-2017) living and working in East Africa which has been the source of her inspiration. She studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at York University where she focused on painting and sculpture. More recently, she received a Master of Arts in Illustration from IDI, University of Hertfordshire during which she developed this stop motion film.
A seemingly complacent crab is suddenly called to action by mysterious intentions and a chance encounter with an elusive bottle cap.
The stop motion film is about the use of an object beyond its intended purpose and is a celebration of the creativity and ingenuity of local people in developing nations. This short animation highlights the concept that perceptions of what is ‘useful’ and what is ‘garbage’ depend on cultural values. The film emphasizes the important role that cross-cultural exposure plays in broadening perspectives and positively affecting lives. Created by a Canadian who lived and worked in East Africa from 2011-17, this narrative is based on real experiences.
A unique blend of approaches are employed including hand-made puppets and illustrations. Local African materials such as seeds, bark cloth and other traditional fabrics are incorporated alongside re-purposed items such as discarded plastic bottles and other found objects. The choice of these materials and approaches reinforce the environmental and cultural themes of the film and further demonstrates the positive influence one culture can have on another.
