Andi Wardrop
Interview & Photography / Catherine Bernier
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Andi moved out to Whistler, British Columbia, in 2014 and pretty much started her video production career right away. She saw a gap for narrative driven content that was not action-based and she moved there to fill the gap. She now lives on the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth people on Vancouver Island. Andi is a creative driven by values of acceptance, and honesty. Her work reflects a deeply personal and collaborative approach; aiming to truthfully represent the essence of the stories she gets to tell. She is continuously inspired by talented friends, family, and mentors and feel grateful to create photos and videos for a living.
Well seated in our Adirondack chairs facing the ocean, we had the opportunity to dive into a meaningful conversation about her personal experience at The Parcelles as artist in residency, the sense of pausing, a book that has changed her creative approach and the desire of a career rooted with other creative souls of her community.
What were your intentions for the residency when you first booked and how did it go?
The journey of coming to this residency started when I read "Do Pause" by Robert Poynton. It changed my perspective on pausing to create, Before reading the book I didn't think both pausing and creating were possible at once. I know now that to be human is to create.
My intentions for the residency were to quiet the things that have been making me smaller - to be with myself and make friends with my mind again. I believe pause is prerequisite for wonder. I have had the intention to do a 'reading week' once a year - a container of time to reflect, or learn or just pause. This residency was the perfect place for this. I found that the book I read many years ago was right - "a pause is not nothing - something happens in a pause. There is a sweet emptiness to it. It’s in that sweet emptiness I found presence in what I may have otherwise missed or ignored."
I wrote pages of poems every day - something I don't often but love to. I watched the birds, went on long and cold walks and drank coffee with my friend, Mario the captain of the cabin (those who know know). Without any obstruction between myself and the ocean, I observed how much the landscape changed each day and each moment. I reviewed all my photographs and curated they for a new website. Without much distraction I was able to dive deep in reflection and appreciation for where I've been and where I want to go as a photographer.
It's a truly inspiring and magically location to get lost or found in whatever you are working on. To try something new and to remember why you started. The thing I really appreciated was that there was no expectation to come out of the residency with any 'finished product'.
What’s your upcoming projects?
There is so much local talent here on Vancouver island and in BC - from musicians to models to builders and artists. I'm working on some ways to bring the community together where everyone can become a part of production projects and the freelance community has a platform to connect. While at the Parcelles I was able to work on a new website (www.andiwardrop) so I'm excited to officially launch that this year. I'm planning to start scripting meditations and look forward to making more films in the future with amazing humans.
“ My intentions for the residency were to quiet the things that have been making me smaller - to be with myself and make friends with my mind again. I believe pause is prerequisite for wonder. ”
- Andi
Follow Andi Wardrop / @andiwardrop
Portraits by Catherine Bernier / @cath.be
