Katie

Canada
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Profile information

Travel information
I am currently
At home
My next destination:
France - from Mar 2024 until Jun 2024
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Description
I am a visual artist, working in sculpture/installation. You can see some of my work here: www.katiebethuneleamen.com
I've lived in several cities across Canada, and enjoy travel that facilitates me having an understanding of the country or community I am visiting. Toward this end I have been doing many artist residencies over the past years in Paris, Fogo Island (CA), Toulouse, Reykjavik, Montreal, Toronto, etc., with research-based travel to Italy, Japan, Germany, and more. I am currently planning on moving outside of Canada for a while, thinking about going back to university to do my PhD in visual culture. In the meantime, I am looking for a way to be away from Toronto while hopefully having e.g. some horse, yoga, cat, or surf time, under the auspices of an engaged living situation.
Interests
Yoga / Wellness
Writing
Winter sports
Water sports
Vegetarian or vegan
Sailing / Boating
Plant care
Pets
Outdoor activities
Nature
Languages
Mountain
History
Hiking
Gardening
Fitness
Farming
Culture
Cycling
Drawing & painting

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Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Icelandic: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Being an elderly companion
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Charity Work
Helping with Computers/ Internet
Able to teach about:
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Languages
Art Projects
Teaching
More details about your skills
I am a visual artist currently based in Toronto, Canada.
I generally work as a university instructor teaching sculpture at the art/design university in Toronto as a means to facilitate my art practice.
I hold a BFA in Art History & Studio Art, and an MFA in Studio Art.
My sculpture practice is diverse, and has facilitated me acquiring a very broad range of general skills (basic building, metalwork, moulding/casting, etc.).
I am comfortable with the safe handling and use of many power tools (I like to get a run-through first to make sure I know your particular tools and their quirks)--those I have not used, I would like to learn.
I deeply enjoy the company of animals, and engaging in their respectful care.
I am very strong, and really enjoy working hard--especially at work that is a part of something that moves or interest me, including the care and nurturing of animals, sustainable/organic farming/gardening practices, the maintenance of natural spaces and trails, etc.
I would be very interested in developing more specialised carpentry skills.
I would also very much love to become better at horseback riding--especially Icelandic horses, which are the brief that I have the most experience with(though I am still very much a beginner).
Beyond my work as a university instructor, I have worked professionally as a graphic designer, in the film industry, in the service industry, as an editor, gallery director, gallery installation coordinator, etc., and have sat on the boards of several arts organisations (art institutions, artist-run centres, arts publications).
I am smart, funny, personable, and generally interested and engaged in the world.
I enjoy running and yoga as my regular activities, and in the warm season use my bicycle as my main means of transport. I adore swimming, would like to become a better horse rider (I have most experience with Icelandic horses), am a enthusiastic dilettante x-country skier, would very much like to learn how to surf, etc.
Age
51
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegetarian (ovo-lacto), gluten intolerant (I know, so tiresome!)

Feedback

10 Jul 2017

Left by host (Looking for help on a horse ...) for Workawayer (Katie)

Also WOW!
We have loved having Katie staying with us at our home and working for us. From the beginning we had a wonderful relationship and a friendship that turned out and will last hopefuly for a long time. She is so warm, friendly and cheerful and has fitted into our farm with all the animals so easily.
I have enjoyed her company, our… read more

(Excellent )

2 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Katie) for host (Looking for help on a horse ...)

WOW. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been able to spend time with Sabrine & Thorsten and all of their lovely animals. I felt this way every day of the 3-weeks I spent with them.
I was warmly welcomed, and immediately made to feel at home, given my own guest cabin to stay in, which was treated extremely respectfully as my own private space.… read more It was lovely, clean, well-appointed (kitchen! bathroom! 2 bed areas! incredibly comfortable beds! wi-fi!! etc.). It was made clear to me that I could feel comfortable being in Sabrine & Thorsten's home as well, and welcomed to use their kitchen. I was so well fed, with Sabrine kindly considering my tastes and food requirements. Sabrine always prepared generous and healthy meals for me to share with her, and with her and Thorsten. And Thorsten made charming special brunches on the weekends.
Sabrine and Thorsten are such a kind, intelligent, and happy couple--it was a sincere joy to get to share their lives with them for a while. They absilutely adore their home and their life there, and to be a brief part of that felt very special. They refer to their home, their farm, as a "paradise" and they have made it so. Their pleasure radiates from them, and makes spending time with them just delightful.
All of Sabrine and Thorsten's animals (their horses, cats, dogs & chickens) are loved, respected, and incredibly well cared for. They are adored! I got to know them all, and learned so much more about chickens, and horses, about which I truly knew next-to-nothing before my visit.
I came to Sabrine & Thorsten's hoping to do lots of outdoor, physical work, and I was rewarded by being able to help as much as I wanted, cleaning out stables, and with general tasks on the farm, which was what I was hoping for. Sabrine also worked hard to come up with work and jobs that she felt might interest and engage me. She was great to work for and with, able to be specific about her needs, and letting me know that she appreciated my work and that it was well done, which felt great.
The farm is in a lovely area, with many surrounding woods that I was able to both walk and take runs in. Their air is incredible. The landscape gorgeous.
I had such a wonderful time getting to know all of the animals, and learning more about their care.
I am left so thankful for being so warmly received. For being included in their family, and being made to feel welcome and appreciated. This was a never-endingly delightful, wonderful experience. I miss everyone--Sabrine and Thorsten, Curly, Pipi, Hector, Maggie, Bertha, Mate, Chili, Bresgo, Leila, Jocelyn, Filou, Jara, Jette, Laika, Hilli, Viola, Junnee, Japaskin, Hercule, Tamana, and Jumaana.

(Excellent )