Alfred Haymond
Photographer
Los Angeles, Ca
Responds to questions about her experience from 2025 on Björkö, Sweden.
The residency was at BKN an art node where the forest meets the sea.
“I am far more resilient, resourceful and remarkable than any natural disaster or man-made catastrophe” A.H.
How did residency in Sweden affect your work
I had become a bit stagnant and hitting a wall in terms of motivation, creativity and direction. Being in Sweden helped me to clarify those three obstacles. For me, the mere “act” of placing some distance between myself and California was very cathartic, and exactly the catalyst that I needed to remind me that my answers are within.
How has this carried over to your lives back in CA
I left the Residency with a renewed purpose and energy. It’s much like Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life” – You emerge from a dark space with a level a gratitude for what you have, humility for the people who surround you and a responsibility to inspire others from all that you’ve experienced in your short time.
What was it like to be in a space where you only needed to be in your art?
t’s an ethereal space where you’re surrounded by the energy of fellow creative souls. You want those days & nights to be endless, because you’re in an environment where you are free to be your best-self.
Do you have any highlights on being in Sweden
I saw a lynx while on a photo-sojourn. And though no one believed me; I know what I saw. I was able to leave behind a portfolio collection of work both at the BKN Studio and the residency-house that now are part of their permanent art collection. And, I met so many amazing people during my time there, and I am honored to count them as friends.
Do you have any highlights on being in Sweden
I saw a lynx while on a photo-sojourn. And though no one believed me; I know what I saw. I was able to leave behind a portfolio collection of work both at the BKN Studio and the residency-house that now are part of their permanent art collection. And, I met so many amazing people during my time there, and I am honored to count them as friends.
How did this residency help you in the aftermath of fire
The Residency affirmed that I am far more resilient, resourceful and remarkable than any natural disaster or man-made catastrophe. “as Art is the Balm, so let the healing begin.”
Artist Alfred Haymond
.Long-time Altadena artist, Alfred Haymond, distinguishes himself as a photographer, writer and musicologist with a creative spirit ever in search of meaning. Haymond finds his inspiration in the spontaneity of vintage architecture, rural landscapes, intimate pictorials, pedestrian glimpses and fleeting scenes of Americana – all thoughtfully captured through the lens of his camera. His style, technique, and steadiness belie formal academic training and tutelage.
In his words, it is this “hard knocks approach” that guided him to curate the nearly decade old annual “Observations in Black” photography exhibit, the passion to establish “The Convergence”, a community-oriented platform for underserved artists, and his impetus to regularly serve as a photography mentor to youth citywide. His exhibit “Pasadena, 2020” remains a poignant photo retrospective documenting the civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd, and, most recently, his portrait study “Faces of Resilience” poignantly chronicles over 100 residents of Altadena directly impacted by the Eaton Canyon Fire.
Haymond has received numerous city and government citations and commendations.His photography has exhibited in solo shows, earned news and press coverage, and adorns both private and public permanent collections. At BKN he hopes to assemble an anthology that combines his journey as a photographer with narrative essays reflecting his experience as an Eaton survivor. His photo collection begins the evening of the fire, Jan 7, 2025, and his goal at residency is to construct an immersive experience expressing the cultural and social impacts of this disaster.
www.observationalphotography.com
@alfredhaymond
Björkö
BKN is located on an island in Norrtälje municipality, Sweden. It’s a costal region covered with almost boreal forest. It’s a quiet place only some 350 people live across the island. It’s connected by a bridge to the mainland and is 2 hours north east of Stockholm. The public transportation for greater Stockholm area brings you to the doorstep. If you come directly from Arlanda Airport it takes about the same time. Björk in Swedish is birch and ö island, so yes you will see them every where along with aspen but more so you will encounter pine, heather and spruce. Moss and kitchen are much appreciated aspect of the nature here as well.
The darker half of the year you have a chance to see aurora borealis and from May the days are rapidly getting longer towards midsummer. It’s a four season climate with some snow in the winters and 15-20 degrees during the summer. In 2020 BKN was founded in two former school buildings, wooden structures that are over 100 years old. Resources include, in addition natures offerings, black and white darkroom, loom, sawing machine, wood shop, beamer, speakers etc. During the first five years BKN had over 200 artists. More from them >>>
A Nomadic Residency for
Artists in Ecological Flux.