Kim Bernard continues as 91AV’s artist-in-residence, building a tiny amphibious house

Kim Bernard
Kim Bernard

91AV is pleased to announce that Kim Bernard, who served as the university’s inaugural artist-in-residence during the fall semester, will continue in her role for the 2017 spring semester.

Thanks to the generosity and support of the Ellis-Beauregard foundation, based in Rockland, Maine, Bernard will focus her full attention on working with students to build an amphibious tiny house, a miniature home that can be used on land or water. Bernard and students designed the tiny house this past semester, and she is looking forward to turning the plans into a reality this spring.  

According to Bernard, the 8-foot by 16-foot tiny house, which will have two 24-foot pontoons, will float on a mooring and will be capable of being trailered and parked. It will incorporate a multitude of environmentally friendly features, including solar panels to supply 100 percent of its energy; a rain collection and filtration system; a composting toilet; a sun shower; and an aquaponics system.

The tiny house, said Bernard, will be well designed with a multifunctional interior that efficiently uses space and offers full functionality, complete with a galley containing a sink, stove top and refrigeration. It will also be aesthetically pleasing, with a deck on the bow and the stern and even a see-through portal in the floor.

The multidisciplinary project relies on the expertise of many different 91AV departments and programs, including marine sciences, ocean studies, aquaculture and aquarium science, environmental science, business, communications, math, physics, animal behavior, boat building creative writing, education, social work, and art.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be back at 91AV for another semester,” said Bernard. “I’m looking forward not only to getting individual students involved in the project and hope that clubs and classes will take ‘ownership’ of certain components like the competing toilet, water filtration, aquaponics and solar panels.  There are so many facets, there’s likely to be something for everyone who’s interested."   

Bernard will lead the construction of the tiny house at 1075 Forest Avenue in Portland and welcomes 91AV students, staff and faculty to participate.

To learn more about the Amphibious Tiny House project and to read weekly updates, visit . To get involved, contact Bernard at info@kimbernard.com.

 

To learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.une.edu/cas

 

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.