
An investigation and contemplation of the ethics and aesthetics of land-based artistic practice.
A few years ago, my spouse and I purchased a small property on the fringe of the boreal forest, about 200 KM north of Saskatoon. I have been developing it into an off-grid nature retreat and have been exploring creative projects on site. The natural environment has been a recurring element in my artwork and I am interested in turning my focus more explicitly to working in and on the land. I am acutely aware of the need to grapple with the complex and difficult histories of colonization, specifically as they relate to land and land ownership. With the support of SK Arts, I am embarking on an art-based research project to address several key questions: is it possible to engage with the land in an authentic and meaningful way? What consideration has been given to developing ethical approaches to land-based artistic work? What opportunities or benefits could exist in an ethical land-based art practice in the context of (re)conciliation and the climate emergency?
An important component of the project is a series of hosted conversations with a diverse roster of artists and non-artists who have experience and knowledge in history, land use, treaty, Indigenous-settler relations, ecology, education, food and other related fields. Part of my intent is to develop a practice that uses conviviality and friendship as conditions for artmaking while bringing artistic thinking, creativity, and new expressive forms into the world.
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