Pigments, dried flowers and other materials grown from an artist’s garden hang next to paintings depicting scenes of wildfires in B.C. On the other end of the room, painted portraits of rescued owls.
The new art exhibit, titled “Field Notes,” is the result of creative research done by Kwantlen Polytechnic University Fine Arts instructors Maria Anna Parolin, Amy Huestis and Liz Toohey-Wiese during their educational leaves last year. The exhibit is open until Feb. 8 at the Arbutus Gallery, located by the entrance of the KPU Surrey library.
Much like scientific research, creative research sees the process of making art as a way of answering research questions.
For Maria Anna Parolin, her work asks: How does the artist make sustainable materials? Made entirely with art materials from a variety of plants grown directly in her garden, her piece features botanical inks, watercolour paint, lake pigments, paper, and 3D prints made with dahlia plant fibre.
“My work is influenced by what my parents taught me; my concern for the environment and overconsumption; studio safety; and what I continue to learn from the cycle of growth, death and generosity of each plant that chooses to grow in my garden,” says Parolin.
Amy Huestis’s work explores the question: How can I be in community with an owl? With a passion for studying birds and their habitats, Huestis’s work depicts paintings of owls creating during time spent volunteering at OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Delta.
“I was diagnosed with dystonia, a condition that impacts the nervous system, and had to move away from big projects that involved a lot of people, noise and stimulation. Volunteering at OWL gave me a quiet and centred way to continue my work, all while helping with the rehabilitation efforts at OWL,” says Huestis.
In her work, Liz Toohey-Wiese asks: What is the social impact of a forest fire? Building on her ongoing research on the topic of wildfires, her work features a series of paintings inspired by a three-week road trip across British Columbia.
“Along the way, we encountered the aftereffects of wildfire through salvage logging, and also witnessed a fire begin at the edge of town following a lightning strike. These works hold my memories of those experiences, and observations of the rapidly changing weather patterns of B.C.’s northern interior,” says Toohey-Wiese.
The artists will be holding a special reception at the Arbutus Gallery on Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event includes a presentation by the OWL Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, featuring a live owl, followed by artist talks. The event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.