Sometimes pictures are better than words. So much has happened over the past 10 days its hard to explain. I just wanted to show some of the things I have been experiencing and ideas I have been developing. This post is a little visual insight.
Words will follow later.
(Now is later)
The project rooms at AceArtInc. is a wonderful (and free) resource for artists. My time at Ace allowed me to really start focusing on my research for this trip. Over excited by a large space with no boundaries and a wood workshop out back lead me to build an 8ft platform above a door. Investigating spaces that are unfamiliar to the everyday is an idea I have always enjoyed exploring. Unfortunately due to being overwhelmed by all the possibilities I didn’t end up making half the things I want to, but I did progress with my research substantially. For more information about the project rooms, please go to wwww.aceart.org.
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My research is based around a material that I discovered at my L’H du Siege residency in Valenciennes. For over a year my brain has been inquisitive of what I could do with sap. And after several months of tiny explosions and odd concoctions I am finally refining a technique that enables me to cast objects with this sweet smelling nectar.
I feel like I am telling a story in a rather backwards fashion but this is why my adventure has started in Canada… there are lots of trees here!
My first step, to learn more about regional trees and saps history was to meet up with Ken Fosty, a forest ranger for Manitoba Forestry association (www.mbforestryassoc.ca). Very kindly Ken offered to take me to different parts of land around Winnipeg a to hunt for sap. After a 40 minute journey along route 59, through devil’s creek and then further east, I had learnt more about native trees of Manitoba and the geological history of Winnipeg then I ever could have found by other means. My eye for sap is rapidly improving and I can now spot a tree that will be fruitful with sap from a good distance.
