After seeing my work at OCADU's Graduate Exhibition, I was asked to be a part of a two week festival (also to be one of the featured artist's for Industry Professional night) entitled Blackoutfest. The festival will occur once every year in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario. 

An art gathering that encompasses all forms of art; painting, music, drawing, sculpture and installation, poetry, printmaking, theatre/film and material arts (just to name a few). I have never been a part of anything like this before, so naturally, at first I was apprehensive, but once ideas started to flow, I could not wait to start making something. 

My thesis work at OCAD University discussed the issues in coral reef deterioration, specifically the Great Barrier Reef's of Australia. Still being very compassionate about our underwater gardens, I thought I would continue with the concept of synthetics. The idea of engineering artificial life to fix our mistakes and to prevent coral reef systems from extinction.

What kept this festival cohesive was that everyone had to explore a question. Mine was, should we intervene? 

Should we create and integrate?


Artist Statement: 

Decayed coral reefs are the actions of human neglect. Paralyzed by the thought of loosing our submerged world, we are desperately trying to mend our ill oceanic gardens by injecting a synthetic heartbeat to revive a once aquatic eden. But will our actions be invasive and place a permanent flatline to our coral reefs, or will it aid in it's survival?

The materials used in this installation entitled, Vacancy, reflect the concept of marrying inorganic materials into an organic environment. Recycled polymer based materials form the foundation of this sculpture that supports the notion of human interaction and how our behavior, as noble as our intentions may be, can never truly be natural. 

Vacancy Recycled Polymer, Sand, Blacklight, 4'X6', 2012

Detail of Vacancy

Detail of Vacancy

The pamphlet/catalogue showcasing all the artists involved in this two week festival.

(Crappy iphoto pic) but..there I am!

Concluding: I am pleased with the results of my installation, but more importantly the show in its entirety. I met some amazing artist's who I am currently working on collaborations with, and to everyone who came, made this an experience I will never forget. 

Looking forward to next year!

Loomin' on the porch with bees and humming birds.  

Texture.
Sand at Longpoint Beach, ON.

Longpoint Beach with my lovely, awesome friends!

Sunflower

Before:

After:

Bees.

FUNGUS

Potential dye candidates. 

I made a garden for my parents. 

I just need a few more pieces to finish the frame around the garden, then make some stakes to drive into the ground and attach to the frame so that the frost does not warp it. 

It's coming. 

So I made a loom...

The finished product! Equipped with a hand chiseled tool I made for weaving. 

A birds nest I found on one of my walks through the forest. 

Such craftsmanship. 

A wood cut/engraving I am currently working on. 

It is almost done and ready for printing.

It's natural hand dying time!

Turmeric and Coffee

+

Water 

Vinegar

1. First boil your natural ingredients in a pot with water for about an hour 
2. In a separate pot, place your fabric in a solution of water and vinegar (4 parts water, 1 part vinegar). Let boil for an hour
3. Once your natural ingredients have been 'cooking' for an hour, strain all the remnants out. In this case, coffee grounds and turmeric clumps. 

(Note: The vinegar is used so that the dye will adhere permanently to the fabric)

 Turmeric and Coffee

Fabric boiling in water and vinegar. 


4. Once you have strained your dye and fabric, combine both in a stainless steel bowl and mix around (use a wooden spoon, as it is very hot!) 
5. After mixing, let it soak overnight for best (vibrant) results!

Happy Dying!


Pictures to come of the Turmeric/Coffee combination (It turned out a beautiful brownish-yellow) 

HOWEVER: This is the result of the red onion peels and blueberries.

In love. 

I am thinking; bed sheets, pillow cases and pillows! 

I decided to make a laptop case out of some random material I had come across a few weeks ago in the basement of my parents house. The material was faux fur and white linen. The linen was a little plain for my liking,  so I thought, why not dye it- 

with Blueberries!

 Material cut to size, ready to be sewn! 

(Note: Faux fur = very hard to sew!)

Close up of the naturally hand dyed fabric. I attempted a circle dye job, which I have to say I am rather pleased with. 

Finished!

My laptop now has a new home.