Nature does not proceed in a straight line, it is rather a sprawling development.
In 2014, landscape architect and artist Mary Faught came up with a novel concept: approach six artists and ask them to create site-specific works on a plot of land at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa that is the future site of Canadensis: The Garden Of Canada. Each artist responded with installations that honoured, queried, and ‘dug into’ the land. Beyond the Edge: Artists’ Gardens was presented from June to September that year, attracting throngs of curious visitors.
For 2016, Canadensis Botanical Garden Society, in partnership with the Canada Council Art Bank, is stretching the boundaries of the exhibition even further. Three outstanding exterior sculptures from the Art Bank collection have been installed on the site; three artists have created installations entirely out of plant materials in response to those works. As the season passes, the installations will evolve to reinforce the notion that nature as medium allows for unbridled creativity.
Patrick Thibert's 'Queensway' (1982) and Marc Walter's responding garden installation 'Affût R.R.'
Peter Kolisnyk's 'Ground Outline' (1978) and Engelina Schmitz' responding garden installation 'Bee Haven'
Brian Newman's 'Achilles' (1972) and Jean Bridge's responding garden installation 'Canupy: Achilles Shadow'
Beyond the Edge: Artists' Gardens opens Thursday, June 16 at 5:30pm. All are welcome to attend. To find out more about this exhibition and related events visit: Beyond the Edge: Artists’ GardensPhotos courtesy of Canadensis Botanical Garden Society
About the Author: Melanie Scott
Melanie Scott has worked for numerous arts and non-profit organizations, government, and crown corporations as a consultant, collections manager, and editor. She was editor of Where Ottawa, and a contributing editor to Ottawa Magazine. Her writing on art has appeared in newspapers and magazines across Canada and the U.S., and she has contributed to catalogues and other publications for a variety of institutions. She is currently editor of The Low Down to Hull and Back News, a local weekly newspaper, and continues to freelance in journalism, communications, and the visual arts fields.