Rurality

Rurality (roo-ral-i-tee) There is no single definition for rurality however it emerges not only as an implied landscape but also as a geographical concept and social construct. It relies on cultural perceptions that focus on proximity and spatial distances in relation to other places.

The exhibition explores the theme of connectedness and how the Canadian landscape in its scale and vastness can simultaneously fragment and connect. While travelling I am always surprised by the distances between towns and cities and the number of houses and farms dotted along the highways before entering major urban centers. The desire to traverse these spaces both physically and psychologically to build a sense of belonging are the motivations behind the work.

The assemblages I create are of imagined landscapes that evolve from memories of shared places; of a house once lived in (Mid-Century Modern, 2025), childhood recollections of my grandparents farm (The Farm, 2025) or of constructed mind-maps that locate family, friends and children in different time zones and countries (Spaces Between, 2020). My method, a deliberate, systematic joining together of masonite pieces with glue, nails, wire and staples is meant to evoke a temporary yet precarious bond. The work addresses feelings of isolation and our common quest to find connections in a landscape that simultaneously unites and alienates us from each other.