Sensibilities of Place

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About

As summer winds down in the Wells, the landscape is showing the first signs of hibernation for the winter. In the Island Mountain Arts public gallery, however, Prince George-based artist Cat Sivertsen brings to life an exhibition that weaves together textile, poetry, and eco-printing to explore resilience and healing.

Sensibilities of Place features artwork developed during and inspired by Sivertsen’s encounter with pancreatic cancer. It invites the audience to take their worries for a walk, to let these concerns blend with nature. Sivertsen explains, “An elder once told me, 'When you have worries, tell them to the river, and she will carry them away.'

Many of Sivertsen’s worries can be found in the panels etched with poetry and a substantial roll of paper that was unfurled down the Pooley street hill, right in front of the IMA Gallery during the Toni Onley Artists’ Project back in 2019. Sivertsen’s poetry served as the genesis for this collection of work. “As you navigate through the installation, you come across these verses,” says Isaac Forsland, the gallery’s summer coordinator. “They offer a pathway to contemplate Cat’s state of mind throughout her battle with cancer.”

Sivertsen’s “pancreatic poems” are complemented by a series of delicate textiles and paper eco-prints. Utilizing 'noxious weeds’ from Clearwater River, she channels the healing essence of nature. The term 'noxious weed' refers to any plant officially labeled by a regulatory entity as causing harm to public health, agriculture, recreational spaces, wildlife, or property.

Hanging from the gallery ceiling are over a dozen fabric eco-prints, each derived from natural plant sources like tansy, chamomile, daisy, goldenrod, willow, and grasses. Among the botanical patterns, the delicate symmetry encounters pockets of rust. These elements have been added by Sivertsen during her week-long residency in Wells before the installation - a process that reflects her continual engagement with the pieces, as they breathe new life with each display.

Sensibilities of Place is open to the public between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, from September 1st to October 1st (Closed Monday - Wednesday and on Sept 30th in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation). IMA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Province of British Columbia, as well as the Wells-Barkerville Community Forest, for ensuring the accessibility of our gallery. The Gallery is free to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

IMA respectfully acknowledges that Sensibilities of Place will be presented on the ancestral territories of the Secwépemc and Dakelh Nations, honoring their historical and ongoing connection to the land.

Links

• IMA Website - Gallery Exhibition Page support-imarts.com

Organizer

Island Mountain Arts x Cat Sivertsen

Island Mountain Arts (IMA) is a not for profit charitable organization located in Wells, BC. A culture of gathering, sharing and idea exchange permeates the programming that IMA has cultivated through the forty-six years of its existence. IMA’s programs aim to improve the artistic and financial well-being of artists, to increase respect and appreciation for art and artists, and to integrate culture into all possible areas of society.

Here, and everywhere, we believe an art-full life is possible

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