Carrie Allison: clearing

clearing brings together Displaced, Carrie Allison’s 2017 watercolour and ephemeral ink drawings, and her new series of beaded portraits of grass. Using landscape imagery, botanical studies and the symbolism of institutional collection and preservation, Allison contemplates what is lost and found through the consumption and commodification of land. In conjunction with the exhibition, Allison will host public events and workshops as part of her summer residency at MSVU Art Gallery.

Carrie Allison is an Indigenous mixed-ancestry visual artist born and raised on unceded and unsurrendered Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver), with roots in High Prairie, Alberta. Situated in K’jipuktuk (Halifax) since 2010, Allison’s practice responds to her maternal Cree and Métis ancestry, thinking through intergenerational cultural loss and acts of reclaiming, resilience, kinship and visiting. Allison received her Master and Bachelor in Fine Art and Bachelor in Art History from NSCAD University.

Catalogue

Workshop

June 29, July 20, July 27 at 1:00-4:00pm

Artist Carrie Allison will facilitate a series of workshops that experiment with the photosensitive drawing techniques used in her exhibition clearing. Each workshop will begin with a walk to a nearby site of clear cut woods, which will be the subject of the communal drawing component of the workshop.

The workshops are free but advanced registration is required. Registration, access information and more details can be found here.

Artist Residency

In conjunction with her exhibition clearing, artist Carrie Allison will be present in her studio at MSVU Art Gallery most Tuesdays in June and July from 11am – 3pm. During her residency Carrie will work on a new project she describes as “a body of work that examines the act and impact of clear-cutting trees, thinking and beading through this difficult theme with contemplation, meditation and duration.” Visitors are welcome to drop by the studio to chat with Carrie and are invited to (learn how to) bead with her, regardless of skill level. Supplies are provided and Carrie is happy to demonstrate beading techniques based on the subjects she is focusing on. Other activities may take place as well!