Processes of Remediation at Campbell River Art Gallery
The witch appears throughout the exhibition, drawing on my work with dowsing, aka water witching, and its historical connections to European mining and resource extraction. Martine de Bertereau, a 17th-century female mineralogist and mining engineer, was the muse for the witch in this work. She travelled Europe, often employing divining/dowsing instruments and botanical knowledge to locate mineral deposits. Accused of witchcraft, she died in prison in France. Her story is complex, reflecting both her participation in and victimization by the violent processes of resource extraction and the development of capitalism.
In this work, the witch symbolizes resistance and complicity, blurring the lines between empowerment and exploitation. The witch's magic is not a solitary act but a collaborative one rooted in knowledge of and relationships with the more-than-human world, including the intelligence of plants and work with the elements.
The exhibition questions traditional colonial narratives about mining and explores new possibilities for healing and balance. It recognizes that remediation is not just a technical process but one that incorporates historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions.