Processes of Remediation at Campbell River Art Gallery
The third presentation of Processes of Remediation: art, relationships, nature at Campbell River Art Gallery, March 23 - July 13, 2024, curated by Jenelle Pasiechnik. Processes of Remediation is a multi-site, ongoing project by artist Alana Bartol that engages the past, present, and possible future of coal mining in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, and for this iteration, North Vancouver Island. Two new works, the video Toil and Trouble (2024) and a participatory work canary awaiting resuscitation seed mix respond to the history of mining and present-day concerns about the Quinsam coal mine located near Campbell River, BC, on the unceded territory of the Ligwiłda'xw people, the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations. In addition, four window galleries and the installation Rotten Pot in the lobby integrate locally removed invasive species and objects once worn by mining mules from the Cumberland Museum & Archives. The site-responsive artworks include drawing, video, sculpture, participatory art, and installation.
With this iteration, Bartol has expanded the project to examine mining practices and the environmental consequences of mining operations near Campbell River, BC - specifically focussing on the site of the Quinsam Coal Mine. Processes of Remediation: art, relationships, nature examines the impacts of coal mining on wildlife, watersheds, ecosystems, and plants. While many of the artworks centre around the Crowsnest Pass in Southern Alberta, they take on new meaning and relevance in relation to mining practices in the Strathcona Regional District. This multi-part project was extended to Vancouver Island in the summer of 2023 with a research and land-based residency. Traditional Knowledge Keepers Cory Cliffe (Wei Wai Kum First Nation) and Vanessa Sharkey (Swampy Cree First Nation) have generously shared teachings about Indigenous plants and their properties. That consultation work will continue during the exhibition and inform its programming.
-Jenelle Pasiechnik
All photos by Bluetree Photography, courtesy of Campbell River Art Gallery.
