Featuring the work of Laura Butler
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 26, 2PM – 4PM
Artist Talk at 2:30PM
‘The afterlife of cut flowers’
EXHIBITION STATEMENT
‘Sincerely, Plants’ exhibits artwork by multimedia artist, Laura Butler, that explores increased mindfulness and observation of the plants that exist in human environments.
After recently moving to downtown Toronto, Laura seeks to notice more places and occasions where plants grow in human-dominated spaces. The body of work exhibited in ‘Sincerely, Plants’ demonstrates the curated and fashionable qualities of plants that exist in the city: potted plants adorn storefronts or porches, buckets of cut flowers are placed on sidewalks to get the attention of consumers, and gardens are transformed by seasonal flowers.
The intention of ‘Sincerely, Plants’ is to encourage viewers to engage with, take notice of, and develop a higher appreciation of plants in their own lives.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Humans need plants for survival, but our current relationship with them is unsustainable and dangerous. As we continue to depend on their seemingly endless abundance, it is clear we must reconsider the hierarchy established between ourselves and plants.
My research and artistic practice seek to decolonize my relationship with plants by becoming more knowledgeable and mindful of specific species, their properties, and observing where plants do or do not appear in my own life. I also engage with theorists and other artists or researchers that study the environmental impacts of overusing plants, ideas surrounding plant sentience, and Indigenous methodologies of thinking about plants and properly harvesting them.
Creating artwork allows me to tangibly record and navigate the process of developing a higher appreciation for plants. As a multi-media artist, I demonstrate my research and reflections through a variety of mediums and materials, including acrylic painting, sculpture, printmaking, and bookmaking, often collecting plant material to incorporate into my work. My practice ultimately seeks to respond to the question: Does a more mindful and ultimately non-human-centric relationship with plants improve our misuse and unsustainable dependence on them?
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Laura Butler is an interdisciplinary artist currently pursuing an Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design at OCAD University in Toronto. She graduated from Western University with an Undergraduate Degree in Visual Arts, Honours, and a certificate in Museum and Curatorial Studies. Her visual art and research practice studies human relationships with plants, with a particular focus on those within the cut flower and house plant industries. She has received various scholarships including Ontario Graduate Scholarship in 2021 and Canadian Graduate Scholarship in 2022 at OCAD University. She has internship and professional experience in curatorial practice and digital design, most recently working as the Digital Content Creator at Kawartha Lakes Food Source in Lindsay.
All are welcome to attend the opening reception of Sincerely, Plants by Laura Butler
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 26, 2PM – 4PM
Artist Talk at 2:30PM
Kawartha Art Gallery location: 190 Kent Street West, Second Floor, Lindsay ON K9V 2Y6
Tuesday to Saturday | 10AM to 4PM
