Winters can be long here on the homestead. But this past winter we had a project that helped take our minds off all of the snowstorms in February and the ice storm that top-chopped many trees in March.
Wiarton’s Deep Water Gallery called for submissions for their 2025 exhibit and the creative floodgates opened. I floated a concept which was accepted: what if there was a display that explored the different levels the lake waters occupied since the last glacier melted?
Now to bring it to life.
This project would not have come about without our community.
We are so thankful for Arbello Creative (Anthony Perusello & Rebecca Arboly) for their flexibility in working on this unprecedented project without much lead time. The plywood that their laser cut is the physical foundation that supports this conceptual piece.
We’re indebted to the “Deep Six:” especially Natalie and Kevin Kuipers geophysically and Katrina Keeshig & Ryan Lauzon “limnospiritually”. Thanks to Natasha Akiwenzie and Ray Auger for freely sharing their knowledge and insights. Thanks also to Jason & Cindy McNamara for makerspace and listening to our grousing about our project’s dousing.
Finally, a heartfelt miigwetch to Lenore Keeshig for her geomythological immersion in deep water and for the deep truths she has spoken.
Gallery Iteration
Read the accompanying deep dive for more background on the piece.
After the show closed at the gallery, visitors to the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre interacted with the piece until the end of June.
A New Life
With some clever adaptation, the art piece is now a table that will live for an extended time at Lost Art Espresso in Wiarton. Over a deep cup of quality coffee you can stare into the ancient watery depths until your eyes glaze over or until the caffeine wakes you up.
Speaking of ancient, the sculpture’s new blue sides originally were red oak timbers manufactured for pallet bases. They sat unclaimed outside exposed to elements and decaying fungi for years. Now they contain this conceptual work which cycles through the different depths the lake water occupied over many eras.
Transporting the table the 22km to Wiarton was a slow, careful affair. We’re glad the rain held off until later in the day. The table just fit through the entrance door like it was going into a nitrile glove!
We hope you have a chance to visit this new iteration of Deep Water, Deep Time and gain an appreciation for the changeable nature of water and nature!