Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by YGK News Staff
The environmental organization No. 9 has launched an Eco-Art Exhibition at No. 9 Gardens in the Rideau Lakes
Roughly 50 km northeast of Kingston, the exhibition has commissioned 8 Canadian artists to create public art installations that speak to the natural surroundings in the outdoor space provided.
A release from No. 9 states that installations address themes of nature, place-making, and sustainability, with Executive Director and Queen’s grad Andrew Davies saying the installations help to bring awareness to pressing environmental issues and provide inspiration for change.
The gardens were launched in 2018 by No. 9, who are an arts organization that aim to use the arts to bring awareness to environmental concerns.
Davies says the gardens are Canada’s first sustainability and reconciliation centre, and acts as an educational facility bringing people to the land and showing both people and governing bodies that a sustainable lifestyle is within reach.
“I think it’s gotten a bad rap that it’s unattainable, that it’s difficult, it requires sacrifice and we’re saying the exact opposite,” Davies said.
“It can be really enjoyable, it can be empowering, it can create your own independence… There’s not a lot of places you can go to think about what it’s like to be sustainable so we’re kind of a showcase for that.”
This year No. 9 Gardens decided to put on this exhibition in an attempt to use artists to bring more attention to the facility and inspire people to think more about their relationship with nature.
The exhibition features 8 artists and is totally free to the public, although guided tours are also being offered at a cost of $20 or $10 for students.
Among those artists is Shayne Dark, a contemporary visual artist who calls Kingston home.
Dark’s piece “Into The Blue” is making its debut appearance outside of an urban setting, and he says he hopes the installations by himself and other artists inspire people to reflect on their relationship with nature.
“What you’re trying to do is have as many people as possible actually engage in whatever exhibition you’re putting on,” Dark said.
“Hopefully people will be drawn to this and reflect on nature and reflect on the ephemeral qualities of our planet.”
The exhibition has been ongoing since August 6 and runs to September 25 with guided tours running from 10 am to 12 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
The exhibition will also intersect with the inaugural Cloud 9 Eco-Art and Electronic Music Festival at the gardens on September 10th.
