FLora
A Solo Exhibition
Artist
Wenda Salomons
Exhibition Dates
Feb 1 – Feb 28, 2025
Venue
Calgary Central Library
North End – Level 1 – Gallery Space
800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2E7
Artist Talk
Sunday, Feb.2, 1:00 pm at the Calgary Central Library
The Alberta Society of Artists is pleased to present the solo exhibition “flora” featuring the work of Alberta artist Wenda Salomons.
Artist’s Statement
“flora” is a collection of 18-24 digital pinhole photographs that explore and celebrate the abstraction, spirit, and movement of local plants and trees. In addition to the pinhole process, intentional camera movement is employed in the capture of these images. This pairing results in photographs that are gestural, dynamic, and mysterious.
Following a significant break in my artistic practice, I resumed making pinhole photographs in autumn 2022. Where previously I had been working with film and analog processes producing black and white images, I instead picked up my DSLR, fitted it with a pinhole lens, and began to explore the shapes, forms, and colours of local flora. I intentionally added movement to the images through holding and moving the camera during long exposures. My intent was to capture gestures of the plant forms and the play of light on them, in hopes of capturing something of their essence and something of the experience of observing and physically connecting with nature.
The resulting images are enigmatic, vibrant, and abstracted, while remaining somewhat referential to the original subject. My aim with these images are to invite wider perspectives and experiences into humanity’s engagement with natural forms and with nature itself.“
About the Land
“flora“ is on display at the Central Public Library in Mohkinstsis (Calgary).
The Alberta Society of Artists (ASA) acknowledges that what we call Alberta, where our organization has found its’ home, is the traditional and ancestral territory of many peoples, presently subject to Treaties 6, 7, and 8. Namely: the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Confederacy (Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika), the Nehiyawak (Cree), Dene Tha’ (Slavey), Dane-zaa (Beaver), Denesuliné (Chipewyan), Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Iyarhe Nakoda (Stoney) (Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley), and the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. This includes the Métis Settlements and the Six Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta within the historical Northwest Metis Homeland.
The Calgary Public Libary with gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, we acknowledge the ancestral home, culture, and oral teachings of the Treaty 7 signatories which includes; the Siksika (Six-ih-gah) Nation, Piikani (Be-gun-nee) Nation, Kainai (Gaa-nah) Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda (Ee-iith-kah Stow-nee Nah-koh-duh) Nation, consisting of the Chiniki (Chin-ih-key), Bearspaw (Bears-paw), and Good Stoney (Good Stow-nee) Bands, and the people of the Tsuut’ina (Sue-tin-ah), Nation. We also recognize the Métis (May-tea) people of Alberta Region 3, who call Treaty 7 their home. See and hear the Library’s Land Acknowledgement on their website.
Are you interested in learning more about the First Peoples of Alberta?
native-land.ca has an interactive map showcasing many of the Territories, Languages, and Treaties that impact Alberta, Canada and other parts of the world.
