regeneration.

IS THIS US

regeneration is a site specific collaboration with Pippa Dean-Veerman

Inspired by the fires which swept through the Valhalla Wilderness Park in 2024.  Having gone through a year of smoke and evacuation the year before in the Okanagan Alison and Pippa were asked to bring their place based art practice to Valhalla. We listened, merged with more than human, bore witness and responded creating an immersive installation of sound, fibre and lens based work.

Pippa created a series of multiple exposure images which adorned the perimeter of the exhibition, as well as eco prints and indigo banners which were inspired by felt experiences in the Vallhallas. Alison created a soundscape from recordings onsite and within the Slocan valley. Collectively Alison and Pippa created a poem Prayer to the Vallhalla as well as paper and fabric cyanotypes created with natural objects found onsite and an eco print from found objects during their first visit to the burn site. Charred objects and materials were brought to the installation.

As the soundscape played a giant beanbag was offered for visitors to immerse themselves in floating banners, found objects, images and poem.

Prayer to Valhalla

Pippa Dean-Veerman

Alison Beaumont

Sacred of places.

Sensing you as paddles dip,

Mesmerized by your dancing reflected form, hope,

Alive with movement, life, colours, at peace,

Sand between toes at shoreline, wounded,

Fear of overwhelm, recover, drenched by curiosity, acceptance,

You feel peaceful, fully with us, power from within, 

Is it invitation or curiosity that pulls first our gaze then feet.

Head as voyeur, charred, heart so open, delicate,

Spirit vulnerable.  

Our bodies merge softly into you, feeling in.

Entranced.