Artist Residency at Raven’s Reuseful: Janet Patterson
Janet Patterson
is a multi-media Whitehorse artist, curator and visual storyteller who creates sculptural pieces using recycled/reclaimed, natural, and found objects. Much of her work focusses on environmental issues such as over-consumption, loss of habitat, and climate change. She is preparing for an artist residency next summer on board a tall ship in the Svalbard Archipelago, off the north coast of Norway. She will be doing research for a body of work that examines the Sixth Great Extinction, which most scientists believe we are in right now; the only one in the history of our planet brought on by humans.
At her residency with Raven Recycling, Janet will invite people to join her in repairing a badly damaged quilt that was made by her grandmother. The repairs will be done using textiles and buttons retrieved from our red bins. The project is a metaphor for the thoughtful, careful work that is needed to repair our planet right now. Janet hopes this project will build community and provide a space for people of all backgrounds to have deeper conversations and share world views about the state of our planet and what we can do to bring about positive change.
This is Janet’s second residency with us. Last summer she spent two weeks in our depot creating an installation that focused on fast fashion and the impact it is having on the environment.
Join Janet
You can come help mend Janet’s quilt (no sewing experience necessary; Janet will teach you basic sewing/mending skills) during the following days and times:
June 7-17:
Wed. 1 – 5 p.m
Thursday 1 – 5 p.m.
Friday 1 – 5 p.m.
Saturday 1 – 5 p.m.
On Wednesday June 7th at 1pm KDFN Elder Joan Viksten will be coming in to bless the quilt. All are welcome!
Janet will give an artist talk on Thursday, June 8 at 7pm
To see more of Janet’s work, visit:
This program was made possible with the support of the City of Whitehorse’s Environmental Grant.