Angela Hansen: Consume by Vernon Public Art Gallery

Vernon Public Art Gallery, January 12 - March 8, 2023

ANGELA HANSEN CONSUME

ANGELA HANSEN

Artist Statement

Every living thing consumes something - humans are particularly good at it. This consumption has caught up with us, resulting in long-term catastrophic impacts upon our planet. Global warming effects combined with geo-political conflict are putting crops at risk, and with the ever increasing human population, there is a great need to protect and preserve the biodiversity of food crops.

This installation, created entirely from hand-made encaustic medium, paper, and wood, speaks to the need for founding the international Crop Trust to support and “safeguard collections of unique and valuable crop diversity in gene banks around the world”; specifically, the Svalbard Seed Vault located in Norway. Due to climate change caused by human activity, we now need to set up safeguards to ensure food sources for future generations. The loss of a crop variety is as irreversible as the extinction of a dinosaur, animal, or any other life form. The Svalbard seed vault is especially important, and interesting, because of its location north of the Arctic Circle.

Each component of the installation reflects the immensity of the seed varieties that exist within the Svalbard vault and endeavours to educate the viewer about its existence. Online, you can find an up-to-date account of the numbers of depositors, genus, species, and seed samples; at the time of this writing, there are 93 depositors, 1138 genus, 5968 species, and 1,195,244 seed samples. Each of these numbers is represented visually by part of the installation: the wall pods are depositors, individual seeds on strands are genus, the seeds contained within the offering vessels are species, and finally, the grains of rice are the seed samples.

The wall-hanging seed pods were created by dipping hand-made tissue paper in encaustic medium and forming them into their shapes then applying further layers of medium and texturizing. Each of the 1138 “seeds” attached to string and hung from a branch were individually created in a 5-step process. The “offering vessels” are made of encaustic and paper and are each inspired by natural forms - they are placed on tripods made of hazelnut wood and act as a sacred container for seeds as a thank-offering to nature. And finally, the large encaustic vessel holding over a million grains of rice are a reminder of how lucky we are to live on a world of such abundance. The labor-intensive repetitive process in creating these works acted as a form of contemplative meditation for the artist resulting in an immersive installation; it is hoped that this will translate into a sense of wonder by the viewer, that they in turn, will consider the inspiration for these works and appreciate the magnitude of how our planet is changing.

This installation also addresses, at minimum, 5 of the 17 UN sustainable development goals, which are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.

“We can continue pushing our earth out of balance, with greenhouse gases accelerating each year, or we can regain balance by acknowledging that if we harm one species, one forest, one lake, this ripples through the entire complex web. Mistreatment of one species is mistreatment of all. Making this transformation requires that humans reconnect with nature - the forests, the prairie, the oceans - instead of treating everything and everyone as objects for exploitation.”

From Finding The Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard

Artist holdingThorn Vessel, 2022, encaustic and paper, 20” x 19” x 8”. Various wall pods, Spiral Vessel, and Lotus Vessel on hazelnnut tripods in background and wall pods under construction in foreground. Image: Deeper Image Photography

Lotus Vessel, 2022, encaustic and paper, 14” diameter x 4” high

Walnut Vessel, 2022, encaustic and paper, 17” x 15 x 5”

Scalloped Vessel, 2022, encoustic and paper, 18” x 13” x 7”

Wall pod sculpture being fused with a butane torch. Image: Deeper Image Photography

Seed Strand (production view), 2022, encaustic, paper, string and seeds

Artist forming wall pod out of encaustic-dipped paper. Image: Deeper Image Photography

Artist dipping wall pod in encaustic medium. Image: Deeper Image Photography

Pods (in progress; studio installation), 2022, encaustic and paper, various sizes

Pods and Vessels (studio installation)

Lotus Vessel with black beans, 2022, encaustic and paper, 14” diameter x 4” high. Beeswax and Damar resin in the foreground. Image: Deeper Image Photography

ANGELA HANSEN CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

University of Victoria, Bachelor of Education, 2001

Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Bachelor of Design, 2000

Emily Carr College of Art & Design, Diploma of Graphic Design, 1992

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2023 Art @ KCT - the Cube, (title TBD), Kelowna Community Theatre, BC.

2022 Reflections: Responding to the Collection - Members’ Exhibition, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2022 With Wax: Materiality & Mixed Media in Encaustic & Cold Wax, (fall), Philadelphia, PA.

2021 BRINK, Solo Installation, Kelowna Art Gallery, BC.

2021 Encaustic Arts Magazine Museum, group exhibition, Santa Fe, NM.

2021 Layers of Meaning, online Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, ON.

2021 (re)Building, Atlantic Gallery, New York, NY.

2021 Waxing Poetic, The Art Gallery, Osoyoos, BC.

2021 Wax Applications: Showcasing the Depth and Breadth of Encaustic and Cold Wax, Texas A&M University Gallery, TX, USA.

2021 BREATH, Solo Exhibition, Alternator Centre For Contemporary Art, Kelowna BC.

2021 Made By Hand, Juried members’ show, Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2020 Exploring Fusions in Wax, group exhibition, Summerland, BC.

2020 Art Chair Project, Lake Country Community Art Project, BC.

2019 Stories, group exhibition, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2019 The Keepers, solo exhibition, Armstrong Spallumcheen Gallery, Armstrong, BC.

2019 The Transformation of Gaia, installation for ArtWalk, Lake Country, BC.

2019 Morphology of Memory, solo exhibition, Gallery Vertigo, Vernon, BC.

2019 Survey of Encaustic Art, Juried IEA Group Show, Chaffey Community Museum of Art, California

2018 Bring Out Your Best - Members’ Exhibition, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2018 Waxing Poetic: Encaustic Art in the Okanagan, Penticton, BC.

2018 Morphogenesis - solo exhibition, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna BC.

2018 Waxing Poetic: Encaustic Art in the Okanagan, Penticton, BC.

2018 Brilliant Moments, group exhibition, Penticton, BC.

2018 A Restless Earth, Juried member’s show, Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2017 Public Art Mural - “The Memory Keeper”, at the Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2017 Are We There Yet? Canadian Roadside Attractions, Juried Group Show, Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2017 Bringing the Darkness Into the Light, Group Show, RCA Kelowna, BC.

2017 Breastfeeding Art Expo, Group Show, Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2017 In Flawed Abundance, Juried IEA Group Show, Newton, Massachusetts, USA

2016 Waxing Poetic: Encaustic Art in the Okanagan, Penticton, BC.

2016 Art Off The Rails, Juried Group Show, Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2015 Light: Illuminating Art, Group Show. Lake Country Art Gallery, BC.

2014 Night of 1000 Lights (installation), the Artisan House, Kelowna, BC.

2013 Waxing Poetic, Shatford Centre, Penticton, BC.

2013 60 Artists 60 Spaces, Missionwood Retirement Resort, Kelowna, BC.

2012 Bloom, Creation Gallery (solo exhibition), Lake Country, BC.

2012 SD23 Art Teachers Exhibition, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2012 Okanagan Erotic Art Show, ExNihilo Winery, Lake Country. BC.

2009 Okanagan Erotic Art Show, A Woodside Design Gallery, Kelowna, BC.

2008 Spirit of Kelowna, Public Art Medallion Project, Kelowna City Hall, Kelowna, BC.

2008 Okanagan Erotic Art Show, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, BC.

COLLECTIONS

Encaustic Art Institute, Permanent Collection, Santa Fe New Mexico.

Lake Country Community Art, ArtChair Project District of Lake Country, BC.

District of Lake Country - Street Banner Art, City City of Kelowna Works held in private collections in Canada and the United States.

PUBLICATIONS & RADIO

Winter 2021 - Encaustic Arts Magazine, “Full Immersion”

Fall 2020 - Wax Fusion, article “Spiritual Alchemy”, a digital publication of IEA org.

September 2019 - CBC North By Northwest by Sheryl MacKay, personal interview Summer

2019 - Peripheral ARTeries Biennial Edition.

November 2017 House & Garden, “The Art Edit” October 2017 House & Garden, “The Art Edit”

September 2017 House & Garden, “The Art Edit” “Oral Histories of Lake Country’s Artists”, catalogue of interviews, DVD, Lake Country Museum and Archives, 2014. 60 Artists in 60 Spaces”, 60 Artists in 60 Spaces exhibition catalogue, Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, 2013

2012 Okanagan Erotic Art Show Catalogue”, Rumour has it… exhibition catalogue, Julia Trops, 2012. “Okanagan Erotic Art Show 2009”, Raw…Whispers exhibition catalogue, Julia Trops 2009. “Spirit of Kelowna, A celebration of Art & Community”, Spirit of Kelowna public installation catalogue, Okanagan Institute, 2008.

TEACHING, WORKSHOPS & DEMONSTRATIONS

2021-2022 Painting With Fire - Essence of Mulranny, encaustic masterclass.

2019/20 Encaustic and ceramic workshops (multiple sessions)

2018 Encaustic Demonstration: Opus Art & Framing, Kelowna, BC.

2017 Introduction to Encaustics Workshops 2016 – Encaustic Demonstration: Opus Art & Framing, Kelowna, BC.

2016 Encaustic Workshop for SD23 Professional Development Day

2015 Advanced 2-day Encaustic workshop with CanWax West, Penticton, BC.

2015 Encaustic Demonstration: Riot on the Roof, Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, BC.

This publication was produced in conjunction with the exhibition:

Angela Hansen: Consume

Vernon Public Art Gallery, January 12 - March 8, 2023

Production: Vernon Public Art Gallery

Front cover image: Walnut Vessel, 2022, encaustic and paper, 17” x 15” x 5”

Photography: Angela Hansen and Jacquie Tremblay: Deeper Image Photography Printing: Get Smarter Copies, Vernon BC, Canada

ISBN: 978-1-927407-73-8

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the Vernon Public Art Gallery. Requests for permission to use these images should be addressed in writing to the Vernon Public Art Gallery, 3228 31st Avenue, Vernon BC, V1T 2H3, Canada.

Telephone: 250.545.3173 - website: www.vernonpublicartgallery.com

The Vernon Public Art Gallery is a registered not-for-profit society. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee/RDNO, the Province of BC’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, British Columbia Arts Council, the Government of Canada, corporate donors, sponsors, general donations and memberships. Charitable Organization # 108113358RR

Vernon Public Art Gallery 3228 - 31st Avenue, Vernon BC, V1T 2H3 250.545.3173 vernonpublicartgallery.com