Nudity is Only Skin-Deep

In July, MT Space paired me up with multidisciplinary artist Salomé Perez. Together, we collaborated and exchanged skills/knowledge. Both of us are eclectic artists with a keen interest in the natural world, so it was a perfect match.

Over the summer, we met several times in person, in our respective gardens, and also walked through the Laurel Creek Conservation Area. I shared my herbalism knowledge as we walked, and we discussed different uses for various plants. We collected grasses, flowers, and pollen for pigmentation and cordage. Salomé is an accomplished crochet artist and embroiderer, and she crocheted and embroidered with natural fibres.

She showed me how to crochet, and I showed her how to do relief printing. Although I didn't end up using crochet in any of my work (so far), Salome used some birch bark for relief printing.

My own relief printing is based on linocuts. I cleaned up some designs I made last year and produced these:









Salome did many sketches of the plants we saw on our walks. I went on a camping trip to Algonquin Park and did some drawing from life.



I also experimented with mixed media and natural materials. I incorporated wasp paper, wasp nest cells, leather, seal skin, butterfly wings, birch bark, and rose petals in my work. I gathered about 12 cups of rose petals from a grocery store parking lot. I made rose water with some, and macerated/simmered the rest to create rose beads. I ended up being most interested with the liquid produced in the latter process, and I used it as ink for this drawing:



In August, I was in preparation for the Indigenous Art Market Kitchener, and I continued to incorporate natural elements for that. I designed a line of earrings made from leather, sealskin, and birch bark.















I also embroidered some miniature pendants.






I continued playing with textures and contrast.

Birch Rose 1


Birch Rose 2


Sting of Pearls 1


Sting of Pearls 2


I continue to play around with another composition. This remains a work in progress.





I have enjoyed working with Salomé, and I anticipate we will continue our collaboration. I have very much enjoyed learning and creating with her, and want to thank both her and the fine folks at MT Space for putting this all together.