Forest Underwater
Jan 19
Feb 16 2024
exhibition in-person
See Details
Free
177 Queen Street East, Toronto
Jan 19Fri 12:00pm 6:00pm
Jan 20Sat Closed
Jan 21Sun Closed
Jan 22Mon Closed
Jan 23Tue 12:00pm 6:00pm
Jan 24Wed 12:00pm 6:00pm
Jan 25Thu 12:00pm 6:00pm
Jan 26Fri 12:00pm 6:00pm
Jan 27Sat Closed
Jan 28Sun Closed

Half of Earth’s life-giving force called photosynthesis comes from land plants. The other half comes from the sea.

“Seaweed” is the common name for the numerous species of visible marine algae that grow in lakes, rivers and oceans comprising what has been called “the forest underwater”. These plants are the inspiration for artist Gitte Hansen’s exhibition of fabrics and textile collages.

Windfall leaves from the forest floor and local plants are collected, dried and then bundled in fabric in order to permanently imprint the colour and pattern onto the surface. Earth pigments are held in a suspension of soya milk which can be painted or printed onto a ground cloth to impart permanent colour providing a canvas to work into.

Gitte Hansen’s current practice involves working with natural dyes from local plants and naturally occurring minerals from the earth that have been used for thousands of years to produce colour. Stitching, printing, painting and hand sewing provide techniques for her to understand colour, texture and pattern resulting in new ideas for textiles in response to the local environment and natural world.

‘Forest Underwater’ includes both work in the retail space (viewable during venue hours) and a window installation (viewable 24/7 from outdoors).

Participants

Gitte Hansen

Acknowledgements

Leaves of Trees logo

Accessibility

Who should visitors contact with questions regarding accessibility?
Gitte Hansen
Can people get to the venue using accessible transit?
Yes