Wild Teachings: through watersheds and bloodstreams

The mouth of the Humber River is part of artist Kathleen Morris’ extended neighbourhood—terrain that has long fuelled her textile-based work. The watershed where the river meets the shore of Lake Ontario has been the site of settlement and human activity for upwards of 12,000 years. Some plant species have spanned that time, such as ostrich fern, foxtail, and pussy willow, while others, such as flax, teasel, and common reed have been introduced from elsewhere.  Morris is interested in notions of belonging to an ecosystem, including ways landscapes continue to be shaped by species old and new vying to coexist.

The artist’s affiliation to this landscape is marked by the slow acts of weaving and stitching, creating works that pay homage to the material’s source, and translate earthly impressions into the language of thread. As both objects of reverence and records of contemplation, these textiles record Morris’ relationship to the landscape that is her home, and allow her to imbue it with deeper understanding.

‘Through watersheds and bloodstreams’ comes from The Surre(gion)alist Manifesto by Max Cafard. Regional power does not “sit”; it flows everywhere. Through watersheds and bloodstreams. Through nervous systems and food chains. The Regions are everywhere & nowhere. We are all illegals.