Recently, I had the privilege of completing an art project titled Recovery In Colour, an 80 x 80-inch freestanding panel painted within an interim housing lot in Jasper, Alberta. Conceived and led by UPLift! Jasper Mural Festival, this project was born from the desire to inject vibrancy into the lives of those navigating the challenges of temporary living, particularly in the wake of the devastating 2024 Jasper Wildfire.
At the heart of the piece lies an expressionistic rendering of a burnt forest in spray paint, a visual echo of nature's fragility and endurance. Superimposed over this raw, emotive backdrop is a mathematically precise, symmetric grid, a hallmark of my ongoing theme—Continuity and NOT. This grid represents both the fragility and resilience of nature, and the delicate balance between connection and separation - the line that binds and the break that defines.
What made this project even more special was the collaboration with 9 other artists, each bringing their unique perspectives and energies. Their contributions enriched the narrative, symbolizing not just individual recovery but a collective resurgence of hope and colour.
Through this artwork, we aimed to transform not just a space but also the sightlines and spirits of interim housing residents, reminding them—and ourselves—that amidst loss, beauty and continuity persist.
