Affecting Wild Territory
October 01, 2021
Description
The Fort Gallery is pleased to present Affecting Wild Territory, an exhibition by Port Coquitlam-based artist Sarah Ronald, considering the ways in which we perceive animals, and how our perceptions impact wildlife in the real world.
For a number of years, Ronald’s focus has been on the kinds of wild animals that we encounter in suburban settings, believing that our regard towards everyday wildlife echoes how we define ourselves within the world and how we relate to the unfamiliar. She has moved towards incorporating more ephemeral elements in her art practice, acknowledging that beyond black and white conservation matters and traditionally defined art forms, there exists an intuitive world more akin with how wild animals live.
Affecting Wild Territory tells the story of Ronald’s personal encounters with wild animals that have travelled through her own yard and space, both in person and through her nighttime backyard security cameras that feed livestreams into her living room. Concepts of animal totems/symbolism and animal dreams/messengers are explored during the in-between hours in which animals feel secure enough to travel as naturally as they can, ironically even as they are monitored. Many of the works are drawn by hand with raw materials, a direct link to primitive cave dwellers, calling back to the time when the separation of humans from animals had only just begun.
Affecting Wild Territory runs October 1-November 6 at the Fort Gallery. The exhibition will open with a reception at the gallery, Friday, October 1 at 7pm. An online Philosopher’s Café featuring the artist and zoologist Phil Henderson will be held Thursday, October 14, 7:30pm. A hand drawn outdoor animation projection will begin appearing at various locations around Fort Langley, beginning Saturday, Oct 2 outside the gallery at around 7:30pm. Follow @fortgallery and @SarahRonaldArtist on Instagram for announcements on the locations to follow. The projection, called “Encounter” will be on view at several different locations at dates and times during the length of the exhibition. All are welcome to attend these events.
Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, noon-5pm and Saturday, 10:30am-4:30pm
Fort Gallery, 9048 Glover Road, Fort Langley
604-888-7411
fortgallery.ca
@FortGallery
facebook.com/fortgallery