Artist Statement

T hese mixed-media watercolour collages were made in response to a participatory museum workshop and collaborative art making event held at the Redpath Museum McGill University. These research-creation collages, part of larger series eight, draw on participant discourse relating critical concepts habitat loss, species containment finality extinction, inspired by Whooping crane (Grus americana) specimen housed museum. The artworks play visual language diorama reverse “window nature” concept inherent that tradition. In these highly endangered whooping cranes are depicted two distinct contexts; first, their natural prairie wetland as if undisturbed human influence, secondly, framed window museum, gazing longingly sky which it will never again fly free.