Botanical Drift by Cynthia O'Brien →
“I believe when working with clay that there is a conversation between myself and the material that has lead to a lasting relationship.”
Close up of Cynthia O’Brien’s 2008 installation at the Ottawa City Hall Gallery. This installation explored the identification and acceptance of our fleeting existence. Learn more here.
Botanical Drift is an accumulated knowledge of what Cynthia O’Brien has experienced, all the plants within their natural environments either in Australia, Quebec or in her own backyard. The real plants were sketched in clay, perfected and then pushed further, to create her own real but not real plants, greatly influenced by the working of her own hands.
O’Brien sees these plants as a “moment in time” that is fully understood. Each plant perfectly clear in its purpose in nature and in the narration of a persons mind. A moment latter, everything changes, the sun moves behind a cloud or a persons awareness wonders. These plants are her way of looking at time, life and love.
Botanical Drift
Location: ARTiculations, 2928 Dundas Street, West, Toronto.
Date: September 18th - October 28th 2018
Reception: September 20th 2018, 7-9PM
O’Brien’s studies include a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, plus a year at the University of Colorado, USA. She lives and works in Ottawa and is an active member of the arts community through the Blink Collective, 260 Fingers, teaching in local community centres and at The Perley and Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre. O’Brien is recognized by her peers through the Explore and Create Program Grant (Canada Council for the Arts), Helen Copeland Memorial Award (Craft Ontario), Creation Grants (City of Ottawa) and a Mid-Career Artist Award (Ottawa Arts Council). She has participated in numerous artist residencies including Medalta, Alberta; Vallauris, France; TANKS Arts Centre, Australia; Watershed, USA; Ayatana Artists’ Research Program; CPAWS-OV Dumoine River Art Camp, Quebec and 2018 MASS MoCA. O’Brien’s work is in the collection of the Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan, the Canada Council Art Bank and the City of Ottawa.
