Foraging
Art with Nature
So many layers of our local past are relevant in creating community, creating art, and navigating a sustainable and collaborative future. Foraging and its connection with our local history was the initial inspiration for the art with nature project.
The 150th anniversary of the wreck of the SS Atlantic passenger steamship presented the opportunity to use history as a starting point: What do we do with this tragic and heroic past, when our community came together for a massive rescue and residents opened their hearts and their homes to over 400 rescued guests? How can we learn from their generosity and their knowledge of local resources, as they shared their last remaining provisions and cared for the unexpected newcomers?
And how can we respect and integrate the knowledge and experiences of the Mi’kmaq who first populated this area, and the Treaties of Peace and Friendship they signed with the Wolastoqiyik and the British Crown in 1725 almost 150 years before the SS Atlantic wrecked?
During our explorations, we shared knowledge about different seaweeds, coastal vegetables, seafood, and ecological foraging. We photographed what we saw, in and out of the water, and collected items that would contribute to our art-making and to the wild foods meal created by Fred Dardenne and to the day’s art-making.
If you’re interested in future shorter foraging workshops with Fred Dardenne, please CONTACT US. Also please visit Fred Dardenne’s web page HERE
