During the entire time of “Life in the soil”, I kept thinking of the above little animation. Then, I attended Lisa Hirmer’s presentation. “The Law of conservation of mass states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be rearranged”. This principle informs her work Pile Dirt. […]
Despite the differences in their interest and area of competence, the three presentations by a soil scientists, Jeffrey Howard, a community gardener, Steven Green and a bioartist, Nicole Clouston, revolved around the idea that soil is essentially a live entity which grows, changes and interacts with the surrounding environment (this […]
A few days before the events, participants were asked to collect one handful of “dry soil in a plastic zip-lock bag.” The sample could be from your garden or backyard, but could also come from a contested site, such as a contaminated site, a remediated land, or a site of […]
Geologically speaking, the area around the great lakes has a very interesting story. In fact, the land shifted and folded quite frequently and glaciers advanced and retracted unevenly. The result is a very diverse soil whose content may range from sandy to rich in clay. The Windsor region, known as […]
Life in the Soil started with an evening keynote event following a welcome introduction by Theresa Sims (Upper Mohawk, Turtle Clan, elder for South West Detention Centre, elder for Two-Spirit community in Windsor region) who acknowledged our presence on stolen land and gave thanks for our ability to enjoy it […]
It’s been roughly one week since Life in the Soil has come to an end, leaving a long lasting impression and, as it is the case for such complex and multifarious events, an inexhaustible number of questions. As Amanda White and Alana Bartol, two artists collaborating at the intersection of […]
I am on a train to Windsor, heading to a three-day intense workshop titled Life in the Soil. This series of public events will feature a mix of scientists, farmers, activists and artists interested in invested in “the scientific, indigenous, embodied and practical knowledge about the vital nature of soils”. For […]
