e203 leslie reid - climate as art

conscient podcast

• All artists have to be aware of climate because otherwise it's not art (and that's going to piss some people off - Claude Schryer). I think it will. Climate infuses all our responses to everything, to relationships, to our culture, to our history. You can't ignore the climate that it's happening in, and that's why it has to be somehow in the art that you are involved with.

Leslie Reid, an Ottawa based artist and educator, has been influenced by her family’s military background transitioning from political science to art. Her work explores sensory and emotional responses to environments, shaped significantly by a pivotal experience at a decommissioned lighthouse in Newfoundland. It’s a really good story.

This led her to themes of isolation and family tragedy, often incorporating historical and contemporary imagery to document changes in the northern environment.

During our conversation I read to her an excerpt from her artist statement that helped me understand her art practice:

• The works, in painting and also print, photography and video, explore the physical and perceptual sensations of our experience of a site and the signs of lives lived there, working with liminal states of light and space. Through the ambiguities and uncertainties experienced in this visual field, I seek a thought-provoking and resonant emotional response to the act of seeing, and ultimately to being.

We also discussed navigating cultural sensitivities. Leslie shared her reservations about working in the North and the importance of respecting Indigenous narratives. She also recounted her interactions with Inuit voices and the challenge of presenting their stories authentically without appropriation.

Leslie also had some advice for aspiring artists - given that she is a long time teacher of art at the University of Ottawa - to focus on their personal responses to culture rather than conforming to trends, highlighting the importance of internal reflection and the role of climate in shaping their artistic journey.

Overall, Reid stresses the importance of sensory experiences in motivating climate action and values feedback on her work. For example :

• Because it's my senses that have taken me to the work, to the place, to those ghosts, and not wanting to commune with them, not wanting to bring them to the present, necessarily, just to let that lived presence be where it is. It is in our own sensations and until we have sensations within ourselves about climate and what it means, we can't do anything about it. We have to have something that triggers an internal desire to do better, to rescue, even on a very small scale…

After we concluded our conversation Leslie mentioned ‘that all artists must acknowledge climate change in their work’ which I recorded as a coda and have used as the opening quote of this episode. I agree and hope it creates a debate about how climate context shapes all of our responses and relationships - climate in the largest sense of climate - therefore making it an essential element of meaningful art.

Leslie’s recommended readings include:

• US Arctic Research Commission Daily Newsletter (free subscription)
• The Independent Barents Observer (free subscription)
• Our Ice is Vanishing (Sikuvut Nunguliqtuq) by Shelley Wright
• Burning Ice by Cape Farewell - Art and Climate Change
• The Right to be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier
• The Future of Ice by Gretel Ehrlich

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Sections of the episode (generated by AI and reviewed by Claude Schryer)

Introduction

In this opening chapter, Claude welcomes Leslie Reid to the podcast, setting the stage for an engaging conversation about her artistic journey and connection to the Ottawa community.

Leslie’s Artistic Journey
Leslie shares her background, detailing her transition from political science to art, and how her experiences in England shaped her artistic vision and connection to the landscapes that inspire her work.

The Influence of Landscape

On her return to Canada she rediscovered Calumet Island, home of her maternal grandmother and site of years of summer long family camping on the shores of the Ottawa RIver while her father flew with photo squadrons in the North. This rediscovery led to her first large light and space works. Exploring the emotional depth of her art, Leslie discusses how these personal memories and landscapes intertwine, leading her to create works filled with historical and emotional resonance.

Environmental Themes in Art
Leslie reflects on the gradual infusion of environmental concerns into her artwork, driven by personal experiences and a growing awareness of climate change and its implications.

Reconnecting with the North
Leslie recounts her journey to retrace her father’s flights in the Arctic, using art to document the environmental changes she observed and the stories tied to those landscapes.

Art as a Medium for Awareness
In this chapter, Leslie discusses the role of art in raising awareness about climate change, emphasizing its contemplative nature and ability to evoke emotional responses rather than immediate action.

Experiences with Indigenous Communities
Leslie shares her transformative experiences with Indigenous communities in the Arctic, highlighting the importance of storytelling and connection to the land in understanding climate issues.

Voices of the Arctic
In this reflective chapter, Leslie discusses her efforts to capture contemporary Inuit voices and experiences, emphasizing their resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change.

The Challenge of Hope
Leslie discusses the daunting reality of climate change and the limitations of art in conveying urgency. She reflects on the difficulty of adapting to a growing global population and the underlying desires that drive consumption and environmental impact.

Cultural Resilience in the Face of Change
Exploring the adaptability of Indigenous communities, Leslie shares insights on how the Inuit culture responds to climate challenges. She emphasizes the importance of their lived experiences and the stories that need to be shared to highlight their resilience.

Art as a Medium of Connection
Leslie articulates how art serves as a bridge to connect with the past and the ethereal, allowing individuals to engage with climate issues on a sensory level. She believes that genuine artistic expression can evoke internal desires to act on climate change.

The Importance of Northern Perspectives
The conversation shifts to the significance of understanding the Arctic and its cultures, as Leslie reflects on her experiences in the North. She advocates for greater awareness and dialogue about the impact of climate change on these communities and their ways of life.

Navigating Cultural Sensitivity
Leslie shares her reservations about working in the North and the importance of respecting Indigenous narratives. She recounts her interactions with Inuit voices and the need to present their stories authentically without appropriation.

Advice for Aspiring Artists
Offering wisdom from her years of teaching, Leslie encourages young artists to focus on their personal responses to culture rather than conforming to trends. She highlights the importance of internal reflection and the role of climate in shaping their artistic journey.

Finding Community in Art
Leslie discusses the challenges young artists face in feeling isolated and the necessity of finding community. She emphasizes the importance of connection and collaboration in fostering creativity and addressing pressing issues like climate change.

Engaging with Current Literature
Leslie shares her reading habits, focusing on Arctic research and political commentary, and highlights the relevance of historical literature in understanding contemporary issues. She reflects on how these readings inform her artistic perspective and awareness of climate.

The Role of Artists in Climate Awareness

In a poignant closing reflection, Leslie asserts that all artists must acknowledge climate change in their work. She argues that the climate context shapes our responses and relationships, making it an essential element of meaningful art.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It’s my way to give back and be present.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays about collapse acceptance, adaptation, response and art’. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.

Also, please note that a complete transcript of conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 4 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.

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I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible.

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 20, 2024