From the show at The Craig Gallery in Dartmouth, NS, May 2024 with Iris Naessens-Patterson and Marlene York - "Accelerated Erosion: exposing ancient clay"

The coastal erosion along the shore of Nova Scotia is accelerating due to the effects of climate change with increasing storms and rising sea levels. Seeing the exposure of the glacial clay while hiking along the weathered headlands and shores, gave us the idea to bring this clay into our studios to create artwork.

We both experimented with this clay for the pieces in the show. Iris created functional pottery pieces in which the clay is used as a slip, applied in layers which are each burnished in turn. Marlene created paintings made with clay and different mediums, on both raw and gessoed canvas, on watercolour paper, and on wooden panels.  Our collaborative hand-built pieces used the slip which has been carved with designs.  Both the carvings and paintings use the imagery from where that clay came from. By using this clay in our artwork we hope to bring attention to the concern of accelerated erosion caused by climate change, especially as it affects the coast where we both live.

information about the research and process for our show

a link to a video of Iris and myself hiking out to dig clay at Graham Head on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia
 drive.google.com/file/d/1m1t2MlkXjrlbbdZBzhdiUFCtw1bPgcrS/view?usp=sharing

my artwork and our collaborative pieces

Diligent River clay on watercolour paper

Graham Head clay on watercolour paper

Seaforth clay on watercolour paper

Graham Head clay on watercolour paper

Shubie Park Beach clay on wood panel

Great Codroy, NL clay on wood panel

Graham Head clay with egg on watercolour paper

Graham Head clay with egg on watercolour paper

carved Graham Head clay on stoneware panel

carved Graham Head clay on stoneware panel

carved Graham Head clay on stoneware vase

carved Graham Head clay on stoneware vase

Scott's Bay clay on raw canvas

Graham Head clay on raw canvas