Cultivating the Greenbelt
an ongoing dialogue with our protected land
'The Greenbelt's 1.8 million acres wraps around the Golden Horseshoe and is vital to the quality of life of Ontarians. It encompasses the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, Rouge Park, and permanently protects agricultural land, pristine environment, and hundreds of rural towns and villages. The Greenbelt was created by legislation in February of 2005. The purpose of the Greenbelt is to protect key environmentally sensitive land and farmland from urban development and sprawl.'
Friends of the Greenbelt
statement
In recent years my focus has been on agricultural issues and the plight of those Ontario farmers whose livelihood and lifestyle has been decimated by pressure from urban sprawl.
Since 2005, this ongoing project has involved interviewing farmers and their families living on the Niagara Escarpment. Paintings and constructions were made directly on Greenbelt-protected land. This process is integral and initiates an intimate dialogue with the earth’s growth, decay and renewal in order to better understand the farmer’s dependence on the land. The two and three dimensional works are then used as catalysts for in-studio exploration.
an ongoing dialogue with our protected land
'The Greenbelt's 1.8 million acres wraps around the Golden Horseshoe and is vital to the quality of life of Ontarians. It encompasses the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, Rouge Park, and permanently protects agricultural land, pristine environment, and hundreds of rural towns and villages. The Greenbelt was created by legislation in February of 2005. The purpose of the Greenbelt is to protect key environmentally sensitive land and farmland from urban development and sprawl.'
Friends of the Greenbelt
statement
In recent years my focus has been on agricultural issues and the plight of those Ontario farmers whose livelihood and lifestyle has been decimated by pressure from urban sprawl.
Since 2005, this ongoing project has involved interviewing farmers and their families living on the Niagara Escarpment. Paintings and constructions were made directly on Greenbelt-protected land. This process is integral and initiates an intimate dialogue with the earth’s growth, decay and renewal in order to better understand the farmer’s dependence on the land. The two and three dimensional works are then used as catalysts for in-studio exploration.
Protection
A connecting body of work, titled ‘Protection’ examines the migration of wildlife returning to Greenbelt-protected land. Since the Greenbelt policy was implemented I have noticed more open fields in rural Niagara that are now housing wildlife. They grow milkweed for monarch butterflies, sweet wildflowers for our bees, and provide food and camouflage for deer, coyotes and many bird species. Ontario's Greenbelt is home to 78 of over 200 provincially listed species at risk in the province, like the Bobolink, Redside Dace and Jefferson Salamander.
A connecting body of work, titled ‘Protection’ examines the migration of wildlife returning to Greenbelt-protected land. Since the Greenbelt policy was implemented I have noticed more open fields in rural Niagara that are now housing wildlife. They grow milkweed for monarch butterflies, sweet wildflowers for our bees, and provide food and camouflage for deer, coyotes and many bird species. Ontario's Greenbelt is home to 78 of over 200 provincially listed species at risk in the province, like the Bobolink, Redside Dace and Jefferson Salamander.
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Constructions for this
series are made with salvaged segments of abandoned structures from
greenbelt-protected land. Remnants found in fallow fields such as milkweed,
seeds, vine, carcass, nests, weeds and wildflowers are embedded into and woven
around imagery layered onto these encaustic-primed pieces. They are then encased
with multiple layers of beeswax in order to preserve and protect.
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beautiful vagabond encaustic on found panel 6x16in 2013
Seven years of research for this project involved daily hikes on rural land in all weather and seasons and spending time with farmers and growers. The
culmination is a body of work that reflects and distills a continuous cycle of
give and take between preservation and urbanization.
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'Forgotten'
wire and limbs from uprooted vineyards, Niagara Escarpment, Jan Yates , 201
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previous related exhibion
This Land is OUR Land: The Greenbelt Dichotomy
February 4 – March 25, 2012
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
Jan Yates, Michelle Teitsma, Gordon Leverton, Jefferson Campbell Cooper
Artists concerned, informed and moved by the Greenbelt Legislation in Southern Ontario
post exhibition artist note, 2013
* after investigating opinions for and against greenbelt policy in Southern Ontario, it is my personal viewpoint that the Greenbelt Legislation is vital in preserving our wildlife, green space and farmland.
wire and limbs from uprooted vineyards, Niagara Escarpment, Jan Yates , 201
________________________________________________________________________________________________
previous related exhibion
This Land is OUR Land: The Greenbelt Dichotomy
February 4 – March 25, 2012
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
Jan Yates, Michelle Teitsma, Gordon Leverton, Jefferson Campbell Cooper
Artists concerned, informed and moved by the Greenbelt Legislation in Southern Ontario
post exhibition artist note, 2013
* after investigating opinions for and against greenbelt policy in Southern Ontario, it is my personal viewpoint that the Greenbelt Legislation is vital in preserving our wildlife, green space and farmland.
Exhibition review by Rhona Wenger, Director, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, 2012
The Greenbelt Dichotomy has been attracting attention and stimulating discussion about how we use and preserve our rural lands since it opened in early February. Many visitors have applauded the artists’ initiative in tackling this complex subject; comments in the guest book include:
My heart is always with the land, and the farmers. There should be more dialogue on many issues.
Great show that inspires great questions and much needed discussion and awareness
The diversity of artistic voices mirrors the complexity of the issues. Each artist has deliberately chosen to focus on an aspect that has particular personal resonance and relevance to their practice.
The works, viewed together, recognize the many pressures that affect management of the lands within the Green Belt. A wide range of human needs and activities compete for space along with sensitive natural ecosystems. There is no clear right and wrong; many of us want to listen to indigenous songbirds while we eat fresh local produce grown close where we reside – and have easy access to transportation that will take us someplace else when we want to go. This exhibition does provide information and viewpoints that encourage all of us to see the area we live in with fresh – and possibly more sympathetic – eyes.
On Sunday March 18 at 2 p.m. all four artists and a variety of other interested individuals presented at our Kitchen Table Talk, an opportunity to encourage discussion and share ideas in a casual round table format.This was a joint Gallery Volunteer Committee presentation.
My heart is always with the land, and the farmers. There should be more dialogue on many issues.
Great show that inspires great questions and much needed discussion and awareness
The diversity of artistic voices mirrors the complexity of the issues. Each artist has deliberately chosen to focus on an aspect that has particular personal resonance and relevance to their practice.
The works, viewed together, recognize the many pressures that affect management of the lands within the Green Belt. A wide range of human needs and activities compete for space along with sensitive natural ecosystems. There is no clear right and wrong; many of us want to listen to indigenous songbirds while we eat fresh local produce grown close where we reside – and have easy access to transportation that will take us someplace else when we want to go. This exhibition does provide information and viewpoints that encourage all of us to see the area we live in with fresh – and possibly more sympathetic – eyes.
On Sunday March 18 at 2 p.m. all four artists and a variety of other interested individuals presented at our Kitchen Table Talk, an opportunity to encourage discussion and share ideas in a casual round table format.This was a joint Gallery Volunteer Committee presentation.
Jan Yates, the Greenbelt Dichotomy, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, mixed media, 2012
Jefferson Campbell Cooper, Tired Esker, Salvaged tires, local screening (gravel), acrylic. 33' by 28" by 14"
This Land is OUR Land: the Greenbelt Dichotomy
Jan Yates, Michelle Teitsma, Gordon Leverton, Jefferson Campbell Cooper
Artists concerned, informed and moved by the Greenbelt Legislation in Southern Ontario
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
February 4 – March 25, 2012
Opening Reception: Sunday February 5th from 2 - 4pm
Jan Yates, Michelle Teitsma, Gordon Leverton, Jefferson Campbell Cooper
Artists concerned, informed and moved by the Greenbelt Legislation in Southern Ontario
Grimsby Public Art Gallery
February 4 – March 25, 2012
Opening Reception: Sunday February 5th from 2 - 4pm
Jan Yates
Jan Yates, the more things change..
notes from the Grimsby Public Art Gallery
Thank you to the Ontario Arts Council for the generous support of this exhibition
