Collaborate, Cultivate, Create
(L–R) Julia Tribe, Tuija Hansen, Judi Vinni, and Julie Rosenthal
Making Art Together with Nature
By Amy Sellors
Willow Springs Creative Centre in Kaministiquia is a special place. Established as a not-for-profit in 2006, Willow Springs specializes in inclusive art, therapeutic gardening, and food programs. They partner with professional artists, horticultural therapists and gardeners, skilled cooks and bakers, and other talented facilitators to reach their goals.
“At Willow Springs we create art with nature and natural materials. Plus, we layer therapeutic gardening into our programming,” says Judi Vinni, coordinator and co-founder. “Throughout the pandemic it was evident how people returned to gardening and being in nature, and how healing nature was to them. That’s what we’ve always been doing. We are excited that more people are recognizing that.”
Coming out of the pandemic, the artists at Willow Springs realized how much they had missed community and collaboration. But this inability to connect with each other due to COVID also allowed them to focus more on the art of making. Before the pandemic, when an arts organization wanted to do a show, the project leaders would become consumed with the business around the art. COVID was a reminder of the value and necessity of taking the time to engage in the practice of making. With this new understanding, Willow Springs presents Donning Nature, a two-year project that will culminate in an interactive art exhibit and wearable eco fashion show in August 2024. “That’s our big finale,” says Vinni. “We always do short projects, and we never have time. We’re planning and presenting. Our art is pushed aside. We need to reconnect, not just facilitate for others. We want to develop our craft more.”
Donning Nature explores the symbiotic relationship we have with nature and our imaginative selves, and follows the four seasons. It began in September 2022, and through the past winter, the project team planned and shared ideas. Now, with the arrival of spring, they are sowing seeds—connecting with other artists, and gathering together to see what art will grow. To that end, they will host a Spring Makers Retreat on May 6 at the newly renovated Lappe Ski Centre, and they want to connect with you.
“We’re calling on people in the area who work with natural materials, especially local natural materials. We’ll share different techniques, and have hands-on collaborative workshops,” says Vinni. They are hoping to connect with local artisans who create with wool, metal, twigs, reeds, roots, bark, clay, leaves, hides, water, stones, cotton, linen and more. The focus is growth, so makers of all ages and levels of ability are welcome. The project team is led by Julia Tribe, an artist with over 30 years experience in costume and set design for theatre, along with extensive work in community arts. The three project artists are fibre artist Tuija Hansen, felting and textile artist Julie Rosenthal, and Vinni herself, who is a willow artisan.
At the Spring Makers Retreat, the artists will share strategies for ethical and sustainable foraging of natural materials, and help makers to engage in an exploratory process, revealing new ways to work with nature. “While spruce root, birchbark, and stone may be all around you, it may not be good for the environment to take what you see,” says Vinni. Participants can choose two of the six morning workshops. The afternoon will be filled with collaborative art making and sharing of techniques. The fall will bring more workshops, and nature will supply new materials. Participants can choose to be part of the final interactive event in whatever way works for them. They can bring work to exhibit, collaborate with others, and/or enjoy the show as an audience member. Willow Springs also plans to profile as many local makers as possible on their social media pages throughout the project.
“People want people to feel connected again,” says Vinni. “We are coming together, collaborating, and being in sync with nature. We’re facilitating the passing down of old skills, and we’re seeing what different people do with natural materials.”
“So many artists talk about how the landscape of the north is their inspiration. We want to facilitate that.”.
For more information, find Willow Springs Creative Centre on Facebook and Instagram, or visit willowspringscreativecentre.ca.