Jasmine Alexander's latest art exhibition explores the tensions between ecological restoration and land development on Vancouver Island.
Created primarily with oil paints and some watercolour, In Sanctuary: Wild & Restored Spaces of Vancouver Island will be on display at the Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach until Sept. 9.
“The show is called 'Wild and Restored Spaces' because some of them are protected land and some are actually disputed space, so that was the inquiration or the starting point for me," said Alexander, who is based in Nanaimo. “I'm interested in places that have tension between human impact and natural growth."
When Alexander moved to the Island from the mainland in 2021, she was struck by its natural beauty and the land rehabilitation underway, as well as some disputed places.
She became aware of concerns that lands to the east and west of Cable Bay Trail, a popular area for hiking and enjoying nature, could be developed, including a golf resort.
“That was a natural space that really did strike me as a place that was worth preserving the way it is," said Alexander, who finds Cable Bay a great spot for inspiration.
One of her favourite pieces in the exhibition is called "Green Fee" and depicts Cable Bay.
"It’s a forest scape, it’s a little bit abstracted and I, of course, sort of tongue-in-cheek named it after a golf term," Alexander said. “I’ve never been able to quite replicate the feeling of it. It’s sort of dark. There’s a lot of play between light and shadow."
Another place she finds artistic inspiration is the abandoned sawmill site at Kus-kus-sum in the Comox Valley. The site is currently being rehabilitated through Project Watershed.
"You can see the tension between the natural growth — what happens when you just let nature do its thing," Alexander said. "But you can still see evidence of human impact and land extraction, so that was a piece that I also chose to put in the show."
Alexander is interested in both how people feel when they are surrounded by nature and also the ongoing conversations regarding land extraction and how nature, in turn, can consume human construction.
Those ideas and the theme of preservation were part of how she determined which pieces to include in her exhibition at TOSH.
"I think that art holds power and in the case of this show I really wanted to speak to something specific, so there certainly were pieces that didn’t quite make the cut," Alexander said. “I would hope that when people interact with the work they have some sort of feeling that feels organic to them, rather than me telling people what to think."
She has always had a love of art and has been painting since she was six years old. Alexander graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2015 and has been painting professionally since then.
Alexander has shown her work in Barcelona, where she served as an artist in residence. She also spent time as an artist in residence at Island Mountain Arts in Wells, B.C.
She emphasized an artist does not need a large space to create art.
"I have painted in the corner of a 600-square-foot apartment. I’ve painted at my kitchen table," Alexander said. "I would say just start. And then also put yourself in front of what inspires you, so for me that looks like spending a lot of time in the forest and on hikes."
TOSH, located at 122 Ferd Rd. in Qualicum Beach, is also showcasing Convergence by Bonnie Lefebre and Water/Colour: Collection as Inquiry by Judith Williams.
"I'm just so honoured and inspired by these two women and I hope my art practice can emanate them, even in a small way," Alexander said.
All three exhibitions will be in the arts centre until Sept. 9.
