Octarine artists respond to climate change

ELORA — The Elora Centre for the Arts is presenting Everything Connected, an exhibit that addresses different aspects of climate change through a group of eight women known as the Octarine Women Artists’ Collective  (OWAC).

The exhibit will be on display at the centre from April 21 to May 15.

The centre will also be hosting an artist reception drop-in on April 24 from 1 to 3pm. Everyone is welcome.

The OWAC, founded in 2013, is a group of eight artists living in Centre Wellington, working in various media who exhibit together.  

The OWAC members include Judy French (oil),  (watercolour), Kim Johnston (watermedia and oils), Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden (weaving,textiles), Jean Loney (in memory, glass mosaic),  Gail Root (oils and chalk pastel), M. Anne Smith, (textile and fibre arts)  and Nancy Farrell (acrylics).

“Climate change is the existential crisis of our time,” the exhibit summary reads. “There is a growing realization that solving our environmental problems will require  massive changes to our economic and social systems.”

Members of the Octarine artists have addressed different aspects of climate change: carbon storage, forest fires, ocean health and sea level  rise, endangered animals, food security and farming practices, the summary says.

The eight artists work in many different styles and mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolour and pastel painting, weaving, textile and mosaic art.  

Each artist has contributed four or more pieces of art to the exhibition.

Some of the art shows the impact of climate change, some shows the beauty that society hopes to preserve.  

All of it aims to provoke thought and promote individual action. 

For more information visit eloracentreforthearts.ca.