A B.C. artist is concluding her year-long residency program at Richmond Nature Park with the reveal of a 52-foot-long mural created with the help of the community.
Artist Desirée Patterson collaborated with community members to create the public artwork reflecting Richmond's "enriching experiences, hard work, and meaningful connections."
The mural is built from more than 200 photographic expressions created by participants in her workshops.
Patterson described it as a piece centred on community involvement, showcasing Richmond Nature Park's geological history.
The mural's flowing lines, inspired by satellite images of the Fraser River, represent the river and delta. It also features ice crystal cyanotypes made during a spring residency in the Rocky Mountains, symbolizing the ice age and the migration of arctic plants that shaped the park's unique peat bog ecosystem, explained Patterson.
"I hope it inspires all who encounter it to appreciate both our shared history and the beauty of the natural world."
Patterson told the Richmond News that her residency program at the park is her largest community-engaged project to date.
"However, the time and effort invested yielded a ten-fold return, filling my heart with immense joy and gratitude for the wonderful people I met along the way," she said.
During her residency, Patterson held eight workshops for the community, including children's summer camps and outings for seniors.
She said her experience highlighted the importance of public engagement in her art journey.
"I find great fulfillment in reminding individuals of their inherent creativity — everyone is an artist at their core, and I love igniting that spark."
For Patterson, art is a universal language and a way of connecting with the world.
"I believe art is a universal language, and many years ago, I dedicated my practice to advocating for the environment and causes that resonate deeply with me," she said.
"It allows me to contribute to the discourse on the changes I wish to see in the world."
Patterson will also be participating in her 10th year at the East Side Cultural Crawl.
The event is an annual visual arts, design and craft festival taking part Nov. 14 to 17 in Vancouver.
Patterson said the event allows visitors to take a look into her studio where she will be debuting new work from a series she has been working on for the past two years.
"This body of work explores the intricate dynamics of geological transportations within glacial systems using the historical cyanotype process," she said.
The series, Patterson added, combines historical and modern technologies to highlight the importance of sustainability through technology.
She will be reconstructing photographed landscapes through digital collage and using multiple photographic techniques. Patterson also creates small sculptural maquettes (smaller models of a larger piece of sculpture) using laser-cutting.
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