Mémoire
The multidisciplinary installation has been inspired by a sick, dying Norway maple tree that had to come down in Andreas’ own backyard in Picton.
‘Mémoire’ is a collaborative project between wood artist Andreas Krätschmer, visual artist Tania Love and poet Paul Ruban.
The multidisciplinary installation has been inspired by a sick, dying Norway maple tree that had to come down in Andreas’ own backyard in Picton. Norway maples are non-native, invasive species, planted in urban backyards as ornamental shade trees, living a lonely life in an unnatural setting.
Through their different lenses the three artists explore the life of this tree in relation to its urban habitat.
Its wood has been used in turned and carved sculptures, the tannin of its leaves and bark were used to produce natural inks. Branches were turned into charcoal. Short abstract poems give glimpses into the life of the tree.
The creation of ‘Mémoire’ has been funded by the Canada Arts Council.
Artists
Andreas Krätschmer is a Picton based woodturner and sculptor. He explores themes of fragility, resilience, and the human relation with nature. His work has been exhibited in design festivals, art shows and galleries in Ontario and Québec. He has received grants from both the Canada Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.
Tania Love is a Toronto-based visual artist whose work evolves from a relationship with place, material and connection to nature. She works with natural materials, textiles and dyes. She is the recipient of numerous grants, residencies and international exhibitions.
Paul Ruban is a French-language author, poet, screenwriter and literary translator. His writing has appeared in such magazines as Les écrits, Mœbius, XYZ and Zinc. He was
awarded the 2020 Trillium Book Award for this debut short story collection, Crevaison en corbillard (Flammarion Québec), and was a finalist for the 2022 John Glassco Prize for Literary Translation. He splits his time between Canada and Germany.