The exhibition at LOFTT Gallery features unique, hand printed artworks inspired by her healing journey and the marvelous wonders of Nature.
Rose L. Williams is a Canadian visual Artist and Photographer of Trinbagonian heritage who lives and works in Vancouver, Canada. She explores, collects and photographs materials present in the natural and built environment. Gathered leaves, textiles and found elements are transformed into botanical prints, collages and mixed media paintings. She creates authentic organic dyes, which are then applied onto various textiles which tell the fascinating stories of places she has lived.
During a visit to her family’s land in St. Ann’s last week, Rose L. Williams told exhibition Curator Adeline Gregoire: “The discovery of a new natural dye brings joy to my eyes, hands, nose and spirit. Finding a potential dye source during a walk in the woods fuels my curiosity to rush home and process it to see what new and wondrous colour, chroma, value and chemistry will be revealed!”
Inspired throughout her life by the concepts of Magical Realism, Biophilia popularized by Dr. David Suzuki and environmental sustainability initiatives by Dr. Jane Goodall, Rose L. Williams explores the intricacies of the natural and supernatural worlds, as well as human-nature connections, across photography, painting, printmaking and textiles in her most recent work.
In this exhibition, the Artist will present a series of textile art pieces which she has created over the past 5 years, using a vast array of plants, leaves, flowers and other organic materials found in Canada and Trinidad & Tobago while also undergoing intense medical treatment.
Rose L. Williams has been an artist and true Nature lover since she was a child. Speaking about her show, she says:
“I am presenting these artworks to the community that inspired me to reflect my overwhelming love for flora and fauna. It is a small glimpse into my personal hybrid experience of being Canadian having Trini traditional herbal knowledge passed down to me, thanks to the women in my family. I am a survivor of Medical malpractice and I have become a herbal medicine practitioner in order to heal myself.”
“When I am overwhelmed or receiving medical treatment in Canada I find myself visualizing scenes from my experiences here in Trinidad like; swimming with stingrays, floating down the Yara river, watching hummingbirds at Yerette… An expression of the gratitude I feel for every person here in Trinidad who ever leaned towards me with concern, and said, “you not feeling well? Go have a sea bath, drink coconut water and you will feel better”. My recent work is a monument of love towards the people, place and culture that helped me bear my miracle child.
I am so grateful for my culture and heritage, I feel a sense of pride for the Indigenous bush medicine wisdom and knowledge that has been passed down to me.”
Rose earned her diploma in Painting and Printmaking at the University of the Fraser Valley and was a founding member of the Fraser Valley Graphic Guild. She is an alumna of the Langara College Expressive Arts Therapy program and Emily Carr University of Art & Design.
A career artist for the past 40 years, Williams’ work has been included in numerous collections & exhibitions including the 2010 Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad.
Rose L. Williams is one of the Awardees of the 2024 Explore & Create Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. In 2023, she participated in the Atlantic World Art Fair, represented by Calabar Art Gallery (New York). Notable exhibitions in Canada include: Longing & Belonging (Sidney & Gertrude Zack Gallery, BC, 2022), Displacement (Vancouver, 2019), I Shall Be Happy (Pendulum, BC 2015) and From Dreamscape to Landscape (Solo Exhibition, Armstrong Gallery, Vancouver, 2008).
Infinite Wanderings (22 April to 10 May, 2024) is her first solo exhibition in Trinidad & Tobago. The Exhibition is curated by Adeline Gregoire (Artist, Curator and Arts Writer) and made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Photography credits: Patrick Rasoanaivo
Exhibition Programme
Monday 22 April, 2024
Exhibition Opening Night, Celebrating Earth Day
6 – 10pm
LOFTT Gallery, Woodbrook
Saturday 27 April, 2024
Nature Walk
Early morning Nature Walk and Forest Bathing experience led by Jalaludin A. Khan, BSc. M. Sc., Naturalist, Environmental and Cultural Heritage Guide and Rose L. Williams, Artist (Canada – Trinidad & Tobago)
FREE / All ages, kid-friendly event, Limited participants.
Registration: lofftgallery@gmail.com
Saturday 04 May, 2024
Artist Talk
6PM – 7:30PM
Rose L. Williams (Artist), Eddie Bowen (Artist) and Adeline Gregoire (Exhibition Curator) in conversation. Moderated by Brian Ashing of LOFTT Gallery.
