Meet the Artist
Friday, October 17, 6 - 8 PM
"This collection has been a long time in the making and I am pleased to finally show the images that have been floating around in my mind (and studio) for several years now.
Spending time at Elk Island has given me much appreciation for the initial creation of such reserves and we are fortunate to have this one just down the road.
Many images include an element of water which is a major theme in Elk Island Park resulting from the glacial deposits that formed the distinctive landscape of the Beaver Hills area. The significance of maintaining the populations of two types of bison, elk and a myriad of other species is crucial but also allowing the natural processes of a keystone species, the beaver, to flourish is fascinating. Growing up on a farm, one quickly understands that beavers are indeed quite industrious and sometimes at odds with land management. In this park however, we can learn the importance of slowing down the movement of water thus creating more water-retaining ecosystems reducing the destructive potential of wildfires and creating habitats to maintain biodiversity. Trying to live with and understand natural processes is something I am very invested in.
We are currently feeling the effects of drought on our own land which has a mixture of parkland aspen with birch and even a black spruce bog –all of which are undoubtedly showing signs of stress. I would encourage us all to get to know our own yards/parks and take the time to meet our neighbors – the non-human varieties specifically. Slowing down and observing a spider or any of the fauna (big and small) around us and taking a moment to appreciate the trees that provide us with our (rather essential) biosphere.
I strive to gain more understanding of the natural world, the lessons it has to teach us and the wisdom it holds. The trees as elders – having witnessed much in their lives, the water as the source of all life, the rest of it- as fleeting as our own lives. By painting these scenes I am an observer but also a participant, continually learning more of the way of the land. As the migrating birds find respite on the waters in Elk Island, I too find respite here – from the birdcalls-to the majesty of a bison, just meters from my car- to the lap of the water against the side of my kayak. I encourage all to seek wisdom and guidance from the natural world just outside our doors."
-Linda Linemann 2025
