The Tar Sands, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Rink 2013
Viewers to the exhibition were invited to check out hockey skates and experience a solitary skate on the black petrol rink.
Rink 2013 (installation shot, The Corcoran, Washington DC)
MDF, black paint, high density polyethylene polymer, wood, MDF, assorted hardware, and hockey skates.
16 x 27 x 5 ft.
Rink 2013 (installation shot, The Corcoran, Washington DC)
MDF, black paint, high density polyethylene polymer, wood, MDF, assorted hardware, and hockey skates.
16 x 27 x 5 ft.
Rink 2013 (installation shot, The Corcoran, Washington DC)
MDF, black paint, high density polyethylene polymer, wood, MDF, assorted hardware, and hockey skates.
16 x 27 x 5 ft.
Rink 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
Rink 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
Rink 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
Rink 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness
An Unkindess 2013 (installation shot- THe Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
Foam, feathers, tar paper, tar, wire, black enamel, shredded rubber tires, and powdered glass.,
Dimensions variable, approximately 15 x 30 x 10 ft.
Installation view, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo by Paul Bothwell.
An Unkindess 2013 (installation shot- THe Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
Foam, feathers, tar paper, tar, wire, black enamel, shredded rubber tires, and powdered glass.,
Dimensions variable, approximately 15 x 30 x 10 ft.
Installation view, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo by Paul Bothwell.
An Unkindess 2013 (installation shot- THe Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
Foam, feathers, tar paper, tar, wire, black enamel, shredded rubber tires, and powdered glass.,
Dimensions variable, approximately 15 x 30 x 10 ft.
Installation view, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo by Paul Bothwell.
An Unkindess 2013 (installation shot- THe Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
Foam, feathers, tar paper, tar, wire, black enamel, shredded rubber tires, and powdered glass.,
Dimensions variable, approximately 15 x 30 x 10 ft.
Installation view, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo by Paul Bothwell.
An Unkindess 2013 (installation shot- THe Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
Foam, feathers, tar paper, tar, wire, black enamel, shredded rubber tires, and powdered glass.,
Dimensions variable, approximately 15 x 30 x 10 ft.
Installation view, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Photo by Paul Bothwell.
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
An Unkindness 2015 (installation shot The esker Foundation, Calgary, AB)
Reclamation Site
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Reclamation Site 2012
Steel, styrofoam, black enamel, paper mache, black feathers
approx. 14’ x 8’ x 7
Research
THE TAR SANDS, FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA CANADA, 2011 & 2012
While living in Washington DC (2009-2014) Mia’s research and practice began to focus intently on petro-politics and her own intimate relationship with petroleum derivates that she employs in her studio to make her work (Styrofoam). The conversation surrounding the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and the future of energy policy was creating much controversy and protest in the US capital. As a Canadian citizen living in Washington DC, Mia began a deep investigation into understanding the environmental, socio-economical and philosophical implications of The Canadian Athabasca Tar Sands Industry- which would have been the source of the crude moving through the proposed controversial pipeline. After several unsuccessful attempts, in the winter of 2011 and 2012 Mia traveled to Fort McMurray, Alberta- ground zero of the largest contemporary economic and mining project in the world. Through relationship building, she was able to tour one of Canada’s largest oil company’s mining sites, reclamation sites, workers camps, nearby Aboriginal reservations as well as an arial tour with Fort McMurray Aviation.
Rink study 2013
Watercolor on paper
8 ½ “ x 11”
Rotunda Study 2013
Watercolor on paper
8 ½ “ x 11”