An exhibition inspired by the North Saskatchewan River oil spill of 2016 has made its way to the ARC Creative Studios for an exhibition.
It is titled Maidstone Fossoils, a series of paintings by Métis artist Denis Briere, who is also an electrical engineer with years of experience in the petroleum industry. His artist’s reception was held in North Battleford Oct. 19 and the works will be on display at ARC Creative Studios to Oct. 31.
The paintings depict the impact of the oil spill on animal life in the river.
“I have an understanding of what a fossil is, and a fossil is the remains and impressions of a former living thing that is naturally preserved in rock,” said Briere. “And these animals. some of them had died and some of them were cleaned, and I am calling them ‘fossoils’ because they are the remains or impressions of former living things that are now filled with oil.”
Briere’s works are an oil-on-canvas presentation “made in the technique of swirl painting,” with oil paint on top of water. They depict a series of animals that had been tortured or died from the oil spill.
The animals depicted include a sturgeon, two fish, a Blue Heron, a mallard, a honker, a mouse, crayfish, rabbits, and others. All had either died or had their habitat impacted by the oil in the North Saskatchewan River.
Briere said the animals deliver a common message: “Speaking on behalf of our environment, please don’t do it again.”
The Calgary-based artist’s interest in the subject matter was sparked by direct experience: he was in North Battleford when the spill happened.
He had been in the city doing a show and was staying at the Tropical Inn.
“All of a sudden we got the notice from the general manager of the Tropical Inn to don’t drink the water. We will be providing water for washing and taking your showers,” Briere said.
It came out soon after that the spill had happened in Maidstone. That experience for Briere brought home the importance of water in everyday life.
“We were right in it,” Briere said.
Afterwards, the Chapel Gallery reached out to artists with a call for submissions for “As Long as the River Flows: An Art Response to the Oil Catastrophe.”
Briere was one of those who responded with pieces that went on display in that exhibition, which was shown in North Battleford this summer.
As for his current exhibition, Briere plans to take his works on the road to other galleries he is attending in Saskatoon and possibly St. Albert. He also has opened a space in a gallery in Quebec City, and hopes to display the artwork there as well.
Those looking for more information about Briere and his work can go to his website www.metiphysical.com.
