Reinventing Consumption

Oxygen Art Centre is pleased to announce the beginning of its final artist residency for 2012. Throughout the month of September, local artist Ian Johnston will be working on two installations for an upcoming Canadian tour of his project: Reinventing Consumption. Staring in 2010 with research at the European Ceramic Work Centre in Holland, the project continued at Red Deer College in 2011, and more recently at Columbus State University in Georgia where Johnston was resident artist in their visiting scholar program. The Oxygen Art Centre residency is an ongoing exploration of Johnston’s invention for vacuum forming wet clay.
Reinventing Consumption explores global issues regarding consumerism and consumption. However, this time Johnston is searching for inspiration at the other end of the waste stream, and traversing the idea of invention and accidental discovery. From large-scale ceramic wall installations to massive inflatable breathing environments, accidental discoveries amongst the invention process have taken the artist on a journey of unexpected turns.
During the residency, Johnston will be working two-fold. One: a large breathing installation called The Chamber. Two: a wall installation of block printed, vacuum formed ceramic elements formed over a 1940s steam kettle found on Hall Street.

Friday September 28th – Artist Talk 7pm
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th – Open Studio 1-5pm

A Culture Days event, part of the Canada-wide celebration designed to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities.

Oxygen Art Centre and Ian Johnston gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance and Columbia Basin Trust.