Edmonton artist Jamie-Lee Girodat explores the issues of reproduction in her new exhibit, “Pluck,” opening at casa this weekend.

It is one of four exhibits opening including Troy Nickle’s “Contours of Time, which shares the main gallery, Diana Zasadny’s “ Shadows From the Fire, which explores the aftermath of the Kenow fire in Waterton Park and High Notes in Low Lighting, 16 music photos by L.A. Beat editor Richard Amery turned 3 D and adorned with paint splashing.
“Pluck” is  an exploration of female autonomy related issues such as having children through a variety of mediums including hand painted glass and paintings.

“I’m 28 and most of my family are women most of them have children,” said Girodat, noting her exhibit explores changes in reproductive technology like genetic modification and genetic engineering

“ So there are a lot of issues like should I have children, or should I wait until they’ve cured certain diseases. There’s a lot to think about. It has to do with a lot of changes in reproductive technology and the choices you have to make  to have children,” she continued. She noted the art includes images of blasts cells.

“There  are also female body figures,” said Girodat who is studying for her masters degree in printmaking at the University of Alberta, and who completed her bachelor of fine arts at the U of L in 2016.

She has several animations she created running on a loop.

“They’re questioning the role of reproduction. These are issues a lot of young people face,” she said, adding these works were created over the past year.

 
Lethbridge multi-disciplinary  artist Troy Nickle’s exhibit “Contours of Time” in the other half of the main gallery, continues his exploration of finding the beauty in nature.

“This exhibition is an intimate study of trees, particularly the process of printmaking the growth rings of a tree. This process started two years ago when I was introduced to a you-tube video of the late artist Bryan Nash Gill who showed his process of printmaking the intricate growth rings within the tree. I immediately began learning the process myself and became interested in the relationship between the physical presence of the tree and the print of the growth rings being in the same space. I decided to use some of the larger logs that I was printing from to sculpt into various organic forms to show in context to the tree ring prints. In some works I would use a chain saw to rough out the form and an angle grinder to further refine the form. The Japanese have a technique of preserving wood by burning it in fire called, “shou sugi ban.” In this instance I have burned the wood not only to preserve it but for the aesthetic qualities the charred black surface has in contrast to the lighter yellow tones of the wood ,” according to his artists statement.
The opening reception for the exhibits is 7-9 p.m., Saturday, April 27. They run until June 8.