U of L exhibition explores the meaning of soil

The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery opened (Re)mediating Soils: Field Notes on Jan. 30, a touring exhibition that brings together artists, scientists and Indigenous knowledge holders to present soil as a living, layered system; the installation runs through Apr. 4.

The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery opened (Re)mediating Soils: Field Notes on Jan. 30, presenting soil as more than inert dirt and as a subject for creative and collaborative study. The exhibition was developed with the Yukon Art Centre, the Woodstock Art Gallery and the McMaster Museum of Art, and is supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant. Participating artists completed residencies in Alberta, Yukon and Ontario and worked alongside scientists, conservation workers and community members. Organizers frame soil as central to food security, climate resilience and cultural knowledge and invite visitors to slow down and pay closer attention to what is underfoot. Key points: - The exhibition emphasizes observation, listening and reflection rather than technical fixes for soil depletion. - Curators and project staff describe art and soil as processes that reward patience and care, and link soil to climate and food systems. - The installation includes works such as Beany Dootjes's jars of preserved garden produce and Api'soomaahka's sharing of Blackfoot knowledge about land, minerals and plants. - Project lead Katherine Lawless reported conversations with farmers that highlighted both economic and relational barriers to adopting soil-retaining practices. - (Re)mediating Soils: Field Notes runs through Apr. 4 at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery and is part of a national project that will travel to other Canadian galleries. Summary: The exhibition connects global concerns about soil depletion and climate resilience to local experience and Indigenous knowledge, reframing soil as a living system and a set of relationships. The show remains on view at the University of Lethbridge through Apr. 4 and is part of a touring national series supported by a SSHRC grant.