On Wednesday, September 11, a new multimedia exhibit titled The Mill will open at the Squamish Public Library. The exhibit is the result of the work of artist Russell Gendron.
According to Gendron, The Mill was born from curiosity and personal history.
“From ages 11-16, I had a summer job working at a sawmill. It was a tough job with tough characters, but these people also cared for me. They taught me the importance of hard work, how to operate machinery and do it all safely. For this project, I interviewed forestry workers in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and around British Columbia and asked them about their jobs as a way to share my appreciation for this type of work and for the people who do it.”
The Mill uses sound art and quilting to highlight first-hand accounts of people’s experiences working in forestry. Visitors to the event will have the chance to hear environmental soundscapes, music made from machine noises and voices talking about daily tasks, industry closures, first experiences at work and more.
Also on display are memory quilts made from forestry worker’s clothing: memory quilts are typically designed to celebrate the life of a loved one or an important event. In this case, these quilts honour the workers, communities and the lands and waters impacted by forestry’s industrial and de-industrial processes.
“Russell came into the library to use some of the recorded interviews we hold in our archives in his project, and so we’re excited to host this exhibit at the library,” says Rachel Bergquist, Programs & Outreach Coordinator at the Squamish Public Library. The library holds a sizeable historical archive, including photographs and audio recordings available online.
At the opening evening event, visitors can hear Gendron speak about the project, explore the quilts and sounds, and participate in a Q&A. The Mill will be displayed at the library from September 9th to the end of October. To learn more about the event and to register to attend visit: https://events.squamishlibrary.ca/event/11564113
