“The mudflats that once existed around False Creek were called Skwácháy̓s, meaning “water coming up from ground beneath.” Khelsilem

“The mudflats that once existed around False Creek were called Skwácháy̓s, meaning “water coming up from ground beneath.” Khelsilem from Stephanie Wood. 2019. What does ‘consultation’ mean on occupied Sḵwx̱wú7mesh land? National Observer (May 21st).

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwúmixw Council (leading the Squamish Nation), pictured in April 2018 (photograph borrowed without permission from the National Observer)

scenes from a disappearance: A decolonial ecological breakdown cabaret

1913 July 7 the extreme eastern part, east of Main Street, of a panoramic photograph of all of False Creek (Vancouver Archive AM54-S4-3- PAN N161A)

EVENT | PLOT @ Access Gallery | Scenes from a disappearance… | 730-10PM | MAY 24

May 24, 2019 7:30 pm. to 10 p.m.

PLOT @ Access Gallery
222 East Georgia St.
Vancouver BC V6A 1Z7 Canada

Scenes from a disappearance:
A (decolonial) ecological breakdown cabaret for the centennial of the destruction of Skwácháy̓s, “water coming up from ground beneath”

entrance is free

A century ago, the sea, salt marshes, and Salish gathering sites that thrived in what is now bounded by Main, Union, Clark, and Great Northern Way in central Vancouver were filled with a train station, garbage, and dirt from the digging of the Grandview Cut. But Skwácháy̓s, translated from Skwxw7mesh xwumixw (Squamish) as “water coming up from ground beneath,” has not gone quietly, and those seas and marshes are re-surging. Join artists active in the “still underwater” project for an ‘open mic’ night (without the mic) for a number of short multimedia, spoken, and spontaneous performances on the aftermath of ecological breakdown in the DTES. After introductions from hosts Gordon Brent Brochu-Ingram and Alex Grünenfelder, artists and other cultural producers have eight minutesto present.

Skwácháy̓s not gone quietly, and those seas and marshes are resurging. Join artists active in the “still underwater” project for an ‘open mic’ night (without the mic) for a number of short multimedia, spoken, and spontaneous performances on the aftermath of ecological breakdown in the DTES. After introductions from hosts Gordon Brent Brochu-Ingram and Alex Grünenfelder, artists and other cultural producers have eight minutes to present.

RSVP kexminfieldstation@gmail.com to reserve a spot in the line-up and specify any media or spatial needs.

**

ḴEXMIN Field Station are the current occupants in Access Gallerys PLOT space, from 8 April to 24 May, 2019; conducting their project still underwater: tracing Skwácháy̓s in todays False Creek Flats.

ḴEXMIN Field Station is a loose collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous site-based artists, environmental researchers, scientists, and designers focused on the waters, shores and islands of the Salish Sea. Currently located on Salt Spring Island, the field station exists as a research, learning and experimentation space to nurture conversations spanning traditional Indigenous knowledge, modern science, and contemporary culture. Individuals currently contributing to still underwater include: Métis public artist and environmental scientist, Gordon Brent Brochu-Ingram (currently coordinating the 2019 events at PLOT), Salish curator Rose Spahan, public artist and designer Alex Grnenfelder, site-based artist Oliver Kellhammer, Musqueam weaver and public artist Debra Sparrow, and community-engaged environmental artist Sharon Kallis, amongst an evolving group of affiliates.

For event details + announcements visit:

http://www.gordonbrentingram.ca/stillunderwater/

On the shores of Hole-In-Bottom: The open source landscapes of Oliver Kellhammer around False Creek Flats

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EVENT | PLOT @ Access Gallery | KEXMIN field station |

On the shores of ‘Hole-In-Bottom’: The open source landscapes of Oliver Kellhammer around False Creek Flats | MAY 18, 2019
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KEXMIN Field Station presents: [‘KEXMIN’ is a word in the SENĆOŦEN language and the ‘K’ is meant to be underlined]

Saturday, May 18, 2019 from

Drop in from 1 – 5 PM

meet at PLOT at Access Gallery, 222 East Georgia Street, Vancouver Canada

Schedule:

1 – 1:30 PM – Access Gallery: Skype discussion with Oliver Kellhammer

2 – 3 PM – Cottonwood Garden with Rose-Marie Larson

3 – 4 PM – Means of Production Garden with Sharon Kallis

4 – 5 PM – Healing the Cut with Mike Simpson

*Please note that there will be travel between each location. For more details on 
accessibility, please contact kexminfieldstation@gmail.com.

*This is the second public event of the 2019 – 2021 ‘still underwater’ project.

PRESENTER BIOS:

Environmental and biological artist Oliver Kellhammer has three decades of achievements working with public space and outdoor sites based on his philosophy of democratic interventions through ‘open source landscapes’. His three, site-based works on trashed sites around the historic shores of False Creek Flats (sometimes referred to as ‘hole-in-bottom’) have been prescient especially within the movement of art as forms of ecological remediation and decolonization.

Len Kydd is a retired construction worker and long time Cottonwood gardener. He started the Native garden in Cottonwood. “Truth is, he knows everything there is to know about Cottonwood and he knows Oliver.”

Using the lengthy title of being a community engaged environmental artist, what Sharon Kallis really does is commit to being a life-longer learner. Learning while teaching and teaching while learning”Sharon partners with ecologists, gardeners, weavers and others with an interest in linking traditional hand technologies to what we can grow, gather and glean in our urban green spaces. Sharon has been one of the primary stewards of Means of Production since 2007 and the roots of her creative practice are deeply entwined with this public park and garden. Sharon is the founding executive director of EartHand Gleaners Society.

Mike Simpson is an urban geographer, and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geography at UBC, as well as a former student of Oliver’s. His research considers how solidarity is practiced between settler environmentalists and Indigenous land and water defenders on the frontlines of these struggles, and broadly asks how transformative movements seeking to bring about social and environment change can be built across difference.

***

K_EXMIN Field Station are the current occupants in Access Gallerys PLOT space, from 8 April to 24 May, 2019; conducting their project still underwater: tracing Skwahchays, hole-in-bottom, in todays False Creek Flats.

K_EXMIN Field Station is a loose collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous site-based artists, environmental researchers, scientists, and designers focused on the waters, shores and islands of the Salish Sea. Currently located on Salt Spring Island, the field station exists as a research, learning and experimentation space to nurture conversations spanning traditional Indigenous knowledge, modern science, and contemporary culture. Individuals currently contributing to still underwater include: Mtis 
public artist and environmental scientist, Gordon Brent Brochu-Ingram (currently coordinating the 2019 events at PLOT), Salish curator Rose Spahan, public artist and designer Alex Grnenfelder, site-based artist Oliver Kellhammer, Musqueam weaver and public artist Debra Sparrow, and community-engaged environmental artist Sharon Kallis, amongst an evolving group of affiliates.

For more information visit: www.gordonbrentingram.ca/stillunderwater/or

www.accessgallery.ca/plot-2/plot-kexmin-field-station/

Contact:kexminfieldstation@gmail.com * 778-354-2505