THE FORT MCMURRAY SERIES

This series of paintings focus on the landscape within and surrounding Fort McMurray. I made a trip to the region in June 2008 and again in October 2009, curious to see firsthand the affects of Alberta’s tar sands production. I found myself documenting areas impacted by the rush to accommodate the town’s rapidly expanding population. Leisure activities and development had left their indelible mark: makeshift skateboard ramps had been built on forest trails; barren riverbanks waited for future buildings; and ravaged sand dunes held pools of stagnant water. The paintings  strive to capture the essence of sites like this, as they struggle to maintain and regenerate.

November 2009

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