I have lived in the front ranges of the Rockies for most of my life, between the prairies and peaks. I began my education in Biology and then transitioned to a BFA in Ceramics, focusing on creating functional pottery which incorporates found minerals. I balance studio time with working as a forestry fieldworker in the woods of western Canada, where my experiences and observations of our human relationship with our surrounding ecology has shaped my art. I also enjoy teaching and helping people grow passionate about art at the community art centre in Canmore, where I currently call home.

https://ellavalgesaar.wixsite.com/

ARTIST STATEMENT

Landscapes can be experienced either as systems of habitation which involve and sustain us, or as passive scenery. I strive to involve myself and others in meaningful relationships with the places we move through; to remind of the intricacies of our ecology I integrate local minerals and narratives to evoke memories, contemplations and metaphors of the environment. A developed concept of belonging nurtures a deeper connection to the natural world through the lenses of narrative, objectivity and experience.