Test Site
October 10 – 31, 2024
Reception: Thursday, October 10, 4-6PM
CSC GIVEAWAY: October 21 at 11am until October 22 at 5pm
Cohen Commons (at Art Lab)
London, Ontario has long been known as a test site, a place where new products are introduced to measure their success across various socioeconomic demographics and markets. This exhibition reimagines that consumption-based label, focusing instead on the Centre for Sustainable Curating’s efforts in ‘testing’ (defined as a critical examination, observation, or evaluation) new possibilities and futures. Bringing together past and ongoing experiments by the CSC—such as those involving light and shadow, visible mending, compostable signage, collaborative ownership, solar archiving, and collecting as redistribution—Test Site asks: What traces and marks are left behind by an exhibition?
Image: Detail of Material Explorations (2024) – cards with handmade ink and details.
From: Materials Explorations, 2024
Most pigments derived from natural materials are not colour fast, making it difficult to use them in exhibition settings. The CSC is testing colour in inks over a six month period to test for change: Tumeric mixed with starch paste + water Ink derived from burdock (London, ON); Charcoal mixed with starch paste + water Spirulina mixed with starch paste + water; Annatto seed mixed with starch paste + water Ink derived from rose petals; Paprika mixed with starch paste + water Ink derived from subway pollution.
Image: Painted Walls (2024) – watercolor samples on gallery wall.
From: Painted Walls, 2024
The test patches on the title wall were created with Beam watercolor paints. Beam paints are lightfast pigments made with gum arabic and Manitoulin maple sap, produced by an Anishnaabe Kwe-owned and operated family business in M’Chigeeng First Nation. CSC has been testing the application and removal of Beam paints since 2021 and often uses them for projecting and tracing text on title walls. The results celebrate the saturated and variegated color combinations achievable. Projecting and painting text is time-consuming but leaves no trace behind. This method avoids the painstaking application and removal of PVC vinyl, creating a less toxic and much better-smelling environment for everyone.