Hope Springs Green

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Artist: Wilma Butts

Title: Hope Springs Green

Attribution: Hope Springs Green, 2023, Wilma Butts

Year: 2023

Materials: Repurposed paper and silk fibre (mixed media)

Dimensions: 44"H x 16"W x 2"D

Image Statement: “Hope Springs Green” explores the tragic devastation of the 2023 Nova Scotia wild fires. Acres of wild forest and natural habitat were destroyed as a result of careless human interaction. The tragic loss of flora and fauna will take centuries to recover. In the wake of this destruction, nature has begun the repair and regrowth process. Take a walk through these burned out areas and you will see glimpses of bright green reaching for the sun. With our protection, the natural habitat destroyed in these fires may recover. We can only hope that humans will do better in the future. “Hope Springs Green” was created using a shaped resist dye process on reclaimed paper and silk fibre. The original form of the smooth paper was destroyed, then reshaped to create a 3D sculptural form. The paper was shaped, dyed and sculpted to represent the bark of the tree from which it originated. The reused silk panel was shaped, dyed and sculpted to represent resilient new green regrowth.