Don’t Forget to Wave, 2014 - 2018
Installation view at Columbia College Chicago

Driving along the quiet dirt roads, it’s common that an oncoming car is a neighbour or a fellow general store patron. The obligatory finger wave from the steering wheel is nearly a reflex as both cars shift closer to the edge of the road to make space for each other. The title “Don’t Forget to Wave” is a reference to this endearing custom and this project is, in a lot of ways, a love letter to this area and my father. Made over the course of four years, this work explores the small town of Restoule, ON and focuses on my father’s health, the landscape, and the neighbouring structures as the seasons dramatically change. Both my father’s health and the surrounding environment are in a constant state of flux, a reminder that nothing is permanent. I use colour and light to emphasize these fleeting qualities of life, highlighting the quiet dramas of a hidden town.