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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt">UW Fine Arts MFA Thesis Two: Clara Laratta | Stephanie Florence<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">University of Waterloo Art Gallery<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 11-27<br>
Opening Reception: Thursday May 11, 5-8 pm<br>
Opening Remarks: 6 pm / Stephanie Florence <i>listening</i>: 6:30 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img width="800" height="533" style="width:8.3333in;height:5.552in" id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D981A6.B6053890"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Clara Laratta<br>
In Search of Wholeness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The work in this exhibition is grounded in autoethnographic research that examines aspects of wholeness. It looks at familial relationships, relations to food, culture, and our environment. The work ties these
components together as fundamental elements of being complete. Natural materials such as wood, celery pulp, and fibres are presented as forms that appear both ancient and modern, bridging the gap, and forging bonds between the past and present, while highlighting
the continuity of human experience, and transcending the individual. The exhibition considers whether wholeness can be achieved in a world where everything is constantly changing, transient and impermanent. It reflects the belief that personal healing occurs
in conjunction with collective and planetary healing. Through offering space for contemplation on these interconnected themes, this body of work contributes to, and dialogues with, a broader cultural shift towards more diverse, inclusive understanding, and
compassion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Clara Laratta</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. In her work she utilizes integrative methodologies to research aspects
of identity. Her current body of work uses an autoethnographic approach to examine elements of wholeness. This work consists of sculpture, video, and photography. It moves between and merges modalities, connections, personal and collective healing and culminates
in an informal archive of lived experience. <a href="https://www.claralaratta.com/">
claralaratta.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img border="0" width="800" height="533" style="width:8.3333in;height:5.552in" id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D981A6.B6053890"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Stephanie Florence<br>
rinse and repeat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">rinse and repeat</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> is a collaborative space that invites the viewer to become an active participant in endeavouring to unlearn consumerist behaviours. Florence will
be guiding participants through walking tours, workshops, and <i>listenings</i> throughout the exhibition period, intending to develop community and invite discussion as interspecies citizens. Moss and Fungi are at the center of this relational practice, as
artworks become habitats and offerings to the Land. All are welcome while treading with empathy.
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Walking tours and <i>listening</i> workshops open to public, meet at UWAG<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">-Thursday May 18 at 3:30 pm—National Museum Day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">-Saturday May 27 at 1:00 pm—closing day of the exhibition<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Participants are invited to forward pictures from walking tours and
<i>listening</i> workshops to: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/i_intuited_this/">
@<span style="font-size:11.0pt">i_intuited_this</span></a></span> on Instagram for<span style="font-size:12.0pt"> possible inclusion as part of the artwork
<i>personnel growth</i>. Further details about the project can be found at: <a href="http://www.stephanieflorence.ca/">
stephanieflorence.ca</a><br>
<br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Stephanie Florence</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> (they/them) is a neurodiverse non-binary artist and curator originally from amiskwacîwâskahikan, so-called Edmonton, Alberta. They are currently
collaborating with Moss, Fungi, and Trees to investigate the possibility of interspecies citizenship, and how living bodies become a commodity for colonial-capitalist culture. Florence is grateful for support from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, Pat the
Dog, and Canada Council for the Arts in researching or producing collaborative artwork with species in the colonized-city landscape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">ADMIT EVERYONE</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
University of Waterloo Art Gallery<br>
East Campus Hall, Room 1239<br>
519.888.4567 ext. 33575<br>
<a href="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=3b53542f0a&e=f49260924a" title="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=3b53542f0a&e=f49260924a">Website</a><br>
<a href="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=d589596107&e=f49260924a" title="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=d589596107&e=f49260924a">Facebook</a><br>
<a href="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=db46ccb92d&e=f49260924a" title="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=db46ccb92d&e=f49260924a">Instagram</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">CONTACT</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Ivan Jurakic, Director/Curator<br>
519.888.4567 ext. 46741<br>
<a href="mailto:ijurakic@uwaterloo.ca" title="mailto:ijurakic@uwaterloo.ca">ijurakic@uwaterloo.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">HOURS</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Wednesday to Saturday 12-5 pm<br>
Or by appointment<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">MOBILITY</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Ground floor entry<br>
Automated doors available at Fine Arts entrance<br>
Wide pathways<br>
Accessible washrooms on ground level<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DRIVING</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
263 Phillip Street, Waterloo<br>
East Campus Hall (ECH) is located adjacent to Engineering 6 (E6)<br>
Campus <a href="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=eb40db523a&e=f49260924a" title="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=eb40db523a&e=f49260924a">map</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PARKING</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
Visitor Parking is available in Lot B beside Engineering 6 (E6) for a flat rate of $5<br>
Campus <a href="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=d10ebd40c8&e=f49260924a" title="https://akimbo.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7dce056c3a021a085b762c0da&id=d10ebd40c8&e=f49260924a">map</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">MAILING</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
University of Waterloo Art Gallery<br>
200 University Avenue West<br>
Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img border="0" width="567" height="77" style="width:5.9062in;height:.802in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D981A6.B6053890"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#7F7F7F">Image credits and descriptions:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#7F7F7F"> 1)
<b>Clara Laratta</b>, <i>Self-Talk – NO/Know</i> (video still), digital video, 1 min. 30 sec. Image courtesy the artist.
<b>Description:</b> A mirrored upside-down portrait of the artist talking to herself, in which her nose and mouth appear to be fused. 2)
<b>Stephanie Florence</b>, <i>meeting my maker</i> (detail), 2022, documentation series of Oyster Mushroom and I, 25 x 16.6 in. Image courtesy the artist.
<b>Description</b>: An image of the artist’s fingers reaching up towards the fruit of an oyster mushroom on the left.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#7F7F7F"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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