Collage Art
Kristen makes one-of-a-kind wood-block collages based on great writers of the past, and miniature storybooks she calls “Beatrix Potter for Grownups.” Kristen was born in Deep River, and lives in Lyndhurst and Toronto.
Alcohol Ink
I love working with alcohol inks because each piece is guaranteed to be unique and impossible to replicate. The inks flow and shift until all the alcohol that suspends the dye pigments evaporates. At that point, the inks solidify into the patterns they formed during evaporation. To reactivate the dyes, more alcohol can be applied, allowing me to manipulate the designs through techniques such as blowing, tilting, brushing, or other movements. Once I am satisfied with the outcome, I apply a UV spray to prevent fading, followed by a finishing sealer. Alcohol inking adds a vibrant splash of colorful abstraction to everyday objects.
Dreamcatchers
Dreamcatchers, which originated in Anishinaabe culture as "the spider web charm," are traditionally woven on a willow hoop and hung near the cradles and beds of babies and children. They are associated with the figure of Spider Woman, weaver of the web of life, connector and protector.
The term "dreamcatcher" is a modern, commercial term, though these objects have become a widespread symbol of Indigenous people throughout North America.
Leslie creates a hoop from prairie willow growing near her home and weaves a web with synthetic sinew. She decorates her dreamcatchers with glass beads and found natural objects such as porcupine quills and feathers.
Leslie descends from the Red River Métis and is a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation.
