Borough Burrow / Christeen Francis

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October 25 - November 29, 2019

Opening reception: October 25 from  7 - 9 pm.

A/P invites members and guests to join us for the opening reception until 9pm for this upcoming exhibition.

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"When I consider my prints, it is always in the context of the city; the lived realities of its inhabitants, the politics of displacement, the concept of home, and the trauma of constant change and restructuring. My work critically engages with aspects of urban development and displacement; considering how wildlife is dislodged by expanding metropolitan areas, as well as how gentrification acts as an extension of colonialism. I focus on the changing concept of what it means to live in cities, as well as what cities should be, and for whom they should be designed. 

My recent work consists of printed installations, ranging in size from ten-meter long murals to small pieces, which are collaged on-site to form immersive environments. Currently, I am developing a series of black and white woodcuts that, by virtue of their dimensions and verticality, emulate buildings in high density urban landscapes, forming a cityscape that is both familiar and anomalous. Manipulating photographic images collected at sites of urban development, I superimposed images of wildlife into these spaces, creating strange and unnerving scenes. I also place printed wildlife back into the city by wheat-pasting it in areas where urban spaces become overgrown, where plants meet concrete. 

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The process-oriented nature, physical restrictions, and possibilities of printmaking have been pivotal in the development of my artwork. Because print media lends itself to reproduction, it has furthered the dissemination and democratization of ideas. I use print to communicate ideas surrounding complex issues, and to create a space for dialogue and exchange. Through integration of digital technology and traditional print techniques, combined with the practices of political poster making, I am developing a visual language that is as fragmented and varied as the subject matter I choose to address.

Christeen Francis is a printmaker, musician, and activist based in Montreal. She is committed to print that engages with local communities and the public at large. Her research interests include urban wildlife and the homogenization of cities and culture. She has exhibited in Canada, the United States, Germany, and Iceland.