Nicole Dextras: A-Dressing the Future, A Solarpunk Ethos

Crow's Nest

Tune in to hear Nicole Dextras talk about her practice of eco and regenerative wearable art.

Visual artist and filmmaker Nicole Dextras enjoys speculating about the future and ponder questions such as: What does the climate change movement need now and how do we implement it? In her artist talk for the Solarpunk exhibition, she will delve into how she explores these themes in her short films and in her research into alternative biomaterials.Her short film screening in The Crow's Nest's 'Solarpunk' show is Chronos, Time of sand, which is the second instalment in a trilogy of short films called A Dressing the Future. It focuses on our capacity for resilience and ingenuity in the face of today’s environmental challenges. Dextras' work aspires to combat climate anxiety by depicting the skills and DIY technologies that are available today, from creating textiles from plants to the dew collecting tower that captures moisture from the clouds.The film fits into the science fiction sub-genre of Solarpunk, which focuses on renewable energy, a respect for nature and the revival of handcrafted wares. The genre is anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist, with a strong focus on community and prefigurative politics. The Chronos character embodies the Solarpunk ethos: they make their clothing out of plant materials, they get nourishment from desert vegetation and they collect water from a dew capturing system.Dextras will also discuss her current use of biomaterials, which began as research for her next film about a woman surviving after a devastating flood. Her research into fabricating and weaving threads made from Alginate (derived from seaweed) is apt for a character determined to make use of the sea life that surrounds her. About the Artist:Nicole Dextras is a graduate from the Emily Carr University of Art in Vancouver Canada. Her artwork has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and featured in numerous publications. Her most recent solo exhibition was held at the Huston Center for Contemporary Craft in Texas. Other notable group exhibitions include the Cameron Museum in North Carolina, Espace Fondation EDF in Paris, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Léon in Spain. Dextras has won several awards for her costume designs and received funding from Canadian grant institutions.Dextras' art practice has been rooted in material research for over 20 years and she has developed many techniques ranging from alternative photographic processes, to paper casting, to extracting plant fibre materials. Her current use of biomaterials has allowed her to expand her deep engagement to materiality and sustainable materials. RSVP to recieve a link to the talk on GoogleMeet!

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Nicole Dextras: A-Dressing the Future, A Solarpunk Ethos

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Nicole Dextras: A-Dressing the Future, A Solarpunk Ethos

More events from Crow's Nest

Discover more events from Crow's Nest, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

Claiming the Future Opening Reception & Award Ceremony

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