The Mill uses sound art and quilting to explore the forestry industry in British Columbia from the worker’s perspective.
Voices and environmental sounds are brought to life through quilts made from worker’s clothing, providing a unique snapshot of life in the industry across generations.
The Mill was born from curiosity and personal history. From ages 11-16, I had a summer job working at a sawmill located on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory (Squamish BC). It was a tough job with tough characters but these people also cared for me.
They taught me the importance of hard work, how to operate machinery and how to do it all safely. They joked around with me during breaks and held me accountable for the things I said and did, instilling in me a work ethic that I’ve carried with me ever since. As a way to share my appreciation for this type of work and for the people who do it, I met with forestry workers around British Columbia, collecting and repurposing their stories and old work clothes.
Forestry has impacted individual lives, communities, and lands and waters in both prosperous and devastating ways. As the industry wanes and the climate crisis intensifies what, if anything, ought to be held onto and remembered and what can we let go of?