Eroded Origins: Speak For Me!
July 27, 2025
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Eroded Origins: *Speak for Me! If the Forest Could Speak… What Would It Say? Overview: *Speak for Me!* is an interactive climate art workshop that invites the public into a creative dialogue on environmental stewardship. Having traveled across several BC communities, this evolving installation uses art to spark reflection and inspire action on the climate crisis. Objective: Participants are encouraged to explore their relationship with the natural world and express their thoughts through art. Centered around the prompts *“If the forest could speak, what would it say?”* and *“What is your age?”*, the workshop gathers community voices to be embedded into a digital artwork symbolizing the fragile balance between humanity and nature.
• Participants reflect on the prompts and share their thoughts • Age is collected to explore generational perspectives Symbolic Representation:• Ages are represented as tree rings, linking voices to the lifespans of forests (work-in-progress)
Responses will be integrated into a growing digital artwork series that fosters empathy, connection, and climate awareness through shared artistic expression. Future Development: From 2026 onward, the series will expand to explore the elements of water, fire, and air. Why It Matters: As wildfires increasingly destroy homes, habitats, and communities across Canada and beyond, *Speak for Me!* offers a creative platform to engage the public in urgent environmental conversations.
A fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian, Garrett Andrew Chong's artistic journey began with honoursfrom Emily Carr - mid 80's.
His evolution from visual communications to digital art has consistently explored themes of light, from early b/w infrared film to capturing unseen light with HDR technology. His current works reflect a spiritual resonance with natural elements, shaping an illuminating narrative through the spectrum of climate art.
