Ivy Reflections: July 2022
I am learning from ivy how to be opportunistic- I saw a landscaping company removing ivy on one of my walks, went and got my gloves and a bag and asked if I could take some. They said I can take as much as I want, so I filled my bag. They said it was pretty cool what I was doing.
I'm going with the flow of nature and letting opportunities come to me. Having limited energy and limited spoons, I appreciate having help from those around me. This does not go unnoticed, and I do what I can to keep the reciprocity in balance.
I was sitting with ivy the other day, reflecting on all that I have learned about invasive and opportunistic plants in the last few months, from friends, teachers, the community, and the plants themselves.
Opportunistic plants follow in the footprints of humans, thriving in disturbed soils that other plants cannot.
They are here for a reason- nature is smart. Some plants help nourish the soil, and once the soil is nourished it is no longer optimal for them to thrive in and they naturally go away.
Invasive Species can pose a threat to eco systems if left unchecked, however, there are ways we can work with them to ensure they still do what they are here to do.
When we remove them, a way to honour them is to create with them. Be it through creating with the plant material itself, or using it as inspiration.
Over the last month, given the opportunities for ivy I have come across, I have continued the dance of splitting and coiling cordage. The ideas are simmering for what to do with all this goodness. I am focusing letting this process flow and be peaceful, and am following my intuition on when to start.
Kaitlyn Beugh's mission is to assist you in fostering a soulful connection to self and the natural world through creation and intention. She is an interdisciplinary visual artist. Her art practice plays on the ephemeral, and is intuitively channeled and created in a flow state.
She lives, works, and plays on the unceded land of the Coast Salish First Nations. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts with a minor in Social Practice and Community Engagement from Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and has a background in social services.
Kaitlyn is a practicing artist and has some of her artwork for sale in the form of original pieces via her website here. Kaitlyn is currently studying herbalism and connecting deeper with the energies of plants and natures cycles.
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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
