New installation in Abbotsford gallery finds art in climate science

Patterson was an artist-in-residence for the UN’s International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation in March 2025, which enabled her to translate scientific data into a series of both lens-based and lensless images.

“Ice ages are a part of the planet’s natural cycle of regeneration — in fact, the Fraser Valley basin was only formed at the end of the last one. Patterson’s work examines both glaciers and forests, both giants of nature that have become equally endangered, fragile, and interdependent in the face of the ongoing climate crisis,” added Tialiou.

The centrepiece is called “Still in Place,” a suspended textile-and-sound installation comprising 100 cyanotype panels and a soundscape drawn from Patterson’s field recordings.

(Image Credit: The Reach Gallery / Supplied)

“Growing up in British Columbia, I was fascinated from a young age by the omnipresent mountains and glacial landscapes,” said Patterson. “Now, as an artist, glaciers are central to my practice, not only as subject matter, but as a way to bridge environmental science with embodied, sensory experience.”

She adds that having access to materials like LiDAR and long-term glaciological records helped her create a better experience.

“Also, accompanying researchers directly into the environments they study has opened my eyes to the depth of expertise, physical rigour, and logistical complexity of their work.”

Patterson will be present at the exhibit’s opening from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 27.

The installation is set to be on display until March 20, 2027.

by Alyssa Conti

New installation in Abbotsford gallery finds art in climate science

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