not far from the tree

There couldn’t be a more theme-appropriate art show to Not Far From The Tree than Su Rynard‘s Apples (malus domestica). On show at Paul Petro Contemporary Art until November 14th, this is a must-see for all interested in the questions of local orchards and city development in Toronto. I had the pleasure of checking out the exhibit this afternoon and it was a mesmerizing experience, bringing to light the need to plan (and the exciting potential) for food production in our city.

Over 7500 different kinds of apples (malus domestica) are known to exist, but only a few are grown today. Each cultivar has it’s own characteristics, and it’s own name. I was intrigued by the names of apples that have all but disappeared – names such as Maidens Blush, Primate, Duchess, Snow, Wealthy and decided to document apple orchards on the older surviving farms around the perimeter of the city of Toronto. Journeys to this fray of urbanity lead me to discover another interesting series of names — street names in housing developments and industrial areas named after the apples and orchards that once grew there.

The resulting dual projection piece juxtaposes two culturally constructed landscapes, the suburban and the agricultural, asking the viewer to consider how we live in the natural world. The lost cultivar names found on street signs draw attention to our dwindling biodiversity, yet naming is often a way to remember — an act of commemoration. In this way, the apple names re-purposed as street names create a kind of pastoral history, evoking an image of what once existed, to market what now stands in its place.

The show is only up for another week, so be sure to check out the upstairs exhibit at 980 Queen Street West while you can!