Rebecca Fortin: Cast-Off: Botanical Casts of Overlooked Species

Cast-Off: Botanical Casts of Overlooked SpeciesMay - June, 2026 
Opening Reception & Demonstration: May 2nd, 3:00 – 6:00 pm

Rebecca Fortin explores the resilience of "weeds"—and herself—through the tactile art of botanical casting. By pressing living plants into wet clay and fossilizing their impressions in plaster, she invites viewers to reconsider the cultural disdain surrounding these species. These works are finished with natural pigments created in the artist’s own kitchen, allowing the subtle hues gifted by the plants to transform the casts into quiet monuments of survival. 

The collection serves as a powerful metaphor for navigating midlife and non-traditional paths. Just as Goldenrod, Yarrow, and Dandelion thrive unapologetically in the cracks of sidewalks and poor soil, Fortin finds beauty and strength in the "cast-off" seasons of life. Through curiosity and care, these overlooked botanicals become companions, reminding us that something beautiful can emerge from even the most difficult landscapes.

This exhibition is funded in part by the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario.