Vanessa Bolinger
she/her
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Vanessa Bolinger is a visual arts major from the southern Alberta prairies, currently living and studying in British Columbia. Her interest lies in pursuing an Interdisciplinary practice which examines familial heritage and relationship to land.
“Vanessa Bolinger is a queer artist from the southern Alberta prairies, currently living in British Columbia, on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations. Her interest lies in pursuing an Interdisciplinary practice which examines familial heritage and relationship to land. Through the repetitive motion and meditative qualities of metal working, she seeks to elicit the transcendence of vast environments and the beings which rely on them.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“In my experience working with metal as a material, I have felt intimidated and out of place at times while working in a predominantly cis male dominated space. This to me is what drives my choice to incorporate metal into my practice. I feel it's important to take up space and to make room for anyone who may not have considered metal smithing to be a possibility for them."
"Pods", Blackened steel, steel wire, stainless steel, 33" x 5" x 7", 2024
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I find that queerness is at the root of all of my work, often subconsciously. I think that our lived experiences as queer people influences what we create and this can take on so many forms. Not only through direct connections to queerness, but though more nuanced work as well."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“Metalworking to me has become such a sacred and meditative practice. The euphoria I feel when working with metal is unlike any other material I have worked with and I hope this comes across in the work I create."