Wilderness is at the heart of Canadian identity. When we think of what defines Canada, images of large expanses of pristine wilderness come to mind. Parks and conservation areas preserve wilderness and keep developed civilization outside their borders, assuring visitors a place to find a ‘true wilderness experience’. For many Canadians and outside visitors, it is within these protected areas that they choose to explore and enjoy Canada’s natural beauty.

These parks offer organized networks of trails that guide visitors on controlled excursions through select areas, often offering the optimal route to enjoy the park’s most beautiful vistas. At unexpected locations along a trail, structures mysteriously appear; boardwalks, bridges, staircases and observation platforms are built to help navigate challenging terrain or gain access to locations that would otherwise be impossible for the average hiker. The landscape is transformed into a user-friendly experience.

I have conflicting reactions when encountering man-made structures while walking through a forest. I’m excited by the possibility of what this outpost might provide access to: will it get me to a high panoramic lookout, the center of a marsh, or to the opposite side of a river? At the same time, I experience slight disappointment, as such cues are reminders of the fact that I am in a controlled environment on a path traveled by others, rather than being in true wilderness. The appearance of these structures causes me to wonder if our notion of wilderness is really authentic, as so many Canadians experience wilderness in these controlled settings.

These works explore man-made structures within the context of our out-of-doors Canadian experience. The panoramic format created using a customized rotational camera encompasses a full single-frame vista of each location, simulating a sweeping glance across the surroundings. The images are idyllic, pastoral, and yet the markers of civilization passively intrude throughout. Way stations, decks and trails are so omnipresent in these places that we accept them as intrinsic to the landscape. In the midst of the wild, still there are paths and roads to direct us, to steer our experience toward the horizon, and protect us from a genuine wilderness experience. The photographs capture the emotional valence of these places, beautiful, and eminently safe.

< back