Orphan Well Woes
to
Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery 4525 47A Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6Z6
“Orphan Well Portrait,” 2017
(courtesy of Orphan Well Adoption Agency)
Opening Reception: September 6th, 5-8:30 pm
Formed in 2017, Orphan Well Adoption Agency (OWAA) began employing unconventional approaches to environmental remediation that examine care, empathy, and the reliability of information. As part of this work, OWAA is dedicated to finding symbolic caretakers for orphan wells across what is now known as Alberta.
Orphan Well Woes reimagines the future of Alberta’s orphaned oil wells. The exhibition delves into the complex relationship between industry, land, and community. Visitors are invited to engage with concepts of care and environmental repair through a blend of photography, drawing, installation, video, and participatory art. The exhibition challenges the colonial-capitalist mindset of extractivism and promotes a reciprocal relationship with the land.
The public is invited to visit OWAA’s off-site office and a display of their work at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery from August 31 to November 23, 2024. Orphan well adoptions will be facilitated on selected days throughout the exhibition.