Mark Prier

Artwork


Forest Mystics, 2016

Forest Mystics intervenes in an ongoing forest restoration project at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. On August 25, 2016, staff from Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) were provided with alternate tools for data collection. They continued their fieldwork, measuring the regeneration within the pre-existing study plots, but using these alternate tools in place of their normal ones. Based on the specifications of their normal tools, the alternate ones were: a regen stick to measure the height class of plants, and a 1% square to estimate the percentage of groundcover. After the day’s work was finished, the alternate tools were given to the CVC staff for future use in the restoration project.

Materials: black cherry wood, paint, finish.

In a forest, a woman stands profile in a tan t-shirt holding a rustic-looking wooden 1% square made of black cherry branches over her right shoulder. In her left hand, she holds some papers. A rustic wooden 1% square made of black cherry branches is held over some green plants growing on the forest floor. A rustic wooden 1% square made of black cherry branches is held over some green plants growing on the forest floor. Some white and dark blue berries on a red stem are framed by the 1% square. In a forest, a man stands in the background holding a mechanical pencil and a clipboard while a woman holds a rustic wooden 1% square over some thigh-high green plants. The woman also holds some papers in her hand. In a forest, a man stands profile holding a clipboard in his right hand and the rustic wooden 1% square in his left. He holds the 1% square of some thigh-high green plants growing from the forest floor. In a forest, a woman stands profile in a tan t-shirt while consulting an open book. The book is titled, Shrubs of Ontario. Behind her, a chicken wire fence can be seen. In a forest, a woman walks toward the camera holding a tall, rustic wooden regen stick made of black cherry. The stick has sections numbered with white painted lines. She looks at the ground as she walks. Some tree branches obscure the view of her. In
In a forest, a woman is bent over touching a seedling, measuring it with a rustic wooden regen stick made of black cherry. The image cuts off the view above her knees. The stick has sections numbered with white painted lines. The seedling is within the section on the stick labeled with one line. In a forest, a tree seedling is measured against a rustic wooden regen stick made of black cherry. Behind the seedling and stick is a chicken wire fence. In a forest, a woman kneels down to measure a seedling against a rustic wooden regen stick made of black cherry. A man bends into the frame looking toward the seedling, holding some papers in his hand. In a forest, a close-up of a woman's hand holding a very tiny invasive seedling above the ground, roots and all. She pulled it moments ago. Her braid and some papers hang in the frame. In a forest, a man stands profile looking down at his clipboard, writing something on a paper. The image is cut off below the waist. In a forest, two rustic tools made of black cherry branches lean up against a mature tree. The tools are a regen stick, painted with white lines marking each section, and a 1% square. In the background, a man stands facing the left, holding a clipboard against his stomach. A close-up of a woman's back, displaying her t-shirt's logo for Credit Valley Conservation, which includes a stylized fish. She balances a rustic wooden 1% square on her right shoulder. The background is a forest understory. Several study plots fenced with chicken wire set apart different sections of forest understory. Young and mature trees stand in the background.

The Ontario Arts Council is an agency of the Government of Ontario.