Trent University
MyTrent
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
    • Trent Online
    • Summer Courses
    • Continuing Education
    • Study Abroad
    • Academic Calendar
    • Academic Timetable
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Academic Advising
    • Library
    • Centre for Teaching and Learning
  • Admissions
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Services & Support
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Skills Centre
    • Administrative Departments
    • Alumni Services
    • Athletics
    • Campus Security
    • Careerspace
    • Colleges
    • Communications
    • Conferences
    • Financial Aid
    • Financial Services
    • Health & Wellness
    • Indigenous Services
    • Information Technology
    • International Students
    • Learning Support
    • Parking
    • Printshop
    • Recruitment
    • Registrar's Office
    • Residence & Housing
    • Student Clubs
    • TrentU Card
  • Research
    • Research at Trent
    • Research Centres
    • Find an Expert
    • Resources
  • Give to Trent
  • About Trent
    • About Trent
    • Careers
    • Giving to Trent
    • Governance
    • How to Find Us
    • Media
    • News & Events
    • President's Office
    • Staff Directory
    • Trent Facts
    • Contact Us
  • Campus Locations
    • Peterborough
    • Durham GTA
    • Online
  • Future Students
    • Undergraduate
    • Thinking of Applying
    • Already Applied
    • Received an Offer
    • Accepted My Offer
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Indigenous
    • Returning to Trent
    • Transfer
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
  • Trent Forward: COVID-19 Info
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Give
  • Map
  • Careers
  • Directions
  • Library
  • Site Map
  • Bookstore
Skip to main content Home
  • Peterborough
  • Durham GTA
  • Online
  • MyTrent
MENU
Trent University
News and Events
  • Latest News
  • Trent Experts
  • For Media
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
  1. Trentu.ca
  2. News and Events

Restoring Damaged Eco-systems through Art

July 6, 2021
Share This Story

Trent environmental artist-researcher turning an invasive plant species into a gift to mother earth

Dr. Jessica Marion Barr making biodegradable paper
Dr. Jessica Marion Barr is harvesting invasive dog-strangling vine and processing it to create handmade, biodegradable paper (pictured right).

For many of us the term “environmental remediation” evokes images of technology, but did you know that art could also play a role?

Dr. Jessica Marion Barr, Cultural Studies professor and program coordinator for Trent’s prestigious Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) program, is showing her students, and the rest of the world, how ecological art can help restore a damaged environment.

Ecological art is an art genre that seeks to preserve, remediate, or draw attention to pressing environmental issues, such as plastics in the ocean, disappearing habitat, and invasive species.

“As an environmental artist and researcher, I’m interested in ways that the arts can raise awareness and even help to solve current environmental problems,” says Professor Barr.

New project to turn invasive plant into handmade biodegradable paper

Prof. Barr has recently embarked on a multi-year project that connects her research with a studio art course she teaches at Trent, CUST-ERST 2114 Workshop: Ecological Art – exploring the historical and theoretical foundations for environmental art and practical techniques for creating it.

To start with, she’ll be harvesting an invasive plant called dog-strangling vine (DSV), also known as European swallowwort or Vincetoxicum rossicum, and process it to create handmade paper.

The idea came about after seeing the plant pop up everywhere she went. “I would see it around the train tracks near my house, places where my child plays, and even the Trent campus, so I wanted to see what kind of a contribution I could make as an environmental artist using this plant,” says Prof. Barr.

Diverting threat to local monarch butterfly population

DSV shares some similarities with common milkweed – a plant that’s attractive to monarch butterflies. Monarchs can confuse DSV for milkweed and lay their eggs on it. If that happens, the larvae won’t survive. Given the pervasive tendencies of DSV, this plant could pose a further challenge to this valuable pollinator’s already threatened ability to reproduce and survive.  

A gesture of remediation in art

“As a gesture of remediation, I am planning to embed native milkweed and other native wildflower seeds in the handmade biodegradable DSV paper, which can then be planted to encourage the re-growth of Indigenous pollinator-friendly species,” says Prof. Barr.

For the inaugural year of the project, and due to pandemic restrictions, Prof. Barr is undertaking a trial version as a small solo artist residency at Madderhouse Textile Studios, run by Leslie Menagh. 

“I see this as a promising opportunity to create connections between Trent and a small local business which is a cornerstone of the downtown arts and culture community,” she says.

Hope for project to gain community momentum

Prof. Barr hopes this multi-year project will grow in scale, and ultimately become a community eco-art project with participatory events.

“Obviously, this project isn’t going to remove all the DSV from the area, but it can help build momentum toward a solution and can also be something that will encourage community members to feel more empowered to take these small but meaningful actions to restore good relations with the land,” she says.

Learn more about the many creative outlets for budding artists through Cultural Studies and B.A.S. at Trent.

Find other stories about: Cultural Studies, Bachelor of Arts and Science, Faculty

Share This Story

You Might Also Like

 The 2022/23 Ashley Fellow is co-hosted by Lady Eaton College and Peter Gzowski College, living-learning communities that focus on Indigenous leadership and environmental sustainability, and leadership and civic engagement, respectively.

Environmental and Racial Justice Leader Named 2022/23 Ashley Fellow at Trent University

Image of five students in business causal outfits walking and talking. Behind them is black and white trees.

In-Demand Master of Management Degree Launching at Peterborough Campus Fall 2023

Top 10 Stories from 2022 - Features the Highlights & Accomplishments

2022 Trent Top 10

Trent University logo
Challenge the Way You Think

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

Peterborough

1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough, ON Canada, K9L 0G2

Toll Free: 1-855-MY-TRENT

Campus Map

Durham Greater Toronto Area

55 Thornton Road South
Oshawa, ON Canada, L1J 5Y1

Phone: 905-435-5100

Campus Map

Social Media Directory
  • Contact
  • Directions
  • Site Map
  • Accessibility
  • @ Copyright 2023 Trent University