As children, myth and magic are such a part of our world that make-believe just flows from us; it’s built in. At some point, the demands of “real life” cause many of us to push aside this inherent imagineering for one practical reason or another, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone—it’s just dormant for a while.

This exhibition put a question mark on the head of humanism and pressure on the hierarchies inherent to it: mind over matter, man over nature, human over animal, certain humans over other humans. . . The list and the hangover from it induce exhaustion.

When I asked whether remoteness and DIY culture create challenges, Marnie admitted that Empire of Dirt’s subtle presence in the forest can make it hard for outsiders to grasp. Some funders, artists and even community members often can’t fully understand it.

Four days secluded in the mountains gave retreat participants the ability to connect and unwind.

Now that Selkirk College has announced the closure of the Nelson KSA campus at the end of the 2026 school year, the need for space and support for students and artisans has only grown more critical.

Finished artwork will be exhibited at the Grand Forks Art Gallery in fall 2027, and will include sound composition and field recording, analogue film, narrative graphic comic strips, poetry, installation, large-scale immersive drawing and more.