Victoria Piersig

Abject Transformations This body of work illustrates the growing disconnect between urbanites and the production of commodities that sustain them. Natural resources have driven Canadian settlement and the movement of staples to market has become a part of the Canadian psyche. And yet, for all our acknowledgment of the past and commodities that built our country, Canadians - even those who live along the major waterways - no longer attach any present-day relevance to shipping on the Great Lakes. Traveling aboard traditional Canadian-built lake freighters, I capture the 24 hour workdays filled variously with harsh beauty, discomfort, boredom, camaraderie and the ever changing environment. These images explore sites of old industries along the Great Lakes, which struggle to maintain their presence in the landscape and the ships that connect them. I have lived for thirty years in the shadow of a disused malting factory located along the central waterfront in Toronto. Considered an eyesore by many, I love the interplay of light and shadow on its scarred surface. A majestic retired fortress of food, it is the catalyst for this project begun in 2011