Lauren Bennett

Advisor: Shawn Bailey

Thesis Panel. Mapping of movement of commercial flowers.
Frames from A Blooming Business documentary, bordering landscapes of flower farms.
Cold chain transportation of cut flowers, watercolour, digital media.
Image from Masagana Flower Farm floral dye experience.
Reflecting on dye experience, how was the textile made? Photograph, ink on trace.
Drawing of perennial wildflower, fireweed. Graphite, digital collage.
Map of Northwestern Ontario + communities serviced by Meno Ya Win Health Centre. Digital map.

Villainizing the Dandelion

It was not until April 2017 that Health Canada agreed to cover the cost of providing an escort to women who are about to give birth, when travelling to a hospital from remote communities.  If this new mother were to be gifted flowers on this occasion, they would be received after consuming the highest carbon footprint per dollar item in the local grocery store.  By exploring the history and methods behind commodifying nature how do human values and architecture contribute to a system that profits off of emotion. How can we circle back to the gestures we experienced as children; why do we villainize the dandelion? This thesis investigates how these emotional affiliations to landscape influence the built environment and how meaningful gestures can be enacted through quality short term housing.

When exploring the human inclination to gift cut flowers during difficult, or celebratory times, can we conclude that this act is predominantly focused on aesthetics and emotion? How do these gifts create togetherness and support? What are alternatives to the commercialized gesture? Further, where are these acts of community absent and what is the affect? Sioux Lookout Ontario is home to 5,800 residents, and the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. The hospital built in 2012, services 33 northern communities, 28 of which are remote.  Nearly 85% of the population that use the services at this hospital require accommodations. Even without accounting for family support, and other visitors to Sioux Lookout, there is a considerable lack of quality accommodations. 

Commerce and human values greatly influence the built environment and at what point does the commodification of nature become a selling point altering landscapes, and communities through idealization, rather than responding to local needs? Ultimately, this research delves into promoting sustainable strategies, including human, cultural, economic, and environmental. All of which is motivated by the intrinsic human inclination towards nature, as illustrated by the ritual of giving flowers. Following the Honourable Harvest as outlined by Robin Wall-Kimmerer, how can granting agency to the natural world provide healing.