City Secrets

Artwork Description: A wooden window frames a moving narrative of urban existence. Cityscapes crafted from the pages of newspapers represent the blurred lines between human constructs and natural rhythms, challenging our perceptions of separation. A haunting, unnatural purple haze rises from concrete pavements and rooftops to blanket the skyline in a bubble, a tangible manifestation of the Urban Heat Island effect, where concrete jungles breed climate change. Dispersed throughout the cityscape, unexpected inhabitants navigate the concrete web, their presence a testament to the delicate dance between adaptation and extinction in the face of relentless urbanization.

A representation of my master's thesis. 

Artist's Bio:  Hastings is a scientist by day and an artist by night; she fuels her passion for both through each other. Currently, she is completing her master's of science degree, investigating the effects of urbanization on wildlife. Hastings also authored a poetry book titled "From Under the Lily Pad," which covers overcoming adversity and motivation. Her main passion is writing, blending her science and art into wildlife education articles published regularly for the Alberta Institute For Wildlife Conservation and The Fur-Bearers. Hastings has nurtured her childhood love for animals into an impressive scientific and artistic career.

Artist's statement: My art practice is inspired and influenced by the notion of letting go. The best thing I taught myself was to let go. Let go of the expectations, and magic will happen. Let go of attempting clean lines with acrylic paint and embrace the blurry edges. Let go of proper rhyming expected with poetry and write how you feel it. Only when I embraced this notion entirely did my art begin to thrive. Now, for me, art isn't about the rules; it's whatever the piece needs to be.

Artist's contact info: hollyahastings@gmail.com