Project Objective:
Oases was born in response to, and of observations made during lockdown in a global pandemic, 2020. Completing a thesis in isolation offered new challenges, not only as a student, but also as a human being facing uncertainty in the world around them.
As as avid hiker/camper/naturalist who incorporates nature exposure as active self care, I was struck in particular by lockdown news reports of record park attendance in all areas of Toronto - some to the degree where parks required temporary shuttering, as it resulted in unsustainable damage to local flora. Humans need touchpoint with the natural world for health and wellbeing. The pandemic emphasized this truth.
As I explored thesis directions early in the process, this discussion with my advisor landed me on a path to discovering The Lost Rivers Project - An initiative in Toronto that informs of the many now-polluted waterways running through the city. Through them, I was inspired to engage not only in a thought experiment on what physical beacons could dovetail with this established initiative, but also an awareness campaign that illuminates what's been lost, and the importance of stewardship in our fragile urban green spaces, so that we perhaps don't as readily disregard the importance of the natural world that supports us all.
Project Timeline: Two Semesters
Click above image to view project book as flipbook, or scroll down for full spread!
Project Video
Project Booklet Spread
