Presented in conjunction with Inspiring Change for the Climate Crisis (i3C) exhibit on view in April.

An artist talk on art and protecting the environment, delving into the intricacies of modern recycling systems and up-cycling as an artistic practice. Covering the journey of materials through global recycling systems, it exposes their structural deficiencies hidden from the public’s awareness. It also presents a number of international artists, including some of the i3C artists, whose primary art-making medium is up-cycled materials.

About the presenter

Yulia Shtern is a Canadian Visual Artist. For over a decade, she has worked as a Scenic and Costume Designer for Theatre, Dance and Opera while maintaining an active visual art practice. Shtern earned a BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD U (Toronto, Canada), and an MFA in Scenic Design from UBC (Vancouver, Canada). Both her design work and her art have been recognized by numerous awards, including the 2nd Place Award for Sculpture by the Blue Lily of Florence Cultural Association (2019, Florence, Italy). Yulia’s art has been exhibited internationally and can be found in private collections across North America and Europe. Her series Magical Zoo consists of sculptures of animals created from up-cycled materials adhered with transparent varnish glue. It places an emphasis on environmental preservation and on sustainable artistic practices. Yulia takes special interest in gardening, traveling the world, and in the study of foreign languages.