Essences of the Wild by Doris Charest
SITE #5:
The Westin
Doris Charest
Essences of the Wild
VENUE ADDRESS: 10135 100 St NW Edmonton, AB T5J0N7
Open 24/7
Doris Charest, Detail of Essence-The fire [Le feu], 2025. Sculpture, 5 x 7, (Photo by K. Tan).
Essences of the Wild asks us to slow down and engage with small, often unnoticed elements of the natural world. Mixed media sculptures invite viewers to imagine the stories created in each piece. The shells draw attention to the small and often-overlooked pieces of nature.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“My artistic practice is shaped by an ongoing exploration of our relationship with the natural world—its beauty, fragility, and quiet resilience. As a multidisciplinary artist, I create work that invites viewers to pause, observe, and reconnect with the subtle details that nature offers but are so often overlooked. ”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, walking became an essential part of my process, opening a new pathway into sculpture. Through these walks, I began gathering small fragments of experience—a seed, a footprint, a fleeting texture—which now serve as the points of departure for my work. These seemingly ordinary moments evolve into visual narratives that reflect both personal memory and broader environmental awareness.
My process is intuitive and grounded in routine, most often unfolding in the quiet hours of the morning. I approach making as a dialogue between myself, my materials, and the natural world. Many of my sculptures carry quiet, embedded stories, encouraging close looking and leaving space for viewers to discover their own meanings.
I am deeply influenced by the philosophy of Kintsugi, where breakage and repair become part of an object’s history rather than something to conceal. In this spirit, I work with found materials, natural elements collected during walks, and reclaimed objects. By embracing imperfection, I aim to highlight resilience and reveal the inherent value in what might otherwise be discarded. Each piece becomes a collaboration between nature, material, and imagination. Ultimately, my work seeks to slow time, spark curiosity, and foster a deeper, more poetic appreciation of the world around us.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Doris Charest is a multidisciplinary artist from northern Alberta, where growing up on a farm shaped the foundation of her artistic practice. This early connection to the land fostered a lasting sensitivity to the rhythms, details, and materials of the natural world. She currently resides in St. Albert, Alberta, where she continues to explore themes of nature, transformation, and the human connection to the environment.
Working across a range of mediums, Charest incorporates found materials, natural elements gathered during walks, and reclaimed objects. Her practice highlights the beauty in what is often overlooked or discarded, embracing imperfection as a reflection of resilience and renewal. Through careful arrangement and storytelling, her work invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and engage more deeply with the natural world. Each piece is a collaboration between nature, materials, and imagination. Collectively, her work creates moments of pause and offers a poetic invitation to rediscover the quiet significance of the world around us.
Charest has received a mentorship grant with Lyndal Osborne and was awarded a scholarship from the International Society of Artists. Her installations have been presented as immersive, contemplative spaces that spark curiosity and encourage reflection, including exhibitions at the CAVA Gallery in 2025 and the Alberta Society of Artists Gallery in 2026.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorischarest/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorischarest
Website: https://www.dorischarest.ca/