Swimming Upstream
Jennifer Norton, Matt Rogalsky, Laura Murray, Dorit Naaman
An art installation, initially part of Next Door, Skeleton Park Arts Festival, 2021
Artists’ Statement
It may be hard to imagine it now, but in the past, fish were abundant in the Ka’tarohkwi river. In the 1750s, Pierre Pouchot reported that in the spring and early summer the creeks and rivers running into Lake Ontario teemed with spawning fish; “the quantities that go up on some days,” he wrote, “is inconceivable.” The Mississauga people (Mishi-zaagig – people of the large river mouths) depended on their fish relations for a large part of their livelihood. The construction of mills and dams and destruction of wetlands by settlers, not to mention overfishing and pollution, have drastically reduced the number of fish. They are still here, though. The herons and ospreys know that, and some of you do too! We hope this audio and video piece will immerse you in the fish world of this river.
For more information about the genesis of the project, see this blog post by Laura Murray; for how it is being received and animated, see here by Dorit Naaman.
Viewing Instructions
To see this piece, download the “Swimming Upstream AR” app from the App Store or Google Play. Go down to Douglas Fluhrer Park, and head for the shore at the south end, just north of Metalcraft Marine (map below). Look around until you see the sign of the fish. Open the app on your mobile device and allow your camera to be used. When you aim your mobile device at the sign, you will see animated content.
If you can’t go to the park, you can aim your camera at the image here from wherever you are, and see the content: it won’t be in context of the water and space, but we hope you’ll enjoy it nonetheless!
About the Artists
Jenn E Norton is an interdisciplinary artist who often uses animation as a starting point in her studio practice. Norton's recent works are interactive as a means to explore physical and virtual forms of communication, as seen in her kinetic sculpture, augmented reality apps, and particularly in her multimedia installations. Her videos and installations have been exhibited nationally and internationally and have won multiple awards. Norton is an adjunct lecturer and Post-Production Technician in Film and Media Studies at Queen's University.
For bios of Matt Rogalsky, Laura Murray, and Dorit Naaman, see here.