Cheryl Buckmaster
University of Saskatchewan
Ink and acrylic paint on Mulberry paper
42” h x 18” w
2022
Cheryl’s “draft” painting of project research findings proving naphthenic acid are (NA’s= difficult toxins in tailings pond water) taken up into Slender Wheatgrass. Constructed treatment wetland’s have the potential to work with nature as a whole and give back to the surrounding ecosystems. “Filtering” honours the incredible power of wetland plants, nature’s food chain cycle, and the trickster Coyote, acknowledging the unknowns yet to be discovered. Could it be that the plant safely dissolves the toxin? Does the plant store toxins as is, or transform the toxins into another substance? Is the new substance safe? Are the toxins, or new substances, transferred into seeds – or do they evaporate into the surrounding air? Are the genes of the plant/seeds affected? What happens if the plant or seeds are ingested by wildlife? The GROW projects natural scientists are essential for conducting experiments and finding answers
