On the first day of the Jardin de passage, artist and designer Nancy Guilmette transforms Corridor into a greenhouse-gallery, planting seeds from near-extinct plant species. Amidst heated carpets, adapted lighting, domes and thermometers — and dressed in an orange jumpsuit — Guilmette will perform the daily ritual of taking care of the growing seedlings in front of the local public. A Corridor livestream camera (www.corridormtl.com) also allows the international community to follow the germination of these heirloom seeds as they bloom into a green urban canopy.
By bringing the garden into a gallery in the centre of the city, Guilmette creates a living installation inspired by the biodiversity of the region. Her performance considers the idea of nature by design — the cultivation and breeding of rare plant species and their aesthetic roles in urban spaces.
Guilmette will be present at the space six days a week, during which time visitors are welcome to enter and explore the gallery. After the 30 days of the installation, sprouted seedlings will be given out at a closing event on May 30. The experience will summon visitors into a new relationship with the artist and the installation, inviting them to become participants by disseminating the rare seedlings and perpetuating the life of the garden.
