magpie3studio

Wild Fire Country, Alberta. Secondhand licence plates painted with wildfire charcoal and oil paint, 2026.

Alberta is getting ready to roll out new Strong and Free (provincial motto) licence plates this year. (For over fifty years, Alberta’s licence plates displayed the slogan Wild Rose Country.) In response, I’ve made six Wild Fire Alberta licence plates, one for each community in Alberta where I, my friends and family have been evacuated from/affected by wildfires over the past few years.

The yellow licence plates were in use from 1975 to 1983, and I fondly remember them on vehicles when I was a kid, as yellow was my favourite colour. I now see the yellow on the plates as a warning, indicating a need to proceed with caution during a time of extensive wildfire activity and to prioritize our relationship to the land.

I’m excited to share my work has recently been acquired by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

There’s still time to register!

Lara Felsing is going to be running not one, but two workshops with us next week!

Be sure to reserve a spot in Upcycled Textile Landscape (ages 8-14) on Friday July 18, or in Upcycled Fabric Baskets (ages 15+) on Saturday July 19.

Spots are filling quickly! Register now online at artsandheritage.ca

A warm thank you to .affairs.canada for featuring my work at the 2025 in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada. 🍁

And a special thank you to Alberta Craft Council for sharing the call to submit. 😊