Andra Ragusila: Rooted – Envisioning an Era of Connection

Andra Ragusila, Welcome Home

Andra Ragusila
Rooted – Envisioning an Era of Connection

June 4 – 9, 2024
Opening Reception & Artist Talk: June 6, 2024, 7 pm – 9 pm
Show Gallery, Toronto
Online Preview: andra-ragusila.art/rooted

Rooted presents an immersive exploration of the intertwined relationship between humanity and the natural world through the mediums of drawing, painting and soundscapes. The exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the deep bonds between us and nature. The exhibition is a catalyst for viewers to reimagine their place in the intricate tapestry of life.

Rather than succumbing to despair in the face of environmental challenges, Rooted offers a hopeful vision of our collective future built on understanding and interconnection. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of personal, emotional connections with nature and imagines a world where understanding and protection are freely exchanged. What if our connection with the Earth resembled that of a family member or a loved one?

Images (left to right) Andra Ragusila, Winter and Spring (detail).

Ragusila examines nature’s seasons as metaphors for our lives’ seasons. Each season represents a stage in the healing process as we reconnect with our hope for the future.

Spring is the tender daring for new hope.

Summer is the embodiment of power as we commit to our path.

Fall is the courage to celebrate imperfect successes along the way.

Winter represents the knowing that we deserve rest even if the work is unfinished. It will take multiple generations working together with hope.

About the Artist

Andra Ragusila (she/her) explores the human experience through the human form. She creates artwork that captures personal journeys of transformation and celebrates our interconnections with each other and with the natural world. By showing the parts that are usually kept hidden, Ragusila aims to create the art she needed when she was younger, to help others feel less alone in their experiences.

Ragusila currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and art history from the University of Toronto. Ragusila was the recipient of the 2019 Scarborough Arts 34th Annual Award. She has exhibited in shows in Toronto, Ottawa and Costa Rica.

Email: andra.ragusila@gmail.com
Website: andra-ragusila.art
Instagram @andra.ragusila

Andra Ragusila, A gust of Joy (detail)

About Show Gallery

Showcasing incredible talent and celebrating Artists with disabilities in the community.

Show Gallery
978 Queen Street West
Toronto ON M6J 1H1
showgalleryat978queenstwtoront.godaddysites.com
416-356-9153

Accessibility
Show Gallery is partially accessible. There is an entrance ramp, however there are no accessible washrooms. For more information, please email andra.ragusila@gmail.com.

Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the land on which Rooted is being presented is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We recognize the enduring presence and resilience of Indigenous peoples in being the original caretakers of the land.

May this exhibition serve as a step towards greater awareness, understanding, and respect for the land and its original stewards. May it also inspire us to reject a system of environmental, cultural and social exploitation and destruction.

Image descriptions:
1) Depicts a lush forest. The silhouette of a figure emerges from the mist, inviting the viewer in.
2) Left: Depicts an older woman resting under an old rewood tree. She is reaching for a pinecone. Right: Shows a detail of a young woman’s face lit by the sunrise.
3) Depicts a young girl bathed in a colorful light and surrounded by colorful falling leaves.