Do Not Throw Away

Do Not Throw Away is an exhibition that combines photography, sculpture, and fragrance to explore how ordinary possessions can become vessels for grief and remembrance. Through this work, the gallery is transformed into an immersive space that invites the viewer to consider: How do we carry grief? What do we do when someone leaves this world? They are not here, but their presence is strongly felt in the objects and photographs that remain. Where do their things go? We cannot keep everything, but what should we keep, what will help us remember?

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Amber Lee Williams is a visual artist that lives and works in St. Catharines, ON. She has a BA (Honours) in Studio Art from Brock University (2020) and an MFA from the University of Waterloo (2022). She has taught many classes and workshops (photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.) in Niagara, at locations such as: Niagara Artists Centre, Brock University, Niagara College, RiverBrink Art Museum, Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, and more. Her research often resides in and around the home; observing and photographing the daily lives of her children, as well as drawing inspiration from the possessions and photographs left behind by deceased loved ones. Navigating the inevitable shifting of relationships, and thinking about how everyday objects can serve as prompts to remembering are important methodologies in her work. Primarily working in various experimental photographic and sculptural mediums, Amber not only explores the ways in which we remember, but also all that is lost. With a particular interest in the concepts of grief and longing, her work reflects on the ephemeral nature of existence.