When Life Gives You Invasives Make Art!

When Life Hands You Invasives, Make Art – Explores the Connection Between Art and Nature

Local fibre artist, ink maker and basket weaver Christi York teams up with local conservationist Hunter Jarrat to give informative and entertaining slide presentations about their particular passions. Christi hand harvests plant materials, often the ever present invasive species that harm our local ecology, and makes them into beautiful and meaningful art. Hunter seeks out areas in the local landscapes to remove invasive plants and restore to the natural habitat of bees, bugs and birds. Don’t miss this presentation where art and ecology unite to make our beautiful world better.

Media Release
NANAIMO, BC – Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) Native Plant Nursery is pleased to present a talk with artist Christi York and local conservationist Hunter Jarratt on Saturday, February 21 from 1:00 – 3:30 pm – When Life Hands You Invasives, Make Art – at Bowen Park Complex Room 1.
In this talk, York and Jarratt will explore the relationship between invasive species and sense of place from their unique perspectives.
As an artist who works with plant materials, Christi York hand harvests plants, including invasives, for use in her basketry work, a technique she’s been studying for the past 13 years. Engaging in ancient plant technologies and hand skills that have been passed down through generations, York describes her process as “a kind of moving meditation.”
You can find Hunter Jarratt on social media as the Invasive Species Guy where he creates educational content focusing on invasive species management, particularly in Garry Oak and associated ecosystems. Recipient of the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia’s 2025 Rising Star Award, Jarratt works with a number of local environmental organizations and owns an ecological restoration business.
We hope that you will join us on February 21st to hear both exciting speakers and help support the important work the NALT Native Plant Nursery is doing in the community to promote the use of native plants in our gardens.

Contact plants@nalt.bc.ca with any questions.
Tickets $15 at the door or on evenbrite https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1981749772918?aff=oddtdtcreator