вінок = Vinok : a northern story

2019 +

An exploration of northern place, environmental degradation, climate change, home, history and culture through the lens of the vinok.

The vinok is a woman’s headpiece, traditionally created from flowers and grasses during summer solstice rituals.

In this project Erin created wearable sculptural vinoks (or vinky) based on 12 specfic sites in and around her home town of Yellowknife. Once completed, they were brought back to their site of origin in a ritual return and photographed.

Not only wearable items of beauty, vinoks are also charged Ukrainian symbols and divination tools. What beauty speaks through degradation? What impacts do we humans have upon our land?

Supported by the NWT Arts Council, 2024/25.

Con Mine dock, returned to source photograph by Angela Gzowski