ABOUT SHAUNA LIORA

As a kid my Grandpa took us on week long ice fishing trips…

Deep in the northern Ontario wilderness, my Grandpa loved exploring new lakes. The challenge of getting there through the thick bush on snowmobile was half the fun, and there was always the hope we would find THE lake where all the fish were hiding. These were my earliest fond memories.

My Grandpa's passion to explore was the gift he gave me. It's taken me to places I could never have imagined, including an 1,100km, 25 day canoe expedition in Northern Canada filled with white water and polar bears. These are the moments that fill my soul.

 

When paddling a river, or climbing a peak there's a hunger that compels me to see what's around the next corner. Following this curiosity always takes me to beautiful places, both in art and adventure.

It all began with fire…

On a trip north of the Arctic Circle, in Inuvik, I met a First Nations artist who introduced me to the mystery of working with fire and ink. Utterly fascinated, I spent the next three years playing with fire and discovered entirely new techniques. These unique methods allow the fire to capture the movement of the ink, creating vibrant, one-of-a-kind art.

 

There is a wildness that I must accept when working with fire. I work with each piece repeatedly, using different processes to allow the alchemy of the flame to transform the ink on ceramic tile. I then have the privilege of bringing it to life by painting or drawing in my love for nature and adventure - a sacred, two-part process as the fire invites me into its story.

 

I love to create art that sparks joy and connects me to what lights up my soul.

I'll never forget the day my Dad took my up my first mountain…

 

Since I grew up in northern Ontario, I had mainly explored this land-of-a-thousand-lakes by canoe and snowmobile. When I was 12 we headed out on a road trip to British Columbia.

 

My Dad took me up a peak he had climbed when he was young. The endless views from the top sparked a 20-year career of guiding and instructing in the Rocky Mountains as a hiking and backpacking guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.

 

My 13 years with Search and Rescue and Canada Task Force 2 allowed me to give back in ways that filled my soul. I love getting lost, but only in the best of ways.

Like paddling a river, each piece is full of possibilities…

The fascinating thing about both adventure and art is that neither are necessary in any tangible way. Its about how it makes you feel. It's about where it can take you.

 

As I work with the fire, I often lose myself in the stories it tells me. It's an invitation to express my connection with the places I cherish and the free spirit of the wild.

 

It's from this ephemeral place that I create. When I embrace the unknown, it surprises me. Like being on an adventure, each piece I create presents a fresh landscape full of possibilities. The fire's wild nature expresses the essence of freedom. It takes me to wild places, both within and without.