Alice Conniff is a Canmore-based multidisciplinary artist and educator, with a background in Applied Arts; Sustainable Design. Alice creates art that combines creativity with eco-conscious practices, exploring themes of interconnectedness and transformation.
“Much of my work is inspired by time spent recreating in the Rockies. I love to observe seasonal changes, shifting light and the rhythmic patterns of our environment. Connection is an important and recurring theme in my work.”
Alice obtained a BA(Hons) in Applied Art in 2001. She works as a Visual Art teacher and an Early Childhood Educator and has been teaching children here, in the Bow Valley, for the past 15 years. Working as a teacher of young children inspires Alice to maintain a creative approach to her artwork, constantly experimenting with new ideas and materials. As a lifelong learner, she is continually exploring ways to expand her understanding and expression.
“I always try to maintain a playful approach to my art. I work with many mediums such as acrylic paint, digital art, pen and ink illustration and recycling found materials. I really enjoy weaving because it combines repetitive motion and tactile engagement while creating something new. The act of intertwining fibers in a deliberate, step-by-step process promotes mindfulness. Old garments or fabrics, once given new purpose, become part of a larger, ongoing cycle. Through the act of weaving we are reminded that everything has value and that the things we discard can often be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful when given the chance to reconnect with the world.”
Alice believes in the power of creativity to cultivate empathy and raise awareness about environmental issues. As a teacher she encourages students to reimagine materials by seeing potential for new purposes. The process of weaving with recycled and found materials invites reflection on sustainability and the interconnectedness of human actions, the environment, and the future. In a world where we often separate ourselves from the impacts of consumption, recycling fabrics through weaving calls attention to the need for care, creativity, and responsibility in how we relate to the materials and environments around us.
