Research Team

Jennifer Green is an Associate Professor of Textiles/Fashion at NSCAD University. Green has been engaged in natural fibre research through studio-based practice since 2010.Her graduate work at the Royal College of Art, as well as her experience within the Belgian denim industry informed her approach to sustainable textile practice and subsequent collaboration with Taproot Farms. Recent research projects, such as Woolgathering: Revitalizing a Local and Sustainable Wool Industry in Nova Scotia, have focused on the development of a local natural fibre industry by creating networking opportunities for geographically decentralized farmers and craftspeople in the region.

︎Personal site
︎NSCAD
︎TEDxNSCAD talk by Jennifer Green

Rhonda Ferguson works at the intersection of craft, agriculture, and social justice research at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design. She has a doctoral degree in International Human Rights Law (Irish Centre for Human Rights at Ollscoil na  Gaillimhe) and a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities (Laurentian University). Her research interests include food and material security, farmer and craftsperson livelihoods, the sub-regime of economic, social, and cultural rights, and their implications for craft. Rhonda's creative interests are nurtured through ongoing learning at NSCAD (Textiles) and previously, OCAD (Material Art and Design: Textiles).

︎Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design

Based in Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island, Kirstie McCallum is a sculptor and installation artist who draws on craft practices, organic gardening, and DIY science to explore cycles of growth and decay, material agency, and environmental sustainability. Through her work, she has highlighted the shifting relationships of care, exploitation, and interdependence that exist between plants, people, and the land. Kirstie holds an MFA from OCADU and MA in creative writing from the University of New Brunswick. Kirstie teaches at OCADU, NSCAD University, and curates for the Art in the Open Festival in Charlottetown in addition to being the Project Manager with the Flaxmobile Project.

Laura Bucci is an interdisciplinary artist working within a dialogical art practice as a mode of inquiry into togetherness and belonging. Her projects unfold in galleries, cafes, on the street, in nature, and online and have taken the shape of informal interviews, unstructured and facilitated group conversations, service-oriented acts, and skill sharing gatherings. Through her work she seeks to disrupt the everyday and to make connections with the public through planned and unplanned encounters. She is currently a candidate in the MA in Art Education at NSCAD. She practices in Coast Salish Territory in BC and in Mi’kmaq territory in Nova Scotia.  

︎ Personal site

Caitlyn Gass is a multi-disciplinary designer and digital illustrator focused on concept art, specializing in character design. Based out of Kjipuktuk: Halifax, her work is inspired by nature's bright colors, plus-size artists, and the many women in her family. Her background in design at NSCAD University allows her to problem-solve and deep dive into researching her latest work. Caitlyn's love for a character's story helps bring her projects to life.

︎Personal site

Brielle LeBlanc is an emerging filmmaker and production designer based in Kjipuktuk: Halifax. They experiment with the boundaries of narrative filmmaking, inspired by topics of memory, intimacy and connection to land and community in their work. They received their undergraduate studies at the University of King’s College and Dalhousie, majoring in Cinema and Media Studies and double minoring in English and Contemporary Studies.

LeBlanc takes pride in working with other artists to bring their vision to life. They are often found on the set of local union and independent film, television, and commercial productions. In addition, LeBlanc has previously worked for the Atlantic International Film Festival and Women in Film and Television - Atlantic.

Shelby is a Toronto based Maker and Designer. She received her Bachelor of Arts Honours in Studio Art from the University of Guelph, and completed certificate programs in Data Visualization and Infographics at George Brown College and UX Design at Brainstation. Shelby’s most recent work has been focused on sustainability, food sovereignty, and community engagement.

She is interested in finding humour in human behaviour, exploring mundane histories and objects, making collections through connections, visualising stories and making projects and ideas approachable. Her practice is mainly informed by accident.