The understory, situated beneath the tree canopy and above the forest floor, is a vibrant and dense layer of forest vegetation consisting of shrubs, herbaceous plants, ferns, small trees, and ground cover species. It plays a vital role in preserving an ecosystem’s biodiversity by regulating the forest’s microclimate—offering food and shelter to wildlife, along with recycling nutrients. Perhaps most notably within the context of climate catastrophe in so-called Canada, the understory also plays a crucial role in forest fire management. Low intensity forest fires and prescribed burns rely on a healthy understory to control the blaze, much like the understory relies on maintenance, often including fire, to avoid a deadly accumulation of flammable and nutrient-deficient dried plant matter. Amy Cardinal Christianson, a fire research scientist with the Canada Forest Service and advocate for Indigenous fire practices globally, refers to these mutually beneficial burns as, “good fires”. In her podcast of the same name, Christianson succinctly summarizes, “Good fire is about balance.”
CAFKA.25 draws inspiration from the intricate ecosystems of the forest understory, where life flourishes in the fleeting glow of dappled light and where intricate microhabitats thrive in the shadow of giants. Where a looming threat of destruction is met with a mutual understanding that sometimes we must clear away the old to make way for the new. For CAFKA.25, we are considering the possibilities of an urban understory where, below the tall buildings and executive suites, we see a rich tapestry of entwined narratives and a deep desire for balance and community. Through the works in the biennial, we are searching for the quiet places where life is nurtured and supported atop stable ground. Our understory serves as a place of shelter and intimate discovery where each artwork presents a bridge between the seen and unseen in everyday life.
CAFKA invites you to become part of the understory, to travel beneath the towering canopy and become one with the oft-stepped on and easily overlooked.
Expanded statement for CAFKA.25. Written by me and edited by Tara Cooper, on behalf of the CAFKA programming committee.
Field Notes from the biennial are coming soon!