“I Am a Tree”, an inner voyage

The expression of an intimate relationship with nature through a deeply personal journey

September 15, 2025

I Am a Tree (Je suis un arbre) is an exhibition by Catherine Magnan, presented from September 11 to October 12, 2025, at the Arts Sutton Arts Centre, in the heart of the village of Sutton in the beautiful Eastern Townships. This project combines Magnan’s exploration of naturalistic drawing with her passion for creating works that transcend conventional frameworks, moving toward installation-based approaches. Inspired by a desire to experience art as personal exploration, the works in this exhibition are rooted in direct contact with the outdoors.

Inspired by a desire to experience art as personal exploration, the works in this exhibition are rooted in direct contact with the outdoors.

Magnan seeks a deeper connection with the subtle energies of nature, refining her perception of the natural world. The exhibition’s pieces are supported by a herbarium, which she assembled from natural elements gathered during her creative process. Ultimately, I Am a Tree conveys an intimate, inward journey marked by a profound connection with nature and the land.

“This unique project aims to unify my practice in naturalistic drawing with my desire to create works whose spatial presentation moves away from conventional framing, leaning more toward installation-based approaches. In a pursuit of experiencing art as a form of self-exploration, the common thread among the works created for this exhibition lies in their connection to outdoor settings.”

“I engage in rituals that foster a deeper connection with the subtle energies of the forest—such as meditation—and immerse myself in its heart to refine my sensitive perception of the natural world and develop a renewed perspective on it. It is with this mindset that I gathered a variety of natural elements to create the herbarium that forms the foundation of my visual representations.”

Catherine Magnan

Catherine Magnan is a multidisciplinary artist, born in 1991, who grew up in Kingsey Falls, Quebec. She pursued her studies in visual arts between 2008 and 2013 at Cégep de Ste-Foy and Université Laval in Quebec City. During these years, she discovered the art of printmaking and was fascinated by its endless technical possibilities and the accessibility it brings to art, leading her to choose it as her principal medium.

After her studies, she spent a few years living in Montreal before undertaking an extensive road trip through the Americas that took her all the way to Buenos Aires. During her travels, due to limited access to printmaking equipment and materials, she focused on graphite and ink drawing, keeping her art practice alive in sketchbooks until 2018.

She then settled in Quito, Ecuador, where she developed a deep passion for teaching art—a vocation she continues to this day. Magnan returned to Quebec in August 2021 and now creates work inspired by her international experience and the different environments she has encountered. Her art has been exhibited in various cities, including Quebec, Montreal, Rimouski, Kingsey Falls, and Quito.

Les Rendez-vous Arts Sutton

The seventh edition of Les Rendez-vous Arts Sutton will be held September 20 and 21 in the heart of the village of Sutton, at John-Sleeth Park. Organized in collaboration with the Town of Sutton, around forty artists from diverse backgrounds—emerging, semi-professional, and professional—will exhibit their works outdoors to celebrate contemporary and current art.

The event aims to energize the community and close the summer season in a friendly atmosphere, showcasing the diversity of artistic practices while fostering exchanges between the public and the creators.

“I am a tree.”
by Catherine Magnan

Galerie d’art contemporain Arts Sutton
7 Academy Street, Sutton, Quebec J0E 2K0
September 11 to October 12, 2025
Open Thursday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
info@artssutton.com • 450-538-256

Image: Courtesy of Arts Sutton

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