Understory

---

Understory

Heather Good

Exhibition runs from Aug 13 – Aug 29, 2026

Opening ceremony:

• Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
• Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
• Location: Kootenay Gallery of Art, 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar BC

Understory explores the quiet life of the forest and draws from the rhythms and textures of the natural world— the layers of growth, decay, renewal, and beauty surrounding us. Through translating light, pattern, and memory into form, each piece builds slowly.  Rather than just depicting place, Understory invites viewers into a sense of connection — to the ground beneath us, the living systems that hold us, and to memory and human experience. 

This work is predominantly inspired by the natural environment and the quiet life of the forest.  As I work on these pieces, I think about what the shapes, gestures, and lines symbolize for me. They start out as marks in response to what I see in nature—mossy rocks, debris on the ground, leaves or flowers in their life cycles. As the paintings evolve, I consider what I want to cover up, leave behind, and what I want the viewer to see from underneath the layers. Through this process I become deeply reflective of my internal world.  Shapes and colours may represent time, space, memory, and/or perception. The pieces become the culmination of a personal journey and a record of moments in nature.