“floralia” by Kelly McDonald

“floralia” by Kelly McDonald
Galerie Old Chelsea, Chelsea, Quebec
July 2 to 19, 2026
Vernissage: Saturday July 11, 1-4 pm

Galerie Old Chelsea is pleased to welcome Kelly McDonald, a photographer whose practice is shaped by her experience living with Parkinson’s disease. Through a contemplative process and the use of locally grown botanicals, she reflects on the ongoing physical changes brought about by this degenerative condition.

Floralia was an ancient Roman festival celebrating Flora, the goddess of flowers. With its joyful spirit, the festival featured blooms, symbolizing renewal, growth, and abundance, something that greatly inspires McDonald.

The Floralia exhibition at Galerie Old Chelsea is a personal festival exploring themes of change, resilience, and perseverance. It includes pieces that have shaped her practice, as well as previously unseen works from the series she is developing, Noctiflora.

The botanicals she photographs appear at different stages of their life cycle. In the monochrome images, fading tones echo both the diminishing colour of dying plants and the physical losses those living with Parkinson’s experience. In contrast, the colour images, in which botanicals are submerged in water, suggest renewal, offering a sense of possibility and hope within the present reality.

Many of the photographs are printed on soft washi paper, whose delicate texture contrasts with the difficult truths the work holds. This material choice reflects both what we try to preserve and what we must inevitably face, acknowledging the uncertainty that lies ahead for the botanicals and for those living with Parkinson’s.

We invite all of you to view this breathtaking show.

Galerie Old Chelsea, which features local artists, is located in the beautiful Gatineau Hills above award-winning Les Fougères restaurant situated at 783 route 105, Chelsea, Québec, J9B1P1.
www.galerieoldchelsea.ca; Facebook: Galerie Old Chelsea (on Route 105, not on Scott)