On view: 101 beadworks by 44 First
Nations, Inuit and Métis artists ranging from wearable art and
portraiture to installation and video, connecting past and
present.
OTTAWA,
ON, May 16, 2024 /CNW/ - Beading is one
of the defining mediums of contemporary Indigenous art on this
continent. Until September 30, 2024,
the National Gallery of Canada
(NGC) will present Radical Stitch, an exhibition
organized and circulated by the MacKenzie Art Gallery. The largest
survey exhibition of contemporary Indigenous beadwork ever
presented on Turtle Island/North
America, Radical Stitch brings together 101
works by 44 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists from across
Canada and the United States, conveying much-needed
critical attention to the breadth and impact of this practice.
From early beads made of seeds and shells, to trade beads and
computer pixels, Indigenous artists have long used beadwork to tell
stories, honour loved ones and celebrate beauty. As they embrace
techniques and knowledge passed from previous generations, today's
Indigenous artists are using beading to address concerns and
concepts related to history, decolonization and
resistance.
"Today, from the world's runways to the pavilions at this year's
Venice Biennale, beading practices are getting some long overdue
attention. This exhibition goes beyond making a statement, it
celebrates a rich form of art that has flourished through the
ages," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director & CEO,
National Gallery of Canada. "We
are thankful for this fruitful partnership with the MacKenzie Art
Gallery. These kinds of collaborations are key for building
relationships that help to elevate works by incredible artists and
share them with art lovers across all regions."
"Indigenous beading is one of our generation's most exciting
movements in contemporary art," said John G. Hampton, Executive Director &
CEO at the MacKenzie. "Rooted in cultural and territorial
specificity, beadwork is especially relevant in this moment of
cultural shift and divide. Artists are leading a path for honouring
long-held wisdom alongside innovation, evolution, and community. We
are thrilled to bring this exhibition to the National Gallery of
Canada, as an opportunity to
contemplate our national identity through diverse Indigenous
perspectives that don't conform to the borders that divide Turtle
Island."
Radical Stitch is curated by
Sherry Farrell Racette, PhD, Professor at the
Department of Visual Arts at the University of
Regina, scholar, author, curator, and artist;
Cathy Mattes, PhD, curator, writer, and Associate
Professor in History of Art at the University
of Winnipeg; and Michelle
LaVallee, Director, Indigenous Ways and Curatorial
Initiatives at the NGC.
The exhibition is making its fourth stop at the National Gallery
of Canada before travelling to the
Beaverbrook Art Gallery (November 30,
2024 – March 2, 2025) and the
Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis
(April 1 – August 3, 2025). The tour is supported by the
Canada Council for the Arts. The Ottawa presentation has been expanded to
include 15 works on loan that will only be on view at the
NGC. Jocelyn Piirainen, Associate Curator, Indigenous
Ways and Decolonisation at NGC, is the coordinating curator of the
exhibition at the Gallery.
Participating artists include Barry
Ace, Hannah Claus,
Ruth Cuthand, Audie Murray, Elias Not Afraid, Margaret Nazon, Taqralik Partridge, Jobena
Petonoquot, Nico Williams,
Skawennati and many more.
Catalogue
Radical Stitch is accompanied
by a publication co-published by the National Gallery of
Canada and the MacKenzie Art
Gallery featuring essays by curators and community scholars and
full-colour images of works by all the artists in the exhibition.
It will be available at the Gallery's Boutique and online at
ShopNGC.ca starting May 17,
2024.
Inspiration Space and public programming
The Gallery
has created the Inspiration Space, in conjunction with
Radical Stitch. Opening on May 16 at 5 p.m. ET, and accessible during
the Gallery's opening hours this summer, the Inspiration
Space offers self-directed activities for all ages to enhance
their understanding of beading.
Several artists will be in the exhibition space during the
opening weekend, on May 18 and 19, to
discuss the ideas and inspiration behind selected pieces in a
series of 10-minute spot talks.
To find out more about the public programming in conjunction
with Radical Stitch, visit the exhibition page at
gallery.ca.
About the National Gallery of Canada
Ankosé | Everything is
Connected | Tout est relié
The National Gallery of
Canada (NGC) is dedicated to
amplifying voices through art and extending the reach and breadth
of its collection, exhibitions program, and public activities to
represent all Canadians, while centring Indigenous ways of knowing
and being. Ankosé—an Anishinaabemowin word that means "everything
is connected"—reflects the Gallery's mission to create dynamic
experiences that open hearts and minds, and allow for new ways of
seeing ourselves, one another, and our diverse histories, through
the visual arts. NGC is home to a rich contemporary Indigenous
international art collection, as well as important collections of
historical and contemporary Canadian and European art from the 14th
to the 21st century. Founded in 1880, NGC has played a key role in
Canadian culture for more than 140 years. For more information,
visit gallery.ca.
About the Makenzie Art Gallery
The MacKenzie Art
Gallery is Saskatchewan's oldest
public art gallery, and is committed to creating transformative
experiences of the world through art. With a permanent collection
that spans 5,000 years and nearly 5,000 works of art, we encompass
both the University of Regina's vast
collection and one of Canada's
largest collections of Indigenous art, the Kampelmacher Memorial
Collection. Through art, education, and immersive programming, the
MacKenzie brings fresh perspectives that transform how people
experience history, themselves, and each other.
The MacKenzie is located in Wascana Park, Oskana Kâ'asastêki in
Treaty Four territory, the traditional—and contemporary—territory
of the Nehiyawak, Saulteaux, Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people, and
the homeland of the Métis Nation. We are grateful for the support
of the Mackenzie Art Gallery Operating Endowment Fund at the South
Saskatchewan Community Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts;
SaskCulture; the City of Regina;
the University of Regina; and the SK
Arts. For more information, visit mackenzie.art.
SOURCE National Gallery of Canada