Art exhibition putting spotlight on Indigenous women's voices – Regina Leader Post

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Regina-based artist Melanie Monique Rose uses Saskatchewan’s native plants to dye the fibers she uses in her artwork, a deeply personal nod to her experience as an Indigenous artist connected to the land on which she lives.

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“I take these plants, like goldenrod, and create colour with them to dye my wool that I use,” said Rose. “All the colours I have there have been taken from Treaty Four territory, for my needle felting.”

Rose is both artist and curator of the exhibition titled ᑌᐸᑯᐦ or Tepakohp, which means “seven” in Cree, a multi-media exhibition of works from seven Saskatchewan artists that uses art to share their experiences as Indigenous women.

The unique collection is set to debut at the Cathedral Village Arts Festival next week, before it begins an extended tour across the province with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.

ᑌᐸᑯᐦ includes artwork from Audie Murray, Larissa Kitchemonia, Stacey Fayant and Brandy Jones, among others, who each contributed several pieces, each of which represents their lived experiences in a way that examines connections with the land.

Rose envisioned the exhibition because she wanted to place the experiences of Indigenous women on centre stage, as traditionally theirs are voices that have been stifled.

“It’s really all about uplifting and amplifying,” said Rose. “I wanted the artists to think about something that’s important to them, that they want to share through their art.”

What resulted is a series of very personal pieces, she said, that touch on topics ranging from experiencing Indigenous motherhood to discovering identity, grappling with grief and navigating injustices.

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A striking self-portrait by artist Marcy Friesen tells the story of her reaching comfortableness with her Welsh and Cree heritage; a piece from Donna Langhorne examines her journey of reconnecting with her Anishinaabe roots after being adopted by a white family as a child.

“A lot of the works are really speaking to connection and reconnection,” said Rose. “It’s quite contemporary, but definitely you can see how it’s rooted in tradition.”

For Rose, the overarching goal is to educate the audience on the experience of being Indigenous in the current climate.

“We know we have a major problem here in Canada, with missing and murdered Indigenous women and negative stereotypes that just aren’t true,” said Rose. “I really wanted to use my gifts as an artist as a form of activism.”

Rose is enthusiastic to be partnered with both OSAC and the festival to show ᑌᐸᑯᐦ, to reach audiences across the province. OSAC’s tour will take the physical exhibition to Prince Albert, Estevan, Indian Head and more over the next two years.

But the show’s Regina debut will be at the upcoming arts festival in Cathedral, which begins on Monday. ᑌᐸᑯᐦ will be on continual display throughout the week, on the digital billboard located at Westminster United Church.

It will be the first time the festival has hosted an art installation in this way, said chair Marilyn Turnley, and the nature will allow for hopefully more reach than a typical display inside a venue.

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“It offers an opportunity for people on bikes, walking, driving by to see it up close and personal,” said Turnley.

Turnley said the festival is excited to be the first look at the collection.

“Diversity and inclusiveness has always been at the forefront of the festival,” said Turnley. “This is how we build community — we bring art together in this way.”

The artists featured in ᑌᐸᑯᐦ will also be attending personally on the final day, Saturday, to interact with festival-goers and offer original art pieces for purchase — both their own, and from other Indigenous artists.

“It’s about opening that door for other artists,” said Rose. “Creating that space for the next generation, which I think is the whole spirit of the exhibition.”

lkurz@postmedia.com

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