From June 1 to 25, the Indigenous Resurgence Project (IRP) and the Kamloops Art Council are hosting the second annual all-Indigenous art exhibition, Redefining the Perspective, at the Courthouse Gallery.
During the exhibition opening reception on June 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can meet with the artists while enjoying light refreshments.
The IRP works with Indigenous artists throughout the B.C. interior and provides opportunities to showcase unique artwork in pop-up markets and gallery settings. This upcoming exhibition will showcase 10 artists of varying skill levels and disciplines from around the region.
Lyssa Martin sat down with IRP founder, artist and fellow Wren reporter Shay Paul to get the scoop ahead of opening day.
Q: Let’s rewind a bit before getting into the Indigenous art exhibition. Can you tell me about the IRP? How did it start and what are the goals for the project?
Shay: IRP started in 2018 as a result of a high school project for a special topic elective course about social justice. My research topic was “addressing the effects of intergenerational trauma through art.” At the end of the semester we created action plans to positively impact our communities. Me, being an artist and not knowing how to do things small, thought, “how about an art show?”
That first show was called Artists for Reconciliation and featured nine artists coming together through art to examine the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada, and Kamloops more specifically.
In 2022, the project officially launched with a brand and a website. It’s meant as a way to connect people and share resources between communities, like a community-based hub. Right now, a lot of the project’s resources are online. For example, we have an online Indigenous directory that hosts dozens of different independent artists and service providers in the region.
The number one thing I heard from the participants was that they wanted to get to know other Indigenous artists and feel connected. Over the years since that first show, I’ve organized networking events and other pop-up markets for artists to get to know each other. We’ve got a little community now, and I’m always excited to meet new people and hear about the art happening in the area.
Q: The Indigenous art exhibition is titled Redefining the Perspective. What is the meaning behind the name?
Shay: It’s about redefining what it is to create Indigenous art.
There are a lot of stereotypes and preconceptions about what Indigenous art is and have certainly experienced this myself. There is often a pressure to provide art that fits a certain look or can be easily categorized.
The exhibition is all about showing that Indigenous art can come in many different shapes and forms, and may not always look like people expect it to. It’s about supporting artists from all disciplines and backgrounds and giving everyone an equal opportunity to be involved.
Q: With that in mind, what can folks expect to see at this year’s Indigenous art exhibition?
Shay: Art which was made lovingly with someone’s hands, with no limitation as to what form that takes.
What I am looking for when accepting applications is an aspect of personal creativity and hands-on development from the artist. That could be textile work, collage, acrylic, paint or ink, beadwork, basketry, metalwork or anything really.
The central question of the exhibition is what it means to be an Indigenous artist working in a gallery space. We’re coming from a grassroots and decolonial perspective and deconstructing what it means to take space in a gallery as an artist.
There are big and small pieces, as well as things folks may not envision when they think of gallery art or Indigenous art. There could be comic book pages or fantasy artwork. Last year we had a literary entry featuring pages from an author’s book in progress.
Q: Was there anything that surprised you in the lead up to the show?
Shay: This year, while I received the same volume of submissions from a similar number of artists, the amount of art is much greater; both the number of pieces and the size of them. Last year we were a bit worried about having enough pieces to fill the gallery and now we have the opposite problem, which is not a bad place to be.
Another thing is that we only have one repeat artist – two counting myself. So, this is a totally new group of artists that haven’t exhibited with IRP before and that is exciting.
Q: Do you have a message for Indigenous artists in Kamloops and beyond?
Shay: Being an Indigenous artist simply means that you are Indigenous, and you make art. It doesn’t matter what that art looks like or what form it takes. The point is that it is made.
Q: Is there anything else folks should know?
Shay: The IRP is 100 per cent volunteer-run and funded. I am looking to form a volunteer committee of Indigenous artists to help grow the project and be involved in shaping its future.
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