Weaving Cultural Identities

In the Main Gallery
June 19 to August 1, 2020

Artists: Angela George, Chief Janice George & Buddy Joseph, Dawn Livera & Adrienne Neufeld, Krista Point, Nadia Sajjid, Ruth Sheuing, Shamina Senaratne, Michelle Sirois Silver, Debra Sparrow, Robyn Sparrow, Mary Lou Trinkwon, Doaa Jamal, Damian John, Sholeh Mahlouji, Michelle Nahanee, and Kit Walton

In partnership with the Vancouver Biennale, curated by Zarina Laalo, exhibition coordinated by Lori Lai

Reception & Artist Talk: Dates To Be Confirmed

ENGLISH BELOW

Ojibwe
Imaa Mayaa Gaa-izhi-waabanda’iding
E-apikeng Izhitwaawinan gaye Aweneniwiying
Ode’iminigiizis 19 biinish Miinigiizis 1, 2020

Gaa-mazinichigewaad: Angela George, Chief Janice George & Buddy Joseph, Dawn Livera & Adrienne Neufeld, Krista Point, Nadia Sajid, Ruth Sheuing, Shamina Senaratme, Michelle Sirois Silver, Debra Sparrow, Robyn Sparrow, Mary Lou Trinkwon, Doaa Jamal, Damian John, Sholeh Mahlouji, Michelle Nahanee, gaye Kit Walton; wiiji-izhichigemaawaa Vancouver Endaso-niizho-biboon, gaa-gii-maawadoosidood Zarina Laalo, waabanda’iwewin gaa-gii-ozhisidood Lori Lai.

Gaa-maawaji’iding & Ji-gaagiigidod Mazinichigeg: Baamaa da-wiindamagem

Iwe Vancouver Endaso-niizho-biboon miigiwewag owe E-apikeng Izhitwaawinan gaye Aweneniwiying miziwe Gaanada Akiing Ji-waabanda’iweng, obiidoonaawaa Urban Shaman Noongom Anishinaabe Mazinichigewin Waabanda’iwewigamig

E-apikeng Izhitwaawinan gaye Aweneniwiying waawaabanjigaade wegonen iwe aweneniwiying gaye gaa-bakaanwewaandakin dinookaanan izhitwaawinan, e-aabajichigaadeg dash e-apikewad ji-dibaajimong. Gaa-mazinichigewaad gaye gaa-apikewaad Vancouver gaa-daawaad waasa dash agaamakiing gaa-onjiiwaad, gaye igi Anishinaabeg Jiigew Gichi-gamiing Selish gaa-izhinikaazowaad daabishkoo Maskwiyam gaye Skwaamish, gaye Tsleyil-Waatooth gaye Telaazten gii-maamawi-biinaawag ji-oko-dazhiikamowaad 10 gaa-agaasingin “anama’aa apisijiganan” daabishkoo gaa-ayaawaad wedi waasa agaamakiing gaa-izhitwaawaad dago dash omaa anishinaabe apikaanan.

Amii ezhi-ginigawi-inaabiigisijigaadegin izhitwaawinan ji-maamawi-gaagiigidowaad begbakaan gaa-izhitwaawaad gaa-mazinichigewaad, e-miinindiwaad izhitwaawi-gikendaasowin gaye aweneniwiwaad gii-aabajitoowaad zhinoodaagan gaye bagwaanish. Amii owe gaa-baatiinwewaanagak izhichigewin ezhi-dagwiimagak imaa Vancouver Endaso-niizho-biboon 2018-2020 waabanda’iwewin “giiwe-mazinichigan-n”.

Ninanaakomaanaanig ewiijitwaawaad owe izhichigewin ogo: Gaanada Gaa-miigiwewaad Zhooniyaa Ji-mazinichigeng, Buschlen Mowatt Nichol Foundation, Heritage BC, Gaanada Ogimaawiwin, Vancouver Gaa-izhi-ganawenjigaadegin Gete-gegoonan. Miigwech, Haihai, Ekosi, Merci, Thank you.

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The Vancouver Biennale presents the Weaving Cultural Identities national touring exhibition, hosted by Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Weaving Cultural Identities explores multicultural identity and intercultural relations through traditional weaving as a storytelling medium. Graphic artists and weavers from Vancouver’s immigrant Muslim communities and Coast Salish Indigenous communities including Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Tl’azt’en were brought together in collaboration to create a series of 10 small-scale “prayer rugs” inspired by Islamic prayer rugs and ceremonial Indigenous weavings.

The weavings are a visual manifest of prominent, national dialogues surrounding the reconciliation of heritage, and the sharing and celebration of cultural knowledge, symbolism and self-identification through textile traditions. This multi-part project Is part of Vancouver Biennale’s 2018-2020 curatorial theme, “re-IMAGE-n”.

Bios

Debra Sparrow
Debra Sparrow has been deeply involved with the revival of Musqueam weaving for over 30 years, and has many years of study, trial, and learning directly from the work of her ancestors. Her work has been collected and exhibited nationally and internationally including The University of British Columbia, The Canadian Museum of History (previously Civilization), The Royal BC Museum, The Vancouver International Airport (YVR Collections), the Burke Museum (Seattle), and the Smithsonian. She was the recipient of the BC Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art in 2008. Most recently, she participated in “The Fabric of Our Land: Salish Weaving” at the Museum of Anthropology both as an exhibitor and as a regular, active weaving demonstrator using a traditional loom from the museum collection. In addition to her weaving, education has been of equal value to Debra Sparrow. Recognizing weaving has the ability to offer stories of our heritage, it also serves as a traditional form of education to effectively teach us of math, science, history, and philosophy. It has been important for Sparrow to pass on the Salish weaving practice and Musqueam history to the future generations, which led to her involvement in the co- creation of the Musqueam Museum School with the University of British Columbia. In addition to teaching classes, she also shares her knowledge through public speaking, presentations, and publications (including UNESCO, 2001).

Robyn Sparrow
Robyn Sparrow was born and raised in the Musqueam Nation; she is a self-taught Master Weaver. At an early age, Sparrow felt a need to find out who she was spiritually, who her ancestors were, and the history
of her people. She decided to follow the path of arts and textiles and found herself inspired to learn and carry on the tradition of Coast Salish weaving. Robyn Sparrow and her two sisters, Debra Sparrow and Wendy Grant, revived the art of weaving in 1980 by speaking to their elders
and researching; they continue to work together and independently. The artist and her sisters have formed a group of Musqueam weavers and pass on their traditions and knowledge to future generations. This path she continues down helps her express herself as a First Nation’s woman through weaving and art. Sparrow strives to push the boundaries of traditional Coast Salish weaving while staying in the realm of understanding. Sparrow’s work has been and continues to be exhibited across British Columbia in a number of venues, shows, and public projects.

Michelle Nahanee
Michelle Nahanee is a critical Indigenous scholar with 20+ years of professional experience in graphic design and communications. She melds technology and tradition to change opinions, build relationships and increase understanding. Her clients are First Nations, NGOs, corporations and government departments. She is a Squamish Nation member from the village of Eslhá7an. Michelle Nahanee recently completed a Master of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University where she wrote “Decolonizing Identity: Indian Girl to Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Matriarch.” She concluded her research with a call to dismantle academic barriers to decolonizing practices. She is also the designer of a life-size board game and workshop called Sínulhkay and Ladders that promotes the Squamish practice of Chen chen stway (holding each other up) while working through neocolonial scenarios of oppression.

Angela George
Angela George carries two ancestral names, sits’sáts’tenat and qwənat.
Her late mother is slatwx, Cookie Thomas (Cole/Discon/Billy family) from Sḵwxwú7mesh and her father is from the Baker family from Sḵwxwú7mesh and the Jones and Peter family on Vancouver Island. She was raised by her late Dad, wika, Alexander Paul of Sts’ailes in the Fraser Valley. Angela George is married to Gabriel George, grandson of late Chief Dan George and lives and works in the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver. This Coast Salish mother of four has dedicated her career to the betterment of First Nations people and communities. Traditionally groomed, she has a strong understanding of her culture, spiritual teachings and the impacts of colonization and barriers that plague First Nations communities. She has a passion for traditional canoe racing, weaving and cultural singing and dancing and believes that practicing traditions and having a strong sense of identity and connection to our ancestors is vital to community wellness, development and sustainability. Angela George is currently working on her EMBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at SFU. Angela George is humbled by the gift of traditional weaving, holding this connection to her late mother and Squamish ancestry dearly. She loves to learn and teach weaving and strives to carry this sacred practice with the utmost integrity.

Chief Janice George
and Buddy Joseph
Chepximiya Siyam’ Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard ‘Buddy’ Joseph are accomplished weavers and teachers from the Squamish Nation. They have co-founded L’hen Awtxw Weaving House to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. Chief Janice George graduated from Capilano University, North Vancouver BC, and the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM, USA. She feels her education at these schools helped her excel
as a teacher, adding to her most important traditional teachings. She is a hereditary chief, trained museum curator and educator. George also co-organized the 1st Canada Northwest Coast Weavers Gathering with other Squamish Nation Weavers. George and Joseph are from prominent Squamish families and have numerous ceremonial and cultural responsibilities in their community. Joseph is the former director of the Squamish Housing and Capital Projects and currently consults on capital projects for First Nations communities.

Doaa Jamal
Doaa Jamal is a freelance graphic designer and photographer. Her professional expertise lies in creating dynamic visuals for individuals and organizations eager to understand their identity through the power of colour, shape, and symbolism. Through the scope of her lens she captures small moments in time to create big expressions of personality. Each of her photographic portraits are a welcome window for endless stories and emotion. Between projects (which includes working with
the Vancouver Biennale, Vancouver Mural Festival, and Voices of Muslim Women), Doaa Jamal experiments with Arabic calligraphy and type; mixed media fabrication; and travel photography, all from her point of practice in Vancouver, BC.

Krista Point
Krista Point is a Coast Salish Weaver of the Musqueam Nation. In over thirty years of weaving, Krista’s work has been displayed at exhibitions with Susan A. Point (renown Coast Salish Artist) and in places such
as Thunder Bay Art Gallery (1989); Montreal (April to May 1989), and Switzerland. Notably, her work has been on display at the YVR Airport, Smithsonian Museum, Museum of Anthropology (University of British Columbia), CBC, and the Bill Reid Foundation. Local showcases include the Planetarium, Expo Site ‘86, the P.N.E., and several local secondary schools. Krista has also taught at the Musqueam Adult Learning Centre, where students learn to split, spin, and dye wool as well as weave.

Dawn Livera and Adrienne Neufeld
Dawn Livera is a textile and mixed media artist who believes that “there are no mistakes”. She was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, spent her childhood in London, England and her adolescence in Kelowna, BC, Canada. She has lived in Vancouver, Canada her whole adult life. Dawn Livera believes that making art should not be the private domain of the “talented” or “learned” few. Rather, everyone should feel free to explore their own creativity without worrying about whether their art is “good enough”. Adrienne Neufeld is a visual artist and high school student. At 17, she is already an accomplished weaver, sculptor and textile designer. Adrienne Neufeld
was born in Vancouver and has lived her whole life in the same house, but she has a global legacy. Her mother, Dawn Livera, was born in Sri Lanka and lived in the UK before coming to Canada. Her father, like Neufeld,
was born in Vancouver, but his parents were born in Eastern Europe and lived in South America before arriving in Canada. Adrienne Neufeld has
a particular interest in religious art beyond the confines of her Mennonite and Catholic family background.

Damian John
Self-taught digital and acrylic painter with a lifelong penchant for creating, Damian John has been working at his art as a career since 2012, and has been a full time artist since 2014. John has studied in universities, forests, deserts, and on lake shores with wise people from a small part of the vast variety of wisdom traditions of the world. Part of his current paradigm is a deep need to strive for a kinder and more curious world. With a love for all that he is ethnically, a Tl’azt’en German Irish Austrian Hungarian Canadian, he strives to create a space in which we can truly see one another better.

Nadia Sajjad
Living and moving between the East and the West, Nadia Sajjad is interested in the notion of identity and categorization among different social structures. She experiments with different media such as ceramic, printmaking, fabric art and multimedia installation to depict the complication of identity through the notion of misplacement and social ranking. Sajjad has a background in carpet design and graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She was one of the Emily Carr Award recipients in 2013. She has recently focused on exploring cultural identity and belonging through collaborating with artisans with diverse Backgrounds.

Michelle Sirois Silver
Michelle Sirois Silver was born on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and spent her formative years on Vancouver Island. She grew up in a home where making things was the norm. She worked in educational broadcast for over a decade and has been making hand hooked rugs
for more than twenty years. Sirois Silver is a self-taught artist who has studied with Canadian hand hooking artists Barb Kennedy, Ann Taylor, and Anne Boissonot, as well as fiber artists Dorothy Caldwell and Jason Pollen. She exhibits internationally, teaches, and writes and speaks about her art practice. Sirois Silver works from her studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Sholeh Mahlouji
Sholeh Mahlouji is a Vancouver based graphic designer and illustrator who is passionate about sharing insights about Persian Art with her audience. Inspired by Persian art and architecture, she integrates motifs, symbols, and cultural icons to create artworks using digital and hand drawn techniques. Mahlouji holds a Bachelor of Graphic Design, as well as a Master of Illustration from the University of Tehran. She has collaborated with diverse cultural and educational organizations such as the Children’s Book Council of Iran and the Ministry of Education. Following her passion, Sholeh Mahlouji documents cultural elements in tiles, textiles, paintings, calligraphy, weavings, and architecture while traveling in Iran. Previously, she has run workshops on designing arts education curriculum based on Persian traditional art. She is currently studying for a Master of Arts in Art Education at the University of British Columbia.

Ruth Scheuing and Mary Lou Trinkwon
As an artist, educator and writer, Ruth Scheuing explores how
artists communicate through textile patterns, language and stories. Relationships between nature and technologies, via computer assisted Jacquard weaving, Cyborgs and GPS tracking, represent some of her main current interests. Mary Lou Trinkwon’s interest
in making textile art extends across disciplines, combining both weaving and surface design, into research and studio exploration. Her creative process revolves around concepts of nostalgia as a historical specter of culture and identity. Scheuing and Trinkwon currently operate TAD (Textile Arts Department) both teaching and conducting projects using an AVL Jacquard loom at Makerlabs in Strathcona Vancouver. Both artists taught in the Textile Arts Program at Capilano University (Scheuing from 1992-2015 and Trinkwon in 2000-2015), have been exhibited across BC, and are recipients of the Vancouver Mayor’s Crafts Award.

Shamina Senaratne
Shamina Senaratne’s textile art explores how we witness and narrate our world; how we thread fragments of story together, edit, and revise, to create meaning and coherence. She is interested in intercultural interaction and questions of identity, self, other and community. Many of her works have been about bringing forward hidden voices and unseen stories, and about ruptures and repairs. An interdisciplinary artist, Senaratne’s textile-based contemporary art has been shown in curated and juried exhibitions in Canada, the US and Europe. She has also written and published poetry and short fiction. Senaratne has worked as an educator in museums and holds a degree in Communications, Publishing and History with a Certificate in Public History (SFU).

Zarina Laalo
Zarina Laalo is an independent curator and writer based in Ottawa, Ontario. Laalo was previously the Vancouver Biennale’s Curator of Ancillary Projects and Coordinator of International Residencies, responsible for much of the organization’s public programming and community outreach. Prior to working in Vancouver, she has mostly worked with Canadian artists in commercial galleries and with public collections within various federal and academic institutions; some of these include Library and Archives Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the University of Toronto, and the Portrait Gallery of Canada. Laalo holds a Masters of Arts in Art History from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Ottawa.

Special thanks for the support on this project: Canada Council for the Arts, Buschlen Mowatt Nichol Foundation, Heritage BC, Government of Canada, Museum of Vancouver

Urban Shaman: Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery acknowledges the support, throughout the year, of our friends, volunteers, community and all our relations, NCI FM, CAHRD, Wawanesa Insurance, Winnipeg Foundation, Manitoba Heritage, the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Manitoba Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts. ~Miigwetch/ Hai Hai/ Ekosi / Merci/ Thank you