Family Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of teaching a workshop at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Family Fuse event. The theme was ‘through the lens’ and my workshop focused on the relationship that Gwich’in people have to the land and to the Caribou. We made a mobile with the kids using antlers and branches that represented sustainability and balance. We then hung the mono-prints that they made on our mobile, creating an evolving and interactive sculpture over the course of two days.

NDN BIKES

Here is the bike that I made, installed at the Vancouver Art Gallery! A collaboration with Dylan Miner. Ariane’s article here.

Redwire Magazine also wrote a little article about the work here.

 

Downstream: Reimagining Water Exhibition

Downstream: Reimagining Water, Concourse Gallery, March 6th – 14th
Opening reception begins at 7pm, March 7th

The show features works by a wide range of artists who approach water with an equally varied perspective. The artists in Downstream explore our perceptions of watery systems and take a look at how our interactions with this substance shape and change us.

Artists:
Sheinagh Anderson
Micaela Baer
Neil Chung
Caitlyn Connors
Alyssa Dusevic
Jennifer Hagel
Maegan Harbridge
Peter Holmes
Julia Hong
Basia Irland
Maria Lantin
Nathalie Lavoie
Jennifer Martin
Caroline Mousseau
Fabiola Nabil Naguib
Alex Phillips
William Phong-Ly
Emile Rubino
David Roth
Marika Swan
Diana Lynn Thompson
Gu Xiong

We are in perpetual collaboration with water and in this exhibition that collaboration takes on the form of play, biology, interdependence, ecology, place, spirituality as well as voyage.

We hope to see you at the opening reception.
Jeneen Frei Njootli
Curatorial Coordinator
&
Rita Wong
Project Coordinator

For more information on the Downstream Research Project and information regarding events centered around World Water Day, March
21st, please visit our website:

http://downstream.ecuad.ca/

 

Northern Shelter

The Romance Capital of the Yukon,
Opening February 17, 7pm at Rubble Gallery, 1879 Powell St.
Exhibition dates: February 17th- March 4th

The exhibition The Romance Capital of the Yukon focuses on the idea
of shelter and the romanticism of trying to find a space for yourself in
the context of the north, specifically the town of Dawson City in
Canada’s Yukon Territory. Each of the artists has based their work for
this show on personal experiences from their time spent in the Yukon
Territory in the summer of 2011. The show features work by Northern
Shelter Collective members:

Justin Apperley
Danielle Bessada
Margaret Bowes
Calder Stephen Cheverie
Rebecca Geddes
Adonika Jayne
Louise Reimer
Carley Lovett
Jill Macknee
Jeneen Frei Njootli
Aubyn O’Grady
Jo Peters
Hayden Thomas

Performances by Adonika Jayne and Jeneen Frei Njootli.

The Rubble Gallery is a new community flex space intent on breaking
down the barriers between the arts and increasing circulation and
accessibility in the local arts scene in Vancouver. Bringing together
artists, entertainers, patrons and audiences, our goal is to highlight
high quality projects and bodies of work from local and international
sources. Together with more affordable spaces, fund-raising events,
and upcoming grants and scholarships, our aim is to make an impact in
people’s lives and have a memorable time in the process. In order to
expand ideas of space and function Rubble is using a flex concept to
morph to the will of its inhabitants, incorporating production, exhibition,
retail, entertainment, and other dynamic uses.

rubblegallery@gmail.com
northernshelter@gmail.com
Artists and Exhibitors – Ari 604 724 7849
Parties – Events – Space Leasing – Promotions – Opening Galas – Quinn
604 724 8074

Parade of Lost Souls

I wanted to thank Public Dreams and Dusty Flower Pot for including me in this amazing event. I jumped into the races late in the game, but with a little help from my friends, we pulled it off in under two weeks! Ari, you are an amazing (and patient) organizer. I wanted to say thank you to Dana Tizya-Tramm for playing beautifully throughout the evening! You were a hit! I also wanted to acknowledge Cherie Crocker, Cody Brown, Kirsten Aubrey, Sibel D, Adrienne Waunch, Alex Cho, Justin Apperley, Gwaai Edenshaw, Natasha, Alex Achem, thank you to for being a wise sister/double dutcher, a still and frightening spirit, a sweetie pie making into the wee wee hours, a singer, an otter dancer, a brainstorm, a ride, a hand, and to Brodie Kitchen for hookin a sista up!

Navigating Ethical Representation Opening February 9th 6-9pm

Navigating Ethical Representation shares the important artwork and community building that came out of the collaboration between participants at the Dr. Peter Center, West End (DPC) and Emily Carr University students taking a Community Projects course last fall. The course focused on challenges and successes in navigating ethical issues while representing and collaborating with people living with HIV/AIDS.
The DPC is a healthcare organization that supports people living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are members of marginalized and at-risk communities, such as those living in the Downtown East Side. Students involved in the Emily Carr class come from design, media, visual arts, photography, and critical studies departments. The objective of the course was to build relationships between students and DPC participants.
With such a strong code of ethics underlying the show, organizers had to be continuously mindful of ethically and accurately representing the participants, the artists, and the institutions involved. Over the duration of the course, students were profoundly affected both by their experiences working with people who are living with HIV/AIDS, and by the emphasis on taking an ethical approach to art-making. Though difficult, this struggle was valuable and we choose to showcase it here.
This show has also become a platform for the newly established Faculty of Culture and Community, which is mandated toforge meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships with both non-profit organizations and industry, and to develop innovative curriculum that facilitates students laddering into BC communities and industry after graduation.
—-
The openings went great and were well received. I got an email from one of the women at the DPC who said that the participants were absolutely thrilled about the outcome of the show. What is great about the location of the gallery is that it is on such a lively corner in the DTES and was really welcoming to its residents. I feel what changed the show tremendously this time was the inclusion of participant Rob Lamoureux’s 8 photographs. One of the issues with this project is that as soon as you have an artist, you have a subject, which means you are othering or distancing another person from you as supposed to engaging in something more participatory. I feel that the show was successful and that the work transcended this artist/subject relationship.
Artists:
Kelsey Brill-Funk
Amanda Cooper
Anne Curtis
Rachel Dykerman
Mina Ghaani
Bahar Habibi
Jacklyn Harris
Juli Klingler
Rob Lamoureux
Kristi Newton
Anya Vetrova with Jose

Opening is Tuesday, March 8th at 7pm.
The Interurban Gallery, 1 East Hastings
The show runs from March 7th – 31st, the Interurban Gallery will be open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am-5pm
Facilitated by Jeneen Frei Njootli
We were mentioned in the Georgia Straight! The show was selected as a “Straight Choice” in the newspaper. You can view the article here.

The Five Day Affair – a performative mark making show

Throughout a business week five artists performed at DEDSPACE Gallery, their actions leaving behind a trace, remnant, or crumb which was on exhibit at the closing. All Performances began at 1 pm. The closing reception was on Friday May 21st 4-7pm at DEDSPACE Gallery, Balmain Road, Sydney.

Mon – Zhoh Autrite Mauw
Tue – Gemma McKenzie-Booth
Wed – Fraser Reach
Thu – Luke McMaster
Fri – Jacob Whayne Dillow

Here are some photos of the performances:
Fraser exhibited a small social documentation device in the corner of one of the gallery’s rooms. Fraser documented his initial reaction to each individual that was moving about the room. One of the requirements was that he document as many individuals as possible. The performance continued until the scroll was filled.

Luke’s performance is part of a body of work that he is currently developing, which deals with the past and the act of remembrance in the context of Australia’s colonial history

Jacob’s performance was an eerie and enticing fusion of a butcher and a baker. He sat on the floor breaking plaster cakes filled with coloured cornstarch and throwing them across the room.

Curated by Jacob Whayne Dillow & Zhoh Autrite Mauw: thefivedayaffair@gmail.com