there are so many stars*
As Indigenous artists, we continuously negotiate relationships with culture, body and land that are fluid. Through materials and process, we contribute to the shaping and reshaping of communities. The created object is our memory, our metaphor. These creative acts push memories into our bodies. Through making we can remember well.
This fluidity runs at cross-purpose to canada’s archive. This makes us brave and beautiful as well as vulnerable. Ceremony is a matrix. Artists need a ceremony for remembering other artists.
i've been thinking about moments of lying on the ground and looking up at the stars (lying on the grass in places where there aren't ticks) i've been looking down at the water and thinking of stars
i've been thinking about a sacred fire and feeding these artists who have now become ancestors artists. these stars who have transformed us.
i've been thinking about a karaoke tribute performance this should definitely be a thing - but what songs?
we did one for Beau and we sang Aqua Lung i hate that song but good for you. what would be Daphne Odjig's song? Annie's song? Carl’s song?
i was thinking about tea cups and sewing a silent tea party
i was thinking about blankets and beeswax
if they have tea cups i want to sew them into button blankets
i was thinking about t-shirts and bodies
…silkscreened with portraits of the stars
i was thinking about a play list for soundcloud for our stars this is definitely sounding like a party
We propose this exhibition as a celebration, a conversation, and ceremony for 13 stars who have passed to the other side camp, and inspire and guide us on our paths as artists-makers-creators: Annie Pootoogook - Ahasiw Maskegon-lskwew - Aiyanna Maracle - Chief Beau Dick - Carl Beam - Daphne Odjig - Deborah Doxtator - Dinah Creyke - Kenojuak Ashevak - Norval Morrisseau - Joe David - Joane Cardinal-Shubert - Johnny Claus
*there are so many stars is organized, orchestrated, realized, by two practising artists / curators who are actively interrogating how the given structure and form of the art world may assist and/or interfere in the communication of Indigenous knowledge and expression.
Hannah Claus is an artist-researcher in residency at AbTeC and she uses installations from Milieux for her work.
Peter Morin & Hannah Claus - there are so many stars
Exhibition presented at OBORO from November 11 to December 16, 2017.
As part of OBORO’s 2017 programming : One year dedicated to Indigenous artists and thinkers.
Featuring images of Marcia Connolly’s documentary film Annie Pootoogook. With thanks to the artist.
Hannah, Peter and OBORO wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following people to the exhibition:
the karaoke singers
Kate Hill - Aaron Wilson - Kevin Deforest - Kenneth Jackson - John Hampton - Peter Morin - James Kilpatrick - Lisa Wood - Brendon Ehinger
the tea party guests
Skawennati - Jason Lewis - Cedar Eve Peters - Hannah Claus - Émilie Monnet - Greg Hill - Lori Beavis - Peter Morin - Camille Larivée - Isanielle Enright - Dayna Danger - Nahka Berson
Director, camera operator, editor : Mélanie O’Bomsawin
OBORO acknowledges that Tiohtià:ke, where its activities take place, is unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory.