Prairie Thunder

A new exhibition called Prairie Thunder opens this weekend at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, featuring pieces from contemporary Indigenous women artists who have ties to the Prairies. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.

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Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! A new exhibition called Prairie Thunder opens this weekend at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, featuring pieces from contemporary Indigenous women artists who have ties to the Prairies. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? A new exhibition called Prairie Thunder opens this weekend at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, featuring pieces from contemporary Indigenous women artists who have ties to the Prairies. There will be about 20 pieces by Cree, Métis, Anishinaabe and Dakota artists who have created art in many different mediums, including painted moose hide, beading, photographs, drums and installations, said co-curator Stacey Koosel.

“We have pieces from eight different Indigenous women artists who are responding to what gives them strength and power — whether it’s land, a relationship or mothers,” said Koosel, who teaches Indigenous contemporary art at Brandon University. “In fact, there are a lot of mother-daughter works in the show, including a performance by a mother and a daughter for the exhibit’s opening,” she said. The opening reception is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.

m. It will be opened by Elders and Knowledge Keepers Barb Blind, Frank and Deborah Tacan, Debbie Huntinghawk and the Good Hearted Warriors. The live performance is at 6:30 p.

m., with Cheyenne and Cikwes LeGrande from Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta. Cikwes and Cheyenne will feature Nehiyawewin — also known as Y dialect or Plains Cree — through song, including a translation of “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac in Nehiyawewin.

And then patrons can browse the pieces while getting to know each of the artists. All eight will be in attendance, Koosel said. “We have many artists who have never been shown in Manitoba before, like Cree/Métis Michelle Sound, who is from Alberta.

Sound has shown in New York, Vancouver and Toronto, but this will be her first show in Manitoba, so we’re really excited to be the first to bring her.” The other artists who have created works for the show are Jessie Jannuska, a BU alumna from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation; Audie Murray and Lucille Fisher, who are Métis; Margaret Firlotte, who is Michif and Métis; and Lori Blondeau, who is Cree/Saulteaux/Métis. Prairie Thunder is the brainchild of Koosel and Marie-Anne Redhead, who is the Indigenous arts curator at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and a master’s student at University of Winnipeg.

The two met in Norway last year, while on a research trip to learn more about the Sami. They are the Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. “We didn’t meet in Manitoba, but when we were in Norway and got talking, we realized we liked the same artists and wanted to bring them to Manitoba.

So, this plan is about a year in the making,” Koosel said. Once the idea had potential, Redhead made the trip to see the AGSM to help her visualize their concept. “I really love this gallery,” said Redhead.

“I’m a bit newer to this career, so I’m excited to learn more from Stacey and so impressed with what Lucie Lederhendler (AGSM’s artistic director) is doing.” Redhead pointed to one of the installations already set up — four pieces in a series of self-portraits by Blondeau, who is wearing a long, red dress and standing on a rock within the forest. Self-portraits of Indigenous artist Lori Blondeau are part of Prairie Thunder, an upcoming exhibition with artworks and performances by eight contemporary Indigenous women artists.

The opening reception is Saturday at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba. (Michele McDougall/The Brandon Sun) “To me this is highlighting the nurturing relationships and the connections that we make with humans and nature,” Redhead said. “But art is so interpretive — whatever you are taking from the art is what it’s all about.

” The two curators also wanted to create an exhibition that celebrated the strength and power of Indigenous women in a positive way, Koosel said. “The exhibition speaks to the resilience of Indigenous women at a time when the landfill search is being conducted, and we’re talking about missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people. “It speaks to Indigenous women, not as victims or sad statistics, but more as their strength — and what gives them that strength, their power, and what gives them joy,” she said.

“That’s why I think it’s an important moment to discuss and feature Indigenous women.” The Prairie Thunder exhibition runs until June 7. For more information, call the AGSM at 204-727-1036.

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