ᐊᐧᐃᐧᓯᐦᒋᑲᐣ
wawisihcikan - adornment
January 7-25, 2025 | FAB Gallery | Edmonton, Alberta
Reception: Saturday, Jan. 18, 12-3 PM
Curated by MJ Belcourt
Featuring works by Elaine Alexie, Erik Lee, and Carmen Miller
The travelling exhibit entitled “ᐊᐧᐃᐧᓯᐦᒋᑲᐣ wawisihcikan - adornment” takes a look at adornment through an Indigenous perspective. The meaning of adornment according to the dictionary states the use of item(s) that decorate, embellish, enhance, beautify, or enrich. It could be said adornment is the finishing touch that distinguishes the wearer.
Adornment from an Indigenous perspective goes beyond the items’ beauty. It is an artistic expression that conveys many levels of communication. It makes connection to a spiritual foundation, the importance to land and place, and defines inherent culture.
Early adornment provides a sense of knowledge about our ancestors that reflect the natural world in which they lived. The seasonal round of birth and rebirth shape our worldview in a circulatory way as everything is interdependent.
Spirituality has been the foundation for Indigenous peoples’ lives and an ‘intrinsic quality of creative activity.’ These artistic expressions were woven into the fabric of daily life. ‘Artifacts were generally created as items to be used, not as ‘art’. Bags, pouches, along with awl and knife sheaths were functional yet beautifully decorated’.
Through European contact and trade metal goods, cloth and glass beads were incorporated into the repertoire of the maker. Even as the use of trade materials increased, traditional styles of embellishment remained with the use of these traditional materials still being utilized to this present day, maintaining connection to ancestors and cultural traditions. ‘Contemporary artists/artisans are keenly aware of their responsibility as guardians of traditions from which their imagery and inspiration derive.’
‘More than beautiful ornamentation, adornment is a visual language expressing the joy of creativity, pride in attention to craftsmanship, and the desire to share with others. Above all, it honors oneself as well as one’s people by doing a thing well.’ (Sherr Dubin, Lois. North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present)
This exhibition is organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program. TREX is funded by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Reception: Saturday, Jan. 18, 12-3 PM
Curated by MJ Belcourt. Featuring works by Elaine Alexie, Erik Lee, and Carmen Miller.
The travelling exhibit, ᐊᐧᐃᐧᓯᐦᒋᑲᐣ wawisihcikan - adornment, takes a look at adornment through an Indigenous perspective.
Any personal information provided in a request to post a listing on the AFA newsfeed, or in the listing itself, will be used for the purpose of posting to the AFA’s newsfeed, administering the AFA’s website and providing individuals and organizations with information on AFA programs and events. Such information is collected under the authority of section 33 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is protected by the privacy provisions of the Act. Should you have any questions about the collection of this information, you may contact Aaron Talbot, Arts Services Consultant – Communications, at 780-289-3781.
If you would like to share arts opportunities, events, or other community arts news through the AFA website, please submit a story using the form below. New posts are featured on the front page of the AFA website, and staff will typically publish new posts within a week.
Please follow instructions closely, especially those related to publishing an image, for quicker turnaround time. (Don't forget to provide details like deadline dates, contact information, time of event or address, or website where folks can find more information.)
By submitting a post to be published on the AFA website, you are agreeing to the AFA's Terms of Use.