Ghost Dance / Opening Reception

Ghost Dance: Activism, Resistance, Art
September 18, 2013, 6 – 8 p.m.
Ryerson Image Centre
33 Gould Street Toronto

The Ghost Dance, as stated by John Mooney in “The Ghost Dance Religion and Wounded Knee”, aims to reunite the living with their ancestral spirits and bring forth unity, prosperity and peace. The title of the exhibition was quite fitting seeing as the pieces did not focus on recounting a comprehensive colonial history of North America’s failure to address aboriginal rights. Instead, these artists uncover and address the colonial past as well as the ongoing implications of oppression, perpetual violence and denigration of indigenous people.

 Michael L.Abramson, Untitled (American Indian Movement Lakota Indians), 1973 (left) and Frank B. Johnston, Demonstration by Indians in Washington, 1978 (right)

Scott Beniisenaabandan and Theo Sims, locationdeconstructiondislocationconstruction, 2013, Multimedia installation

Sonny Assu, The Happiest Future, 2013, 10 archival pigment prints, 47×92.7cm

Dana Claxton highlights the FBI’s designation of the American Indian Movement as a terrorist organization, and Vernon Ah Kee gives insight into the Aborigine act and activist Lex Wotton’s persecution.

Vernon Ah Kee, Lex Wotton Profile, 2013, Charcoal, crayon and acrylic on canvas, 183 x 152 cm

This history of oppression and violence of the aboriginal people is, naturally, accompanied with resistance, activism and the creation of artwork that creates an open forum for the public to promote dialogue. Although Ghost Dance presents artworks that are innately political, they are not void of a personal connection to the artists.

Sonny Assu and Leila’s Desk, 2013, 1930s school desk (wood, cast iron, copper lead), vintage Lifebuoy soap, 83.8 x 55.9 x 66 cm

Many of the artists directly reference inspiration from the women in their life. Sonny Assu sculpture of his grandmother-Leila’s desk and Cheryl L’Hirondelle remembers his mother in Here I am.

Cheryl L’Hirondelle, Here I Am, 2013, Multimedia installation:10 Acer 200 tablets with handheld telephone receivers

Claxton discovered of declassified FBI documents concerning the American Indian Movement stemmed from her desire to research her Lakota family history.

Dana Claxton, AIM #2, 2010 , Gelatin silver print, 152.4 x 101.6 cm, Edition of 3

Moreover, L’Hirondelle’s Here I am asks her audience, in her didactic panel, “Do any of the women remind you of a friend, colleague, or relative? Do the lyrics resonate with you and will you too stand in solidarity? If so, I wholeheartedly invite you to lend your voice and sing along!” That being said, beyond the educational/informative aspect of the exhibition, it had a lot of heart and truly encouraged engagement and unity among those who attended.

Alan Michelson, RoundDance II-North, 2013, 4-channel video installation with sound, looped (3:55 minutes), 4 60” LED monitors mounted vertically

 Text and photo: Leanne Simaan

*Exhibition dates: September 18- December 15, 2013, Ryerson Image Centre at 33 Gould Street, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue, Thurs & Fri 11 – 6, Wed 11 – 8, Sat & Sun 12 – 5 p.m.

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