Omentum: A look into the Indigenous Experience of the 21st Century- Exhibition Series, 2019
Omentum is the lacy membrane which surrounds the stomachs and organs of a number of mammals, including humans. It is a beautiful network of fat and connective tissue that can only been seen when an animal is butchered, so in order to appreciate it, one must be in the hands-on process of transforming a once living creature into food for survival.
“Omentum” is a series of 10 paintings which touch on several of the major experiences faced by Indigenous people in this country within recent memory. These paintings, influenced by both the works of Norval Morrisseau and also Pablo Picasso, speak of some of the major struggles and triumphs that are part of everyday life as Indigenous people, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Cultural Appropriation, the legacy of Residential Schools, the Rise and Honour of the Two-Spirited in the LGBTQ2S+ Community, the Return of Traditional Indigenous Tattooing, the Rise in Systemic Racism Online, and, of course, the Murder of Colten Boushie.
The origin of the idea for this series of paintings was inspired by a 2018 artist's studio visit with acclaimed Tahltan artist Peter Morin, who encouraged John to 'flesh out' his original idea into a series of paintings.
What makes these paintings truly unique is that each one has been personally named, not by John, but by an influential Indigenous or Metis artist, activist, or leader, such as Isaac Murdoch, Rosanna Deerchild, the members of PIQSIQ, the mother of Colten Boushie, a co-founder of Idle No More, and Dr. Evan Adams, (who played “Thomas” in the film “Smoke Signals”). Each of these individuals, who are at the forefront of the issues for which these paintings were created, graciously donated a name which they personally felt best suited the narrative of the painting.
These paintings were created as a result of a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board through the Indigenous/Metis Art and Artists Program.
Acrylic on Canvas, 40 inches by 30 inches
(All Photos by Kymber Rae Photography www.kymberrae.ca)
(Card and poster design by Cara Stelmaschuk)
“Omentum” is a series of 10 paintings which touch on several of the major experiences faced by Indigenous people in this country within recent memory. These paintings, influenced by both the works of Norval Morrisseau and also Pablo Picasso, speak of some of the major struggles and triumphs that are part of everyday life as Indigenous people, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Cultural Appropriation, the legacy of Residential Schools, the Rise and Honour of the Two-Spirited in the LGBTQ2S+ Community, the Return of Traditional Indigenous Tattooing, the Rise in Systemic Racism Online, and, of course, the Murder of Colten Boushie.
The origin of the idea for this series of paintings was inspired by a 2018 artist's studio visit with acclaimed Tahltan artist Peter Morin, who encouraged John to 'flesh out' his original idea into a series of paintings.
What makes these paintings truly unique is that each one has been personally named, not by John, but by an influential Indigenous or Metis artist, activist, or leader, such as Isaac Murdoch, Rosanna Deerchild, the members of PIQSIQ, the mother of Colten Boushie, a co-founder of Idle No More, and Dr. Evan Adams, (who played “Thomas” in the film “Smoke Signals”). Each of these individuals, who are at the forefront of the issues for which these paintings were created, graciously donated a name which they personally felt best suited the narrative of the painting.
These paintings were created as a result of a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board through the Indigenous/Metis Art and Artists Program.
Acrylic on Canvas, 40 inches by 30 inches
(All Photos by Kymber Rae Photography www.kymberrae.ca)
(Card and poster design by Cara Stelmaschuk)
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Those Who Honoured the Paintings in “Omentum” with Names
Dr. Evan Adams (Tla’amin) Chief Medical Officer, BC First Nations Health Authority, Actor, “Smoke Signals” Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay (Inuit) Musicians/ Throat Singers, PIQSIQ Debbie Baptiste (Nehiyawak) Mother of Colten Boushie Rosanna Deerchild (Nehiyawak) Host, Unreserved, CBC Radio Richelle Dubois (Nehiyawak) Organizer of the Justice for Our Stolen Children Camp Jessica Gordon (Saulteaux) Co-Founder, Idle No More Ronnie Dean Harris (Stó:l¯o /St’át'imc/Nlaka'pamux) Media Artist, Hiphop and Poetry Performer and facilitator Dion Kaszas (Nlaka’pamux) Coordinator of Indigenous Affairs, Acadia University, Traditional Indigenous Tattoo Practitioner Isaac Murdoch (Anishinabek) Artist and Environmentalist, co-founder of Onaman Collective, creator of “WATER IS LIFE/Thunderbird Woman” |
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