THUNDER BAY - The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is doing more than simply celebrating Canada’s birthday.
Their newest exhibition, Perspective From Here, will be on display at the gallery all throughout the summer, and will feature the perspectives of 150 different artists across the region.
The commentary of the artwork gives different perspectives as to what the meaning behind Canada’s history is.
“In each gallery you have a congregation of these artists that paved the way in terms of expression, whether their Indigenous, or from the region, or from the city,” said communications and marketing director Alastair MacKay.
“What people are seeing is a blend of what was, and what is in the culture,” MacKay said. “It’s kind of a meaningful bridge between our origins in a very harmonious and uplifting way.”
Cree Stevens is a local Indigenous artist, who says she’s made uncomfortable with the celebration of Canada 150.
“I’m uncomfortable with the idea because we’ve been here longer than 150 years,” Stevens said.
“The thought that we’re celebrating the beginnings of Canada feels awkward when there was this entire history before that.“
Steven says her display, Raven of Copper (pictured above), allows her to take pride in her culture, which she believes is the true meaning of Canada 150.
“I can integrate materials, ideas, thoughts, and stories into my work, but bring it into future… It’s about being present, saying ‘This is who I am.’”
Similarly, Aaron Veldstra’s work challenges the utopian celebration by referencing the natural resource industry.
“I wanted to challenge the idea of the north and the wilderness,” Veldstra said. “The Group of Seven established this myth of ‘untouched beauty,’ but after working in the resource industry… I wanted to reference some of the things I’ve seen.
Veldstra’s 3D display is a not-fully-closed circle of wood chips, titled “Carbon Cycle.”
“It’s referencing this idea of the carbon cycle and how humans kind of interrupted that.”
Both Stevens’ and Veldstra’s displays were officially open to the public as of Thursday. An opening reception will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m.
