18 Artists & Artisans, Indigenous Food & Traditional Drumming
4th Annual Indigenous & Ingenious promises another stellar Show & Sale
Toronto ON, Distinctly, uniquely Indigenous works by eighteen talented artists, artisans and designers will be showcased and available for sale in Toronto at Indigenous & Ingenious on November 17 & 18, 2018. The show will be open at 765 Queen Street East, just east of Broadview at the Ralph Thornton Centre, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days. Admission is $5.00 and everyone is welcome.
Featured artists, diverse in their artistic expressions, both traditional and contemporary, all have a commitment to excellence, pride in their Indigenous heritage, and enthusiasm about sharing their culture through their art.
Several of the artists are renowned internationally. Many have exhibited their work in solo and group shows, or fashion shows, or had work commissioned by collectors and corporations.
Indigenous & Ingenious is thrilled to welcome back some of the country’s top Indigenous artists including the acclaimed muralists and illustrators Chief Lady Bird and Aura, and well known multi-media artist Clayton Samuel Smith. Joining them will be beadwork artists Denise Aquash, Theresa Burning and Tammy Enosse, who also makes beautiful leather creations; stained glass art and jewellery artist Summer Faith Garcia, Jackie Esquimaux- Hamlin & Brian Hamlin and their original hand made beeswax candles, Haudenosaunee artisan Susan Hill, beadwork artist Skye Paul, Anishinawbe painterJoseph Sagaj, artist and writer Brian Wright-McLeod, jewellery artist Barb Nahwegahbow, and cedar bark weaver and textile artist J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth.
There are also several wonderful artists participating in the show for the first time this year, including abstract artist Mel Bartel, contemporary beaded jewellery maker Donna Morrison Seary, Keitha Keeshig-Tobias, a contemporary Indigenous Artist specializing in Dipped Pen & Ink, and carver and blacksmith Wesley Havill.
Indigenous & Ingenious is a celebration of who we are as Indigenous people. To put everyone in an Indigenous celebratory mood, Shandra Spears Bombay will share her gifts of traditional song and drumming on both Saturday and Sunday, at 12 noon, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
To top it all off, Gail King from Beausoleil First Nation will be cooking up Indigenous food that is usually found on the Pow Wow trail which is where you usually find Gail. Indian Tacos, Scone Dogs, Wild Rice are some of the items she’ll have available at Indigenous & Ingenious.
The show is organized by jewellery artist and photographer Barb Nahwegahbow, founder of Indigenous & Ingenious. Barb is from the Anishnawbe nation.
For the fourth consecutive year, we are pleased that Metroland Media and Muskrat Magazine (on-line) are the community media partners for Indigenous & Ingenious.
Indigenous & Ingenious Show & Sale
November 17 & 18, 2018
11 AM to 6 PM
Performances by Shandra Spears Bombay: 12 noon, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
Ralph Thornton Centre, 2nd Floor
765 Queen Street East, Toronto
Admission is $5.00
Information: 416-949-1263
Aura (Monique Aura Bedard)
Aura is an Onyota’a:ka (Oneida) artist, currently based in Toronto. She graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a BFA (Studio Art) and is a Diploma Toronto Art Therapy Institute Candidate. Aura uses mixed media, beadwork, murals, art as healing, and digital Illustration to discuss intergenerational healing, lateral love, identity, empowerment, and mothering. She looks to community to collectively explore personal storytelling and truth-sharing. www.moniqueaura.com Instagram @monique.aura
Chief Lady Bird
Chief Lady Bird is a Chippewa and Potawatomi artist from Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation, who is currently based in Toronto. She graduated from OCAD University in 2015 with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Indigenous Visual Culture. Through her art practice, Chief Lady Bird uses street art, community-based workshops, digital illustration and mixed media work to empower and uplift Indigenous people through the subversion of colonial narratives, ultimately shifting focus to Indigenous Futurisms and creating space to discuss the nuances of our experiences. Social media:@chiefladybird
Denise Aquash
Denise Aquash, Crane Clan, from Bkejwanong Territory has been beading since she was a teenager. “Doing beadwork is just a part of my life and when I had children, I taught them and beadwork became a part of their lives too. I am inspired by my culture and nature. I also like to add touches of modern icons to some of my work.”
Mel Bartel
Toronto-based Nishinaabe artist Mel Bartel believes that all art is healing and therapeutic. It doesn’t matter if you are viewing it or creating it, the effects are the same. She studied art at Claude Watson School for the Arts in Toronto and at Ontario College of Art & Design. Following a successful career as a graphic designer, Mel returned to expressive art as her primary focus.
Mel is known for her expressive and intuitive ability to capture emotion, personality and spirit with paint & mixed-media on wood cradled panels. For the past two years, she’s been working on the Big Chicken Series that allows her to share her love of “smart, quirky and incredibly beautiful chickens”, and Hope, a series of abstracts, “because everyone enjoys and needs hope, it’s what keeps us going.” www.melaniebartelart.com
Theresa Burning
A Seneca/Ojibway woman, Theresa first became interested in beadwork while watching her grandmother do her work. She says, “I would sit and watch her whenever I had the chance. Once day, she poured beads in a dish, handed me a needle, thread and felt and left me to figure out the rest.” She is always learning and throughout her life, she’s been fortunate to meet artisans who show her new techniques. “Now my grandchildren are showing an interest and I hope to pass on some of this knowledge as they get older,” she says. Instagram: @tburning1966
Tammy Bird-Enosse
Beadwork and leatherwork artist, Tammy Enosse has been inspired by different women in the Indigenous community, including her mother. A citizen of Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve, Tammy is Toronto-based. Even though she’s a mom to four boys ranging in age from 3 years to 15 years, and has a job working in the community, Tammy finds the time to do spectacular beadwork and leatherwork, creating her own designs. Instagram:@nisheenameegwetch
Summer Faith Garcia
Summer Faith Garcia from Walpole Island First Nation is a mom and an artist of many trades. She’s been known to dabble in stained glass art and jewellery, digital image making, face and body painting, costume creations, art direction, set design and installations. Much of what she creates involves symbolism of people, dreams, culture, events or issues that have affected her or those around her. Her life experiences of enlightening highs and magically dark lows are often reflected in her work.www.rezkatstudio.com Facebook: Rez Kat Studio Instagram @rezkatstudio
Jackie Esquimaux- Hamlin & Brian Hamlin
Brian Hamlin and his wife Jackie are returning to Indigenous & Ingenious for their second year. Brian is a beekeeper who started hives at Georgina Island First Nation in 2004, and later installed hives in several places including Toronto Islands, U of T’s New College, Seneca College and Lang Pioneer Village at Rice Lake. Their honey is raw and unpasteurized and may be infused with cedar, cranberry, sumac, lavender, ginger or cocoa. Brian makes beeswax candles made from his own unique molds. www.beehamlin.com
Wesley Havill
Wesley Havill, Ojibway is a member of the Batchewana Band, Rankin First Nation just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario. Wesley carves Moose, Deer and Elk Antler, as well as domestic and exotic Wood. He’s an artist, and a blacksmith who works with copper and steel. Together with his wife Lori, Wesley follows the Pow Wow trail across Canada, enjoying the celebrations and selling his work. In 2010, Wesley was one of the Indigenous artists selected to showcase his art at the Vancouver Olympics. Wesley’s art is his passion! www.whatknots.ca
Susan Hill
Susan is a Haudenosaunee artisan from the Six Nations of the Grand River. She has over 25 years experience in designing and handcrafting beadwork and moccasins. During the summer, she can be found on the Pow Wow trail selling her work.
Keitha Keeshig-Tobias
A contemporary Indigenous Artist specializing in Dipped Pen & Ink, Keitha brings forth complex issues and inspiration with beauty and grace. About her work, Keitha says, “I am inspired by the connect of spirit between us and nature of indigenous art, the images/icons/emblems of indigenous culture, and depicting my emotions relating to family/history/current affair, pen & ink fairy tale illustrations, the female form & nature motifs of art nouveau and art deco. I mostly work in blue ink and deep blue like the waters of my home, Neyaashiinigmiing, blue like twilight, a magical time of change.”www.biizindam.com Instagram @keeshigtobias Facebook Biizindam
Clayton Samuel King
The common themes in Clayton’s work relate to his Indigenous background. A multi-media artist who works predominantly with acrylic paint, he also works with other mediums like photography, sculpture, graphite, and traditional First Nations crafts. He is also well-known on the Pow Wow circuit as a Northern Traditional Pow Wow Dancer. Clayton’s work has been in several solo and group exhibitions. His knowledge and engaging personality make him an ideal resource for schools where he does cultural interpretive workshops to bridge an understanding of First Nations art and history to native and non- native students alike. A member of Beausoleil First Nation, Clayton is Potawatomi. www.whitebearart.com.
Barb Nahwegahbow
Barb is a jewellery artist, photographer and cultural activist. Born and raised on the Whitefish River First Nation on Manitoulin Island, she is Anishinaabe. Several years ago, Barb began designing jewellery. Her pieces are bold and unique with unexpected components. Semi-precious and precious gemstones are mixed with wood, fossils, nuts and seeds, or porcelain and felted accent pieces. She uses gold, silver, copper and brass as well as vintage finds from antique markets. www.bluedawnjewellery.com
Skye Paul
Skye Paul is a Toronto based artist, mother, and entrepreneur. Her beading, illustration, and design re-claims cultural practice; and adds her pop sensibilities. Her influences are as diverse as her setsune Catherine (setsune means grandmother in Dene) to current fashion trends.
Instagram @runningfoxbeads
Joseph Sagaj
Joseph is Anishinawbe from Neskantaga First Nation, a remote community 400 km north of Thunder Bay. His creative influence is drawn from stories, legends and a wide array of talent in his community. Joseph graduated in Fine Arts from the Ontario College of Art in 1985. In 1992, he designed the logo for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. He went on to design logos for a number of other organizations. In 2017, Joseph did a series of seven paintings on commission for the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney-General, and was commissioned to design a mosaic installation for Seneca College in Toronto that is expected to be unveiled early 2019. Joseph works primarily with watercolours and acrylics.
Donna Morrison Seary
Donna is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation. She likes to create and bead contemporary jewellery with an Indigenous twist, and thinks nothing of spending countless hours designing, carefully selecting colours and beading. Along with beading, she enjoys sewing and painting. “But the most enjoyment I get is from teaching others,” says Donna.
Brian Wright-McLeod
Widely recognized as the international authority on Native music, Brian Wright-McLeod (Dakota/Anishnabe) is a Toronto-based music journalist, broadcaster, educator, artist and writer.
His work in radio that began in 1983, resulted in the publication of his first book The Encyclopedia of Native Music, and the companion 3-CD The Soundtrack of a People. The projects were the basis for the Smithsonian Institute’s Native music exhibit Up Where We Belong (2010-2015) which launched the documentary film Rumble which won three Canadian Screen Awards in 2018. Red Power, a graphic novel that Brian wrote and illustrated was published in 2011. Brian currently teaches Indigenous Music in Culture at Centennial College, Toronto.
J’net AyAy Qwa Yak Sheelth (One who gives away and still stands tall)
J’net is a member of the Ahousaht community within the Nuu-chah-nulth territory on Vancouver Island. J’net is an cedar bark weaver and emerging textile artist using distinct West Coast art to create a unique expression of oral story traditions on contemporary and re-cultured clothing. Her designs have been featured in fashion shows and art shows. In the past, she has been honoured to dress award-winning actor Tantoo Cardinal for red carpet events. By day, J’net works at the ROM as the Indigenous Outreach and Learning Coordinator. wildwear.blogspot.ca/
PERFORMANCE ARTIST
Shandra Spears Bombay is a Toronto-based singer, actor and writer. Anishinawbe from Rainy River First Nation/Manitou Rapids, Shandra has been singing with a hand drum for the past 23 years. Shandra will be performing both Saturday and Sunday, at 12 noon, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
INDIGENOUS CHEF
Gail King from Beausoleil First Nation will be cooking up Indigenous food that is usually found on the Pow Wow trail which is where you usually find Gail. Indian Tacos, Scone Dogs, Wild Rice are some of the items she’ll have available at Indigenous & Ingenious.
