HUNTSVILLE - An exhibition of artwork by 13 native women from across Canada will open in Huntsville on June 1.
The Huntsville Art Society will host the exhibition, called This is My Song at The Art Space Gallery located off Queen Street, across from River Mill Park.
An opening reception is set for Saturday, June 2 at 6 p.m.
“Song” is a term used to describe how native people share their social history, stated the art society in a media release. Rather than writing things down, traditional aboriginal knowledge was imparted through songs, often using the sacred drum.
The native woman kept customs alive, worked alongside her male counterparts ensuring a sustained economy, and participated in the decisions that were made within the larger community.
After European contact, this position changed drastically. Her economic position was no longer valued and her roles taken away from her.
Three hundred years later, the native woman is regaining her voice. The exhibition will provide a creative forum for which native women artists can share their song and provide an accurate portrayal of who they are in today’s society.
Artists from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario and Nova Scotia are participating in the exhibition, which is curated and assembled by visual artist Nathalie Bertin.
The exhibition is a creative forum including two-dimensional art, a video presentation, fashion and music, which are some of the many ways native women artists are sharing their song and offering us an accurate portrayal of who they are in today’s society.
The Art Space Gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.