Proposal for Futuristic Regalia
Proposal for Futuristic Regalia Futuristic Regalia started with transforming the colonial gaze, by envisioning our First Nation's futures in our own terms, from our perspective. Two emerging contemporary native artists have created their own cultural future, basing all creations on their own perceived reality. This future will express current issues, concepts and stereotypes through the abstraction of the wearable/costume. Seeing each piece as an extension of the body, each artist will share or convey the layered contexts of what it means to be an indigenous body. Over the past six months, Sonny Assu and Peter Morin have frequented their traditional lands and communities, to acquire the visual language of formal ceremonial clothes. Each started with the principles of the historical forms, learning the use of traditional family crests, meaning of colors and designs as well as how to apply organic materials that traditionally decorate each blanket and Regalia outfit. Once gaining the foundation of their traditions, they then transformed these historical clothes into advanced ideologies. Sonny Assu is basing his piece on the influence pop culture has on First Nation's culture. He is creating a character that is a mix of the comic book character, Spider Man and the mythical Native spirit, Noohlmah. Just as every regalia piece has a story or dance performed by the respected wearer, Sonny Assu will produce a danced performance to develop his idea further and to show the live aspect that embodies most indigenous regalia. Sonny's project description: Spider-Man cape/blanket (Non traditional material: spandex with fishing net for the web design), Mask (Non-traditional material, ceramic wristbands and leg bands made from the same material as the blanket. Shells for sound while performing. Bundles of web (fishing net) to throw while performing. Traditional inspired dance of a mythical Native creature that plays with the audience. This dance will be partly based on the Noohlmah and the Echo. The echo mask has the power of transformation and (traditionally) has around four distinct additional pieces that fit into the mask, usually through the mouthpiece. The First part of the mask would be the plain echo mask, in the image of Peter Parker (Spider-Mans secrete ID) The first addition to the mask would be the camera mask. A piece shaped like a camera, complete with flash. The camera itself may or may not work, but the flash will. The dance would continue to incorporate this. The second echo piece would be the 3spider-sense2 echo. This piece would fit over the head of the mask, and the dance would continue from there. The final Piece to the
mask and the final part of the dance would be the Spider-man Echo piece, this again would be held onto the whole of the mask. 4*
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Peter's project involved time and research into the place of his traditional Tahltan nation. He is combining the valued aspects of his culture with an urban Native experience. His project description is below: 1. Titled: My reserve is empty"; Material include melton cloth, soil and organic materials. The suit will be a generic pattern, three button suit made of black melton, the suit will then be covered in dirt from different locations, my favorite places on my reserve, places that reference parts of my upbringing, the places that I return to every year. 2. Suit number 2, titled: "family traditions" melton cloth three button suit on the suit, option 2, black melton suit with white bead work. The beadwork will be the names of my family tree, or history. On the sleeves of the jacket I will bead, in white, two Ghost Dance crows. (The white beading is reference chalkboard writing, and the black of the suit is referencing black boards.) 3. Suit number 3, Titled:" Is this what you mean" Red and blue melton, three-button suit with abalone shell buttons. The crest on the back of this suit will be my own clan crest and will be appliqued red on blue melton. On the rest of the suit will be silkscreen in white, archaeological texts and images created by the first colonialist of this country.
In addition to his piece, Peter Morin will be writing about his experience and speak about the necessity to retain our traditional stories and the freedom to enact our cultural practices. With the support from Redwire Magazine, collaboration between artist and magazine will display color images and stories derived from the exhibition. This exhibition will take place at grunt gallery on February 6 - 28, 2004. It will be programmed to correspond with the International Artist Run Centre Conference, titled "Infest". During this time many other nations, cultures, curators, visual arts academics and galleries will be in attendance and this will provide an opportune time of exposure for both of the emerging First Nations Canadian artists.
mask and the final part of the dance would be the Spider-man Echo piece, this again would be held onto the whole of the mask. 4*
,
Peter's project involved time and research into the place of his traditional Tahltan nation. He is combining the valued aspects of his culture with an urban Native experience. His project description is below: 1. Titled: My reserve is empty"; Material include melton cloth, soil and organic materials. The suit will be a generic pattern, three button suit made of black melton, the suit will then be covered in dirt from different locations, my favorite places on my reserve, places that reference parts of my upbringing, the places that I return to every year. 2. Suit number 2, titled: "family traditions" melton cloth three button suit on the suit, option 2, black melton suit with white bead work. The beadwork will be the names of my family tree, or history. On the sleeves of the jacket I will bead, in white, two Ghost Dance crows. (The white beading is reference chalkboard writing, and the black of the suit is referencing black boards.) 3. Suit number 3, Titled:" Is this what you mean" Red and blue melton, three-button suit with abalone shell buttons. The crest on the back of this suit will be my own clan crest and will be appliqued red on blue melton. On the rest of the suit will be silkscreen in white, archaeological texts and images created by the first colonialist of this country.
In addition to his piece, Peter Morin will be writing about his experience and speak about the necessity to retain our traditional stories and the freedom to enact our cultural practices. With the support from Redwire Magazine, collaboration between artist and magazine will display color images and stories derived from the exhibition. This exhibition will take place at grunt gallery on February 6 - 28, 2004. It will be programmed to correspond with the International Artist Run Centre Conference, titled "Infest". During this time many other nations, cultures, curators, visual arts academics and galleries will be in attendance and this will provide an opportune time of exposure for both of the emerging First Nations Canadian artists.
