Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art (installation view of Lex Wotton Profile by Vernon Ah Kee), 2013 © Kate Tarini, Ryerson Image Centre
Fall exhibitions and events at the Ryerson Image Centre
Oct. 8, 2013
The Ryerson Image Centre (RIC) celebrates its second fall season in Toronto with a line-up of dynamic exhibitions and events. On view until December 15, Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art. explores the act of resistance in contemporary indigenous art through the work of aboriginal artists and photographs from the Black Star Collection. Opening November 6, 2013, Elena Malkova: Camera Obscura presents two video works, which reconsider the history of the camera obscura.
Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art. features the work of prominent indigenous artists, including Sonny Assu, Vernon Ah Kee, Dana Claxton, and Skawennati. The exhibition opened on September 18 with a ceremonial reclaiming of the land on which the RIC stands, formerly the territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. Flags of the Iroquois, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and Unity/Warrior hang in the main entrance of the gallery to welcome visitors and mark the land as indigenous for the duration of the exhibition.
In his remarks at the opening reception, guest curator Steve Loft said “Some would say we have been the victims of a long history of colonialism but I dispute that because we’re not victims...We’re proud. We’re strong. We’re here. But we have to remember that being an aboriginal person in this country is in itself an act of daily, continuing resistance, and that’s what this show is about.”
Moving Frames, Shifting Boundaries: Artistic Experiments and Innovation in Film and Video continues in the student gallery until October 27, featuring a selection of experimental film and video works produced by students of the School of Image Arts, Ryerson University, under the mentorship of professors and co-curators Gerda Cammaer and Pierre Tremblay.
Elena Malkova: Camera Obscura takes over the student gallery beginning November 6 with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. In Portraits (2011), Malkova explores long exposures of early cameras and the efforts of first experimenters to capture still images of a moving world. In the Light of the Camera Obscura (2012) merges the visual wonder of the dark room with lighting effects developed by dance innovator Loi?e Fuller (1869-1928).
EXHIBITIONS:
Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art.
On view until December 15, 2013
Guest Curator: Steve Loft
Main Gallery, University Gallery, Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall
Moving Frames, Shifting Boundaries: Artistic Experiments and Innovation in Film and Video
On view until October 27, 2013
Guest Curators: Gerda Cammaer and Pierre Tremblay Student Gallery
Elena Malkova: Camera Obscura
Opening Reception: November 6, 2013, 6 – 8 p.m. On view from November 6 to December 15, 2013 Student Gallery
EVENTS:
Curator and Artist Walk-Throughs
Guest curator Steve Loft and special guests will lead a free exhibition tour of Ghost Dance: Activism. Resistance. Art. on the following dates:
October 18, 2013, 11 a.m. October 23, 2013, 6 p.m. November 13, 2013, 6 p.m. December 11, 2013, 6 p.m.
Film Screening & Artist Talk
October 18, 2013, 12 – 1:30 p.m. Full-series screening of Skawennati’s Second Life series Time TravellerTM , followed by a talk with the artist. Presented in partnership with the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
Docent Exhibition Tours
Daily at 2:30 p.m. until December 15, 2013
Noon Time Collection Talks
All lectures are open to the public and take place at the Research Centre, located on the second floor of 122 Bond Street.
Marcus Schubert: Visionary Environments
October 17, 2013, 12 p.m.