Local artist bailey macabre has been wanting to organize an event with all-Indigenous creatives at the Nanaimo Art Gallery since they began working there as the Indigenous engagement coordinator last year. This Friday, their vision will come to fruition as the gallery hosts a series of “lightning talks” featuring Indigenous artists.
“We’ve had so many different artists over the years, but when I started here I had this idea to do one that was all Indigenous and it’s one of those things that I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” macabre told The Discourse in an interview.
The talk, part of the gallery’s Making Waves series, features nêhiyaw, British and German storyteller, artist and filmmaker Eli Hirtle; Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, Penelakut and Cowichan storyteller and weaver Violet Elliot; Mowachaht and Muchalaht community builder Andrew Callicum and Dene Mistawasis Nêhiyaw artist and musician Atticus Mercredi.
According to macabre, Hirtle will talk about language, art and revitalization. They said Elliot is an “amazing weaver” who is passionate about the Coast Salish Woolly Dog and Mercredi will talk about sobriety and how he uses art to heal from intergenerational trauma. He will also give a musical performance after the talks.
“I actually have no idea what Andrew is going to talk about, but every time I’ve been in a room with him — so many times — and every time he speaks, his stories are just so compelling and interesting and humbling that I just know whatever he’s going to say is going to be awesome,” macabre said.
This event is part of a broader initiative to ground the Nanaimo Art Gallery in traditional Snuneymuxw territory.
“One of the things we’re working on is trying to get a new art gallery, but we want to do it in collaboration with Snuneymuxw, as opposed to a lot of other places that will get the city stamp of approval and then go, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do,’ as opposed to what works best for all of us,” macabre said.
As part of that process, the Nanaimo Art Gallery staff turned inward and held a series of meetings where they asked themselves if the gallery really did prioritize the land.
“We looked at many of our previous exhibitions, our programming and the ways in which we tie what we do to the land here on Snuneymuxw territory,” macabre said. “And pretty much every single exhibition, except for traveling exhibitions or ones that aren’t curated here, were in some way tied to where we come from.”
One example was when the Bear Hat sisters from Saskatchewan exhibited at the gallery. While the exhibition itself was rooted in their worldview, they also met with Snuneymuxw Elder Shxuysulwut Lolly Good and participated in a language exchange.
“Even if we are bringing other artists in, we always try to find a way to connect it to this place so that it’s still relevant to the community here,” macabre said.
The event starts at 7 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 13 with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets cost $15 and are available on the Nanaimo Art Gallery website. The event is wheelchair accessible and will have a gender-neutral bathroom available.
“Honestly, I just think that the whole thing is going to be so awesome,” macabre told The Discourse. “Every single person who’s involved has such great life experience and stories, and they’re all just such wonderful people. I think anyone would be blessed to hear them speak.”
