I Apologise For My Ignorance: Youth Voices Of Neskantaga Art Exhibit Review

Image Source:
http://www.northsouthpartnership.com/youth-work/item/156-youth-voices-of-neskantaga-art-exhibition

For those of you who do not like to read reviews, and are only wondering if you should invest your precious time in seeing this exhibit, my simple answer to you is: "Yes".

For those of you who like to read about my personal experiences and are interested in my opinions regarding this exhibit, read on.

I'll begin by saying that I'm fond of, what I call, the Native Art Style, but I went to this exhibit more as a favour to my friend (who is one of the organisers) than to support the young artists who are exhibiting their work.  For those of you who know me personally, you know that I'm always up for seeing something new when it comes to art, though I am still primarily a supporter of traditional work, and I doubt I will ever find anything more beautiful in the span of my whole life than the works of Monet.  Nevertheless, yesterday I felt dreadful all day.  I don't know if it was the weather, or if I was coming down with a cold.  All I know is that all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch some feel-good movies.  If my friend was not an organizer, I would have stayed at home.  If I stayed at home, I would be more ignorant that I am today.

This exhibit is not what I expected.  I expected a sharp gallery setting, with fancy lighting and professional display arrangement.

Instead, I was in a single room, containing a hodge-podge of artwork, created by very young, and older children.  Something more on the level of a high school gallery show, than a professional exhibition.  The works displayed were less beautiful as great works of art, but more beautiful as the potential of what those artists could become.  There was also not a single style, but many styles.  There was music by young rap artists of Neskantaga, photography, crafts, and graphic artworks.  There was no rhyme or reason to the displays, but the whole exhibit glowed with youth, a sense of community, and potential.

However, as I walked around (it did not take long) and took in the images with more care, I found a common theme:  Despair and Hope.

I was appalled by the images I saw.  There were moments, especially when I listened to the speeches, that all I wanted to do is cry and somehow reach my arms around the people of that community.

I was so ignorant.  I truly believed that the native peoples of Canada lived like the Amish or Orthodox Jews.  People who segregated themselves in hopes of preserving their dying culture and traditional values.  When I pictured native people, I always pictured them living in neat villages, hunting, gathering and living off the land, trading, still keeping up with the times of society around them, but choosing to remain independent. 

What I saw...

I am ashamed to be Canadian, because I have allowed the existence of the present Canadian Government.  I cannot believe that the Canadian Government who prides itself on its humanitarian efforts around the world, would let a community in Canada look the way Neskantaga does.  They spend millions (maybe even billions) on foreign aid, and they allow their own people to live under such conditions?  In this day and age?  It is appalling.  I'm still under so much shock that I cannot even write coherently on the subject.

If I remember correctly, three young people, three young artists, three young Canadians, committed suicide in this community within the year.  The last happened in May.

In the midst of the natural and sever beauty of the Canadian North Ontario, Naskantaga is a shameful scar.  Dwellings more suited to a third-world country torn by war, than to one of the would-be leading nations of the world, populate the area.  Children play in mud.  Broken light bulbs and empty sockets.  Run down, homeless appearance...  And sweet, sweet children with sad eyes.

Watching the slides I could not believe I was looking at a community in Canada.

Yet, inspite of these harsh conditions, young people of Neskantaga have gathered and created something beautiful and something lasting.  They created this exhibit to share their culture with us, and to show us that even in the horrific conditions they live under, they still see the beauty around them, most especially amongst the people that surround them.

And there is true talent there.  Just look at the beautiful graphic at the top by Josh Kendrick.

My favourite piece in the exhibit is a photograph by Tyrone Day entitled "Far From Home".  It shows the profile of a young girl, an extreme close-up shot, showing her nose, eye, and a bit of forehead, her hair swirling around a wistful face.  It is very graphic and so full of emotion, that I think it rivals any famous professional photograph I have ever seen.  

The rest of the work may be artistically forgettable, but it is emotionally lasting.

Inspite of being welcomed by the traditional gift of tobacco in small red pouches, the musical native language, and invited to mingle with young artists, I felt too much to stay long at the opening.  But I am glad I went.  Time permitting I will return to see the artwork again before it is gone.

Lastly, all I can do is encourage you to go see this exhibit for yourself.  I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised, and that you will be glad that you did not spend another evening curled-up on a couch watching a feel-good movie... Or a feel-bad movie, if that is what you prefer.  If you can purchase a print, or give a small donation, the youth of Neskantaga would be really appreciate it and could most definitely use it.

For more about the exhibit see: http://www.northsouthpartnership.com/youth-work/youth-voices-of-neskantaga

Until another time,

M