National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30 the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will be open from 12pm-5pm for a free Public Open House on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an important day of reflection and healing for all, it honours Indigenous residential school survivors, their families and communities.
“We hope that both staff and visitors will use the day to reflect on how the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission report can be acted on in their own lives. The ideas and artworks presented in two of our current exhibitions, Emily Carr: Seeing and Being Seen and Holding Ground, offer many starting points for conversations around truth and reconciliation and the calls to action.” – AGGV Acting Director Janyce Ronson
Holding Ground is an Indigenous led exhibition, on now until Oct 17, that looks at the history of Indigenous resistance through the contributions of artists who took part in the Indigenous Intergenerational Exchange led by artists Marianne Nicolson, Marika Swan and educator/media maker Nikki Sanchez, in collaboration with 12 invited participants: Gerry Ambers, Aya Clappis, Ace Harry, Lisa Kenoras, Laura Manson, Jessica Mayhew, Feather Nault, Ross Neasloss Jr, Stephanie Papik, Coral Shaughnessy-Moon, Nabidu Taylor, and France Trepanier. This amazing group of individuals are all contributors to social justice and frontline activism in their respective communities. This exhibition generously shares a glimpse into the continuum of Indigenous resistance, across generations.
The AGGV’s current exhibition Emily Carr: Seeing and Being Seen running in the AGGV’s Graham Gallery through July 2022, also offers a launching point for conversation, through Emily Carr’s works the AGGV has used the occasion of this exhibition, and references in Carr’s work to local sites, to speak to the Indigenous history of these unceded lands, traditional place names, appropriation, and the environmental impact of resource extraction in this region.
A facilitator will be on site in the Emily Carr exhibition from 1pm-4pm to engage with visitors and discuss these topics. Further resources will be shared on our social media throughout the day.
Image credits (L-R): Holding Ground installation view (2021), Holding Ground installation view (2021), Emily Carr, Totem Walk at Sitka, 1907, AGGV.1994.055.004.
