Urban Shaman celebrates 20 years of Indigenous art

For 20 years, Urban Shaman gallery has been a staple in the Indigenous art scene.

It was started by a group of Indigenous artists in Winnipeg, including Lita Fontaine and Louis Ogemah.

"They wanted to create their own safe space or comfortable space where they could share ideas, show their work, show the work of their friends," said Daina Warren who is the director of Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art.

Both Fontaine's and Ogemah's work will be featured in The Fire Throws Sparks – 20th Anniversary Exhibition at the gallery on McDermot Avenue.

Other artists in the group exhibition include:  KC Adams, Rebecca Belmore, Scott Benesiinaabandan, Roger Crait, Kevin McKenzie, Peter Morin, Nadia Myre and Linus Woods.

"I have chosen some older works and some newer works,"  said Warren, who curated the show. "The older works represent milestones in their art practice, where their career became more well known."

Warren said the gallery has helped many of these artists launch their careers. She cites KC Adams, the artist behind Perception and Cyborg Hybrids, as an example.

"I think it is really good that we have been able to help along the way and have a professional exhibition for a lot of artists who are starting out," said Warren.

The gallery director said Urban Shaman has evolved in the past 20 years, from Winnipeg to the international scene. She said artists and curators, like herself, have done exchanges with galleries in Australia and New Zealand.

"I feel like there are a lot of connections between how Indigenous artists struggle and [their] challenges," she said.

Warren predicts big things for Urban Shaman over the next five years, including collaborations between Indigenous artists from around the world.

The opening reception starts at 8:00 pm on Friday at 203 - 290 McDermot Avenue.

Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery - 20th Anniversary Symposium

Friday: University of Manitoba School of Art – Room 366

10:30 am – 10:45 am Free Registration and Coffee/Tea

10:45 am – 11:00 am First Keynote Address: Lita & Leah Fontaine

11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Panel: Urban Shaman History – A 20 Year Fire
Presenters: Louis Ogemah, Melissa Wastasecoot
Moderator: Niki Little

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Panel: Media Arts, a memorial gallery, new methods
Presenters: Scott Benesiinaabandan, Darryl Nepinak
Moderator: Jaimie Isaac

Saturday: University of Manitoba School of Art – Room 136

10:30 am – Free Registration & Coffee/Tea

11:00 am –12:30 pm
Panel: Traveling Traditional Knowledge
Presenters: Nadia Myre & Peter Morin
Moderator: Cathy Mattes

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Panel: Community Initiatives and Projects
Presenters: KC Adams, Marcel Balfour, Stuart Desnomie
Moderator: Becca Taylor

All panels include a Q & A / Open Discussion with the Artists.