Richmond BC, Canada #richmondartgallerybc
Chambers is traveling Canada and the USA creating site specific art installations at residential school historical sites, cultural centres, museums, art galleries and other public spaces. Hear about her journey in developing and funding this ongoing project with tips and advice for artists seeking to exhibit in various spaces across the country.
This was a fully interactive online session recorded on June 28, 2023 with the Richmond Art Gallery.
Hosted by RAG Education & Public Programs Coordinator, Kathy Tycholis.
Produced by the Richmond Art Gallery Association as part of the Artist Salon series
About the Presenter:
Tracey-Mae Chambers is a Métis installation artist and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Her family is from the traditional Métis community in Sault Ste Marie and Penetanguishene, Ontario. She is currently traveling Canada and the USA creating site specific art installations at residential school historical sites, cultural centres, museums, art galleries and other public spaces. Her #hopeandhealingCanada project is currently installed in the Richmond Cultural Centre, directly outside of the Richmond Art Gallery.
The goal of this current work is to broach the subject of decolonization with viewers and staff. The installations are created with large premade crochet, and knit pieces made with red yarn. These are created both inside and outside and weather the elements quite successfully. The installations can be in place for as long as the venue would like. Once dismantled the work itself will be returned to me and it will be reworked and repurposed at another site somewhere in the country. The stories from each participating venue will culminate into a book and traveling exhibition.
Many (but not all) of these public spaces serve to present a colonial viewpoint and primarily speak about the settlers who arrived and lived here but not the Indigenous people that were displaced along the way. The decolonization of such places is a ponderous task and must be shouldered collectively. The discussion of reconciliation and decolonization is hard to start and harder still to maintain. Therefore, I am hoping to use my work to help bridge the gap between settlers and Indigenous, Métis and Inuit people by creating art that is approachable and non-confrontational so we can start. As I am part Métis and European I am conscious of the privilege my ‘whiteness’ affords me and bridging this gap is in fact a form of self education and self healing. I have entitled this body of work #hopeandhealingcanada and #hopeandhealingusa.
Artist website – www.traceymae.com/
The Artist Salon is an opportunity for emerging and established visual artists to learn from arts professionals and discuss opportunities in the arts community. Each month presents a different guest presenter for inspirational talks and professional development advice for visual artists.
Past live sessions from 2020 onwards are recorded and may be viewed online at the RAG@Home Artist Salon videos.
Program is supported by the City of Richmond Arts and Culture grant.
