Notes from the Exhibition Curator
This exhibition creates an opportunity for the Martin Luther University College (Luther), Wilfrid Laurier University and wider community to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Calls to Action, by engaging with the wisdom of the Seven Sacred Teachings.
These traditional guiding principles for living a good life are also referred to as Seven Grandfather or Seven Grandmother Teachings, depending on the Indigenous community. This exhibition focuses on TRC Call to Action #60, which asks us to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, and Call #83, which asks artists to work with Indigenous people on a path towards reconciliation.
"A Visual Reconciliation: Cross-cultural Artistic Reflections on the Seven Sacred Teachings" was inspired by lead artist Dazaunggee(Paul Shilling) from Rama Nation, who gathered three additional artists to each interpret the Seven Sacred Teachings from their own cultural perspective, offering us twenty-eight works in total to reflect upon. Julie Tian, Xavier Fernandes, Ted Fullerton, and Dazaunggee have dug deep within to explore and present their responses to the teachings, creating with mediums from woodworking and photography to painting and embroidery.
Whether you view the artwork on-line or in Keffer Chapel at Martin Luther University College, you are invited to engage with the exhibition, in any number of ways, including but not limited to: reading about the Seven Sacred Teachings in the hallway of the gallery, or at the top of each online teaching page; viewing the pieces and the artist statements in the gallery itself; attending an online art talk; considering home reflections on the teachings with all ages; participating in an in-person art-making afternoon; creating your own response such as poetry, music, visual art.
We are grateful to the artists, and to the Orillia & District Arts Council ( ODAC ), who developed the project from its inception and supported us in this current exhibition.
Beverly McNabb,
Curator
This exhibition creates an opportunity for the Martin Luther University College (Luther), Wilfrid Laurier University and wider community to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Calls to Action, by engaging with the wisdom of the Seven Sacred Teachings.
These traditional guiding principles for living a good life are also referred to as Seven Grandfather or Seven Grandmother Teachings, depending on the Indigenous community. This exhibition focuses on TRC Call to Action #60, which asks us to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, and Call #83, which asks artists to work with Indigenous people on a path towards reconciliation.
"A Visual Reconciliation: Cross-cultural Artistic Reflections on the Seven Sacred Teachings" was inspired by lead artist Dazaunggee(Paul Shilling) from Rama Nation, who gathered three additional artists to each interpret the Seven Sacred Teachings from their own cultural perspective, offering us twenty-eight works in total to reflect upon. Julie Tian, Xavier Fernandes, Ted Fullerton, and Dazaunggee have dug deep within to explore and present their responses to the teachings, creating with mediums from woodworking and photography to painting and embroidery.
Whether you view the artwork on-line or in Keffer Chapel at Martin Luther University College, you are invited to engage with the exhibition, in any number of ways, including but not limited to: reading about the Seven Sacred Teachings in the hallway of the gallery, or at the top of each online teaching page; viewing the pieces and the artist statements in the gallery itself; attending an online art talk; considering home reflections on the teachings with all ages; participating in an in-person art-making afternoon; creating your own response such as poetry, music, visual art.
We are grateful to the artists, and to the Orillia & District Arts Council ( ODAC ), who developed the project from its inception and supported us in this current exhibition.
Beverly McNabb,
Curator