About Urban Shaman

Vision

Urban Shaman is a shape shifting site that presents cutting edge aboriginal art with integrity, while remaining firmly rooted in diverse aboriginal cultures.

Mandate

Urban Shaman is an aboriginal artist run centre dedicated to meeting the needs of artists by providing a vehicle for artistic expression in all disciplines and at all levels by taking a leadership role in the cultivation of indigenous art.

History

Cultural identity is a matter of “becoming” as well as “being”. It belongs to the future as much as to the past.:

- Stuart Hall.

Our Purpose:

As a cultural centre, we play an important role in promoting the rich artistic legacy of our communities, one that is always changing with the times. We recognize that in order to make sense of the present and prepare for the future, we must look to the past. However, we as a gallery are forever challenging peoples notions of “Aboriginal Art”, and while appreciating our ancestors contributions, we focus on promoting cutting-edge contemporary artists who are continuing from a long tradition of image making.

Looking to the Past:

In the 1950’s Winnipeg saw a great influx of Aboriginal peoples coming to the city for social, economic and educational purposes. Since then, Aboriginal people have been successfully reclaiming their cultural identity. For example, the first Indian and Metis Friendship Centre was created within the municipality of Winnipeg, providing for the economic and social needs of Aboriginal people. However, the nurturing of Aboriginal arts was not a priority until the 1960’s, when Anishinaabe artist Noval Morrisseaus’ first solo exhibition took place at the Jackson Pollock Gallery in Toronto.

In the 1970’s an important group of Aboriginal artists formed in Winnipeg, calling themselves “the Indian Group of Seven”. Artists Jackson Beardy, Carl Ray, Eddy Cobiness and Daphne Odjig were part of this movement, and are known for being the first artists to interpret oral stories through paint and canvas. Around this time The Winnipeg Art Gallery became the first public run gallery to exhibit contemporary art by Native Modernists. These Modernists still influence many today, and are recognised for having paved the way for artists to reclaim their cultural identity through visual interpretations.

Making Sense of the Present:

In the late 1980’s to mid 1990’s many attempts were made to promote the Aboriginal arts in Winnipeg. Under the directorship of Peggy Jubenville (Metis), the now defunct Aboriginal Arts Group held two successful arts festivals focusing on traditional arts while Cedar Gathering’s director Bev Carrier focused on contemporary Aboriginal arts. In November of 1994, visual artist Louis Ogemah (Anishinaabe) felt that a certain necessity was not being met for the contemporary Aboriginal artist in Winnipeg. He realized there was no existing gallery representing contemporary Aboriginal artists. Recognising this void, Ogemah had a vision of creating a place for Aboriginal people to artistically express their worldview. Inspired by Norval Morrisseaus’ idea of artist-as-shaman, he too thought that the Aboriginal arts could be utilised as healing tools for First Peoples, while educating the mainstream about our own unique art forms and artistic practices.

Moving Forward:

After an internship with Ace Art Inc. in Winnipeg in the Fall of 1996, he wanted to share this vision with other Aboriginal artists and friends. Ogemah approached John Schneider (Dakota), Leah Fontaine (Anishinaabe/Dakota) and Liz Barron about his visualisation for a gallery centre. In January 1996, the group joined together to found the Urban Shaman.

Since the opening of Urban Shaman, many exhibitions and programs have been implemented to meet the visual, educational, and community needs of Aboriginal artists on a local, national, and now international level.

Some Key Developments in Our History

1996 establishment of Urban Shaman as an artist run centre mandated for the exhibition and dissemination of contemporary art by Aboriginal artists. Gallery opened at 90 Albert St., (basement)

1999 Annual operational funding granted to Urban Shaman by Manitoba Arts Council followed by Canada Council for the Arts

2000 Pointing With The Lips, a youth centred mentoring project established as an annual program (currently in its fourth year)

2001 First international exhibition and exchange project. Blanket{ed} brought together an exhibition and series of workshops by Aboriginal artists from Canada and Australia. Exhibition and workshops were held at Urban Shaman (Canada) and Boomali artist collective (Australia)

2001 No X Plain Nation exhibition at Winnipeg Art Gallery coordinated by Urban Shaman and curated by Leanne L’Hirondelle

2002 Establishment of Conundrum as a quarterly magazine devoted to Aboriginal contemporary art

2002 Establishment of annual Printmakers residency (with manitoba Printmakers Association) for Aboriginal artists

2003 Establishment of partnership with Winnipeg Film Group to present an ongoing series of screenings and artist talks by Aboriginal film and video makers at Cinematheque Theatre

2003 Urban Shaman moves to new space at 233 Mcdermot Avenue, significantly increasing amount and range of exhibition programming

2004 Completion of Urban Shaman Strategic Plan

2004 Recipient of first ever Community Award for the Arts by Manitoba Foundation for the Arts, Inc.

2005 Launch of Urban Shaman’s new website, urbanshaman.org, which includes a virtual gallery tour with images and videotaped artist talks/performances, an e-zine version of Conundrum: (http:/conundrumonline.ca), an archive of members works and a new media gallery curated by New Media Curator Ahasiw Maskegon-Iskwew (Storm Spirits). Please note that http:/conundrumonline.ca replaces our magazine publication, conundrum

2005 Urban Shaman moves to new space at 290 McDermot, second floor, significantly increasing gallery size and potential for growth

2005 Completed feasibility study into future purchase of a building to house Urban Shaman

2005 Research and development phase of international residency/ exhibition with New Zealand Maori artists begins

2005 Funding confirmed for Virtual Museum Canada project, Storm Spirits: New Media Works by Aboriginal Artists

2005 Funding confirmed for addition of new media art gallery space to be named Marvin Francis Memorial Media Art Gallery

2006 'Marvin Francis Gallery' officially dedicated and opened

2006 'Storm Spirits: New Media Works by Aboriginal Artists' officially launched www.stormspirits.ca

2006 Host for "The Way Ahead: Aboriginal Curatorial Symposium"

2006 "Flatter the Land, Bigger the Ruckus" group exhibition presented at Harbourfront Centre (Toronto)

2007 Strategic planning for expanded multi-disciplinary Aboriginal art centre begins

2007 Major commissioning project with artist Kent Monkman

2007 Major exhibition to be mounted for Adelaide Festival (Australia) in collaboration with Winnipeg Art Gallery announced

2008 Marvin Francis New Media Gallery receives first year of operational funds from the Canada Council for the Arts

2008 'Non-Compliance' website launched www.non-compliance.ca