REFUSE(d): Candace Lipischak

RIFUZ(d)/REFUSE(d): Candace Lipischak
July 4 to August 30, 2025

Reception: Friday, July 4^th, 5-9 pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, July 12^th, 1-3 pm
Livestream Link: https://youtube.com/live/mHtJbHRmQm4?feature=share

English

Rust and regeneration. Everything breaks down in time, even steel.

The materials in REFUSE(d) are from Candace Lipischak’s farm in rural Manitoba. They carry memories of ancestors who planted seeds to keep their spirit and teachings alive for us today.

By re-fusing artwork into what’s been left to rust, like the sheet metal, discarded oil barrels, and antique farm tools found on most Métis family farms across the prairies, the intergenerational stories of resilience and resistance are encouraged to grow.

REFUSE(d) explores themes around breast cancer, MMIWG2S, Truth and Reconciliation, and kinship. Lipischak looks towards the land she’s on for inspiration and strength. These subjects invoke strong emotions that are reflected in the complex composition of the pieces, inviting reflection and connection to our own sources of strength.

Refusing the historic and contemporary efforts to destroy Indigenous communities, Lipischak draws connections between treaties, residential schools, and Catholic harm in Métis communities. Instead, their art points to what continues: language, kinship, ceremony, and care.

Like rust returning to the earth, this process is slow but certain – creating fertile soil for the seeds of the future to grow.

Candace Lipischak

Candace Lipischak is a bilingual 2S French-Métis/Polish artist from Treaty 1 territory, currently residing in Otterburne, Manitoba.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis and PTSD, she is an autodidactic artist; working in illustration, graphic design, painting, sculpting, and antler carving. Their art focuses on using discarded material and giving new life to antique objects. Her work sheds light on environmental and social issues, consumerism, the land, truth and reconciliation, and nature’s powerful force.

Founded in 2015, Candace is the owner of Fat Daug. Mentored by her father Larry, they create unique pieces of hand carved antler jewelry and beadwork.

Candace’s works are part of local and national collections, including TDS Law and Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (Winnipeg), the Canadian Coast Guard College (Nova Scotia), the town of Niverville (Manitoba), the City of Burlington (Ontario), Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada HQ (Ottawa) and Rideau Hall (Ottawa).

Since 2014, Candace has been facilitating arts and cultural workshops and sharing their knowledge of Métis culture and traditions in schools and communities across Canada.

Michif

La rijinirasyon ipi la rowyl; tot sa kaws avek l’ten, mem l’fayr. L’materyel dan RIFUZ(d) si di Candace Lipischak sa ferm dan la kanpagn Manitoba. Sa port li sowvnir di zanseyt ki lon planti li grayn powr gardi lewr ispri ipi lewr ejukasyon en vi powr nozot ojowrdjwi.

Par ri-fuzi l’artwork ki lon lesi powr rowyli, kom la toyl, li bari d’wil ki li  jeti, ipi li zotchi di li ferm di famiyl Michif atravayr li prayri, li zistwayr interjenerasyonel di risilyans ipi di resistans son enkowraji a si divlopi.

RIFUZ(d) y l’explor li themes otowr dju breast cancer. MMIWG2S, La Veriti ipi la Rekonsilyasyon, ipi la parenti. Lipischak y rgawrd l’bor la tayr sur kel ki s’trowv powr trovi l’inspirasyon ipi la fors. Si sujet sa ivok di zimosyon for ki si reflet dan la konpozisyon konplex di morso invitan a la rifleksyon ipi a la koneksyon a no sowrs di fors prop.

Refuzan li zefor istorik ipi kontenporin powr ditrwyr li komunoti Otokton. Lipischak y la konekti li koneksyon ent li treaty, li residential schools, ipi li prejudjis kowzi o Catolik dan li komunoti Michif. A la plas, l’art pwint a kosay ki li langaj ki konchinu: langaj, parenti, seremoni, ipi swin.

Pareyl kom la rowyl ki rtowrn a la tayr, si manyayr law y li slo mi sartin–a fayr la tayr fertile powr ki li grayn dju fuchur powr powsi.

Candace Lipischak

Candace Lipischak si tin archis bilingual 2S Michif-Fransay/Polish di la teritwayr Treaty 1, ki rest a Otterburne, Manitoba.

Viv avek Multiple Sclerosis ipi PTSD, si tin archis ki l’apren tot elmem, ki travayl dan li zilustrasyon, graphic design, y pinchur, la skulpchur, ipi y karv li antler. Lewr art sa fokus a ensarvyr di materyel k lon jeti ipi y den ayn nowvel vi o vyu zobjet. Son travail meyn en lumyayr li keschyon environmental ipi sosyal, li konsomerism, la tayr, la veriti, ipi la rikonsilyasyon ipi la fors pwisan di la nachur.

Fondi en 2015,  Fat Daug sa aparchyin a Candace. Montri par son payr Larry, y lon fayt di morso unik di hand carving, di antler, di jewelery, ipi dju beadwork.

Candace son ovraj si li parchi di koleksyon lokal ipi nasyonal, la Lway TSD ipi Ceredian HCM Holding Inc. (Winnipeg), l’Canadian Coast Guard College (Nova Scotia), l’vilaj di Niverville (Manitoba), la vil di Burlington (Ontario). Agriculture & Agri-Foof Canada HQ (Ottawa) ipi Rideau Hall (Ottawa).

Dipu 2014, Candace y la suporti l’art ipi li workshop ipi y share tot  kosay ki konay di kulchur Michif ipi li tradjisyon dan li zikol ipi li komunoti a travayr Canada.

Adjunct Programming

Canning Your Wishes | Workshop
Date: Wednesday, July 23rd 2025 
Time: 2:30 -6:30 pm
Location: Art City –  616 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB

In conjunction with the exhibition REFUSE(d) at Urban Shaman gallery, join Métis artist Candace Lipischak at Art City for a recycled materials painting workshop. Using canning rings, antique barn tin, and other delights founds on her farm, you’ll create a decorated jar to hold your wishes and dreams for the future.

Virtual Exhibition