North America’s largest beadwork exhibition, Radical Stitch, on display in Regina
Global News
'It's a radical act to be indigenous in this moment, to express our Indigenous selves in really culturally grounded ways that have been under attack.'
Radical Stitch, a contemporary beadwork exhibition, is currently on display at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. Curators describe it as “A feast for one’s eyes.”
The exhibition features the work of 48 Indigenous artists from all over North America. There are more than 110 art pieces created with beads or that reflect the importance of beads to Indigenous people.
“It’s a radical act to be Indigenous in this moment, to express our Indigenous selves in really culturally grounded ways that certainly have been under attack,” said Cathy Mattes, guest curator of the exhibit.
“So to be a bead artist in this moment in time, it’s a radical act as Indigenous people and coming from cultures where colonial governments attempted to halt this practice, because in so many ways it was our strength. Radical Stitch recognizes it’s a radical act.”
She talked about the impact of colonization on customary practices and how despite all of that, they went forth with beading.
“We stand on the shoulders of ancestors who despite what was happening in their moments of time, they continued to bead for whatever their reasons were and that has provided us such strength.”
Some of the artwork on display includes a pair of stiletto boots and heels that are completely beaded by artists, contemporary beadwork like SpongeBob SquarePants, lightboxes and pixelated beads, and artworks that represent the everyday Indigenous knowledge through beads.
“Criteria for the exhibition really was technical excellence and our goal is to challenge both beadwork artists, but also audiences to see the unlimited potential of beads and to really understand the time, the many, many hours that goes into creating anything with beads,” co-curator Michelle Lavallee said. “Each of these things are stitched on usually one at a time so I think it’s quite exciting.”