Artist Dana Claxton October 5- November 17

Main Gallery

Dana Claxton

Title: TXT4WPG

Dates: October 5 to November 17, 2012

Opening Reception October 5 at 8pm, Artist Talk at 9pm

First Friday Lecture with Dana Claxton at MAWA 12-1pm, 611 Main Street, Winnipeg

Artist Statement: This new body of text based work was inspired by Claxton's stay in Winnipeg for six weeks in 2007. Incorporating her roots as a poet, Claxton has made two video installations based on her original writings she did while in Winnipeg. The set of works include performative text, digital text based, and watercolour and pencil.

Dana Claxton began her art practice with a multi-media poetry performance at the Pitt Gallery in 1991 during the Neo Nativist group show and this will be the first time in 21 years that she has made visual art with her writing. Although, she has maintained a writing practice with short narrative films and poetry, TXT4WPG brings her visual and text practices together. She describes her stay in Winnipeg as enchanting and complex.

Biography: Dana Claxton works in film, video, photography, multi channel installation and performance art. Her practice investigates indigenous beauty, the socio-political and the spiritual. Her work has been shown internationally at the Museum of Modern Art (NYC), Walker Art Centre, Sundance Film Festival, Eiteljorg Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney, AU).

Her work is held in public collections including the Vancouver Art Gallery, National Gallery of Canada, Art Bank of Canada and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She has received numerous awards including the VIVA Award and the Eiteljorg Fellowship.

Her work was selected for the 17th Biennale of Sydney Biennale (10), de Biennale Montréal (07), Biennale d’art contemporain du Havre, France (06), Micro Wave, Hong Kong (05) Art Star Biennale, Ottawa (05) and Wro 03 Media Arts Biennale Wroclaw Poland (03). She has created commissioned works for the University of Lethbridge Gallery, Alternator Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Urban Shaman, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery and Tribe. She has presented talks at the Getty Institute (LA) and the Art College Association (USA) and the Opening Week Forum of the Biennale of Sydney.

Claxton was born in Yorkton Saskatchewan and her family reserve is Wood Mountain. Her paternal Euro-Canadian Grandmother taught her how to harvest and preserve food and her maternal Lakota grandmother taught her to seek justice. Dana is the youngest of four siblings, an auntie, niece, cousin and daughter.

Claxton resides in Vancouver is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory at the University of British Columbia.

Marvin Francis Memorial Gallery

Dana Claxton

Title: He Who Walks So Very Slow

RED HD Video 2012

Dates: October 5 to November 17, 2012

Opening Reception October 5 at 8pm, Artist Talk at 9pm

First Friday Lecture with Dana Claxton at MAWA 12-1pm, 611 Main Street, Winnipeg

Artist Statement: What happens when we are deeply moved by the greatness of others? I write poetry, I make art. I cry. This work is dedicated to all the warriors on the streets of Winnipeg - all the men and women who walk in dignity and beauty - I give thanks- wopila pila maya.