Holding Ground

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Marianne Nicolson, "Holding Ground exhibition (detail)," 2021

concept drawing for collaborative curtain pencil on paper

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will remain open with a free Public Open House on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thursday, Sept, 30, from Noon to 5pm. 

Holding Ground: Gerry Ambers, Aya Clappis, Ace Harry, Lisa Kenoras, Laura Manson, Jessica Mayhew, Feather Nault, Marianne Nicolson, Ross Neasloss Jr, Stephanie Papik, Nikki Sanchez, Coral Shaughnessy-Moon, Nicole Stanbridge, Marika Swan, Nabidu Taylor, France Trepanier.

Holding Ground: to hold space, to hold up, to care for, to support, to refuse to let go

Opening at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on July 17, with a Free Public Open House, Holding Ground is the culmination of many months of conversations held through the hosting of the Indigenous Intergenerational Exchange.

The group was led by artists Marianne Nicolson, Marika Swan and educator/media maker Nikki Sanchez, in collaboration with 12 invited participants: Gerry Ambers, Aya Clappis, Ace Harry, Lisa Kenoras, Laura Manson, Jessica Mayhew, Feather Nault, Ross Neasloss Jr, Stephanie Papik, Coral Shaughnessy-Moon, Nabidu Taylor, and France Trepanier.

The members of the Indigenous Intergenerational Exchange are all contributors to social justice and frontline activism in their respective communities. The group held virtual gatherings bi-weekly from Feb. 25 to May 20 to share cultural teachings, critical understanding, and creative processes within a healing space.

Through Holding Ground, they have set the powerful intention to host an open floor for the group to participate in an active interplay of creative sharing. This exhibition will generously share a glimpse into the continuum of Indigenous resistance, across generations.

“Our children are sacred and their desire to continue to advocate for our worldviews is a sacred undertaking. As such, the gallery space and the time occupied by the exhibit is reserved and recognized for them.” said group leader and artist Marianne Nicolson.

At the center of Holding Ground is a curtain collaboratively made by members of the group. Traditionally these curtains hang in the Big House for ceremony such as Potlatch and act as a transitional space between the physical and spiritual realms.

“We will be creating a curtain to transform our space at the AGGV. This anchor will allow us to create our own microcosm of the universe. Within this we can re-enact the nature of our inter- relationships with each other and to the land. In community, each generational role is necessary. Isolated we are vulnerable. But in formation we have great strength in the diversity of our offerings,” said artist and leader Marika Swan.

On July 17, the floor will be opened with the curtain in place to hold space for the participants to share throughout the run of the exhibition. Visitors are invited to watch as the space evolves and the group extends an invitation to revisit throughout the coming months and witness the evolution of this shifting space. The organizers extend their gratitude and appreciation to all of the participants involved in this project for their unique contributions, their time and generosity.

“We hold the space so that what is happening in the now will have a presence,” said Nicolson.