ᒥᓂᐢᑎᐠ ᒥᐦᑭᓈᕁ Ministik Mihkinâhk - Turtle Island

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Community artists, “Turtle Island,” 2023

felt, yarn (courtesy of the gallery)

Opening Reception: November 4 from 1:30-3:30 pm

The Art Gallery of St. Albert is delighted to announce ᒥᓂᐢᑎᐠ ᒥᐦᑭᓈᕁ Ministik Mihkinâhk - turtle island. This feature exhibition will be shown in the Gallery’s Vault Space featuring hundreds of felted turtle pins created by community members of all ages, reflecting the many histories and connections our community has with the land across our province.

This beautiful collection of fiber art pins is the culmination of the Gallery’s first Educational Artist in Residence program led by renowned Indigenous artist Heather Shillinglaw, a mixed-media artist of Appetogasan, Cree/Dene, Salteaux Chipewyan and Scottish/French heritage. Teaching alongside an Elder, Shillinglaw shared the importance of the turtle and Turtle Island teaching to her works and their connection to our entire community.

While creating their pins in advance of this exhibition, community members explored their own connections to the landscape all around us. Using thread, felt, beads and ribbon, they shared their experiences, and family histories. Together, the turtles symbolize hope and connection, looking backwards with frank, honest, open eyes, but walking forward together towards a brighter future. By working with Elders, honouring and sharing Indigenous knowledge, visitors can relearn how to see and truly understand Alberta’s land.

Events:

On November 4 from 1:30-3:30 pm, the Gallery invites all the participants and the wider community for an afternoon of celebration and connection for the opening reception of this meaningful exhibition.

In-person tour: November 8 at noon

Virtual tour: November 15 at noon (Facebook Live)

The Art Gallery of St. Albert would like to extend a special thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for their generous support, making this exhibition possible.

About Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts contributes to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and supports its presence across Canada and around the world. The Council is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments support Canadian artists, authors, and arts groups and organizations. This support allows them to pursue artistic expression, create works of art, and promote and disseminate the arts and literature. Through its arts funding, communications, research, and promotion activities, the Council fosters ever-growing engagement of Canadians and international audiences in the arts. The Council’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program makes annual payments to creators whose works are held in Canadian public libraries. The Council’s Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts through exhibition and outreach activities. The Council is responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO to contribute to a future of peace, reconciliation, equity, and sustainable development.