Catalogue Excerpt

Traditions exist in a state of constant flux. They endure because they are repeated – passed on from one generation to the next – and yet with each unique repetition they also necessarily change and transform. In the Anishinaabeg worldview, transformation signifies power. We see this concept reflected in our stories of manitous and spirit beings who possess the ability to shapeshift and metamorphose. Much like these powerful entities, the Anishinaabeg have also maintained this profound capacity for change and adaption.[1] As memories recall and drum up traditions of the past, the ongoing rhythm of cultural continuity manifests memory newly in the present. In the solo exhibition Mnemonic (Re)Manifestations the latest works by artist Barry Ace illuminate the confluence and permeability of the historical and the contemporary, and further explore the continual stir of memory and tradition.

[1]Michael Witgen, An Infinity of Nations: How the Native World Shaped Early North America, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press), 2012.

-Excerpt from the essay by Alexandra Nahwegahbow

Exhibition Catalogue (more info)

(Exhibition Poster Version #1)   (Exhibition Poster Version #2)   (Exhibition Poster Version #3)