Thunderstone’s Michelle Derosier featured at Definitely Superior Gallery

The group of 10

By Linda Maehans (TB Source)

Most everyone recognizes the striking visual art belonging to the Group of Seven.

Just up this weekend at Definitely Superior Art Gallery is a new exhibit by what one might call the Group of 10: 10 leading aboriginal artists in a contemporary multi-disciplinary presentation of their forward-looking artistic visions that nevertheless are naturally grounded in the roots of traditional culture.

NOCAA-10 (Northwestern Ontario Contemporary Aboriginal Artists) opens Dec. 6 with a gala reception where one can meet the artists, see, hear and experience their work live.

“What we’ve tried to do is put together an all-encompassing show: three galleries full of artwork and all the different disciplines there,” explained gallery director David Karasiewicz. “We have visual art; we have film; we have performance; we have spoken word and music.”

Karasiewicz said the focus this time is on younger emerging aboriginal artists living in this city or out in the region who are highly talented up-and-comers. “Yeah, they are the ‘hot’ newer artists I think are really going places. Regardless of being aboriginal, it’s harder to be an aboriginal artist and work in contemporary styles because everyone has this idea of traditional (native) art. These artists are breaking away from those traditions but they still have their roots there, and you’ll see that in their art.”

Indeed there are beautiful large canvases filled with harmonious hues and pleasing circular lines and shapes, or mysterious shadows of people, faces and animals. Others burst with splashes of bright colour applied in abstract that can be interpreted in any number of private ways by the viewer.

Musically a haunting voice carries the listener, at least this one, into a mythical space where quiet images of dark teal blue water, a horizon, a shore line, are revealed in slow motion, like a movie. Speaking of movies, there are also films to take in. As well, people can hear the rhythms and layered complexity of new age electronic music, again creating completely different pictures in the imagination of the listener: these ones rather eastern in flavour.

Karasiewicz remarked similar to life in general, the world of art tends to be cyclical. He was thinking back to an all-aboriginal exhibit at the gallery in 2000. Now, eight years later he said it has crested with a new wave of creativity.

“As far as what we’ve seen in the past, it has gone through cycles: people leave the city, people come to the city and people are developing all around this city and in the fringes of Northwestern Ontario. So now you�re seeing something I think demonstrates a really big growth in aboriginal contemporary art genres.”

As mentioned, the NOCAA-10 gala reception at 7 p.m. on Dec.6 opens the show; the exhibits are up at Definitely Superior until January 10.

“These 10 are really forming their own paths and that’s the most fantastic thing. You’ll see, I think, some truly exciting work, and hear and listen to it. This sure is a time for these artists to be acknowledged and highlighted.”

The visual artists are Christian Chapman, Eric Keast, Danny Cutfeet and Richard (Asham) Fedorick. Thunderstone Pictures Michelle Derosier represents the film genre and Shy-Anne Horvorka and Solomon (Nolan Schmerk) are the musicians on board. The Rhythmic/electronic pieces are by Robin Ranger and Tenka (Jonah Mamakeesic) and for spoken word fans, there is Chris Waite.