Freedom Fighters - Bruno Canadien
The New Gallery (TNG) - Calgary's original artist-run centre presents Freedom Fighters - Bruno Canadien (Black Diamond, AB)
Following an unfortunate last minute cancellation by upcoming artist Natalie Ball, The New Gallery is pleased to be able to present instead an exhibition of recent work by Bruno Canadien. Canadien is Dene, and a member of the Deh Gáh Got’ie Koe First Nation, a Deh Cho Region member of the Dene Nation. He has worked as an artist since graduation from the Alberta College of Art Painting Department in 1993. His work draws attention to issues facing First Nations peoples today, especially the way they are portrayed in the media. Canadien himself says, "My work attempts to be a voice that engages in the struggles that the Indigenous Peoples of North and South America are fighting. The Freedom Fighter Series of paintings speaks about, and is evidence of, active Indian resistance to oppressive colonialist forces in the Americas. [My work is] evidence of the wars that hundreds of nations and millions of people are fighting, regardless of the media's coverage or lack thereof. Similar in form to the shield utilized by the Plains Warrior, these pieces may be viewed as part of an aboriginal arsenal, symbolically defying any attack from colonial governments, militaries, or corporations." His installation Indian Wars was presented at The New Gallery in 1999. His work is also included in the collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Glenbow Museum, the Red Deer Museum and the Indian Art Centre in Ottawa. Originally from Denendeh, NWT, Bruno currently resides with his wife Amy in Black Diamond, AB.
Exhibition dates
Tim Westbury, Programming Director, TNG
403.233.2399
