The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Visit

on Monday, October 24, my Grade 11 and Grade 12 IB visual arts class had the privilege of taking a trip to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax. Our goal was to view An Exhibition Highlight: Monkman, Johnson & Bennett. This exhibition builds upon the stories told through the ongoing exhibit, Shifting Ground, while fostering a contemporary perspective on histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada. These works reflect continuing discussions on reconciliation; and they acknowledge stereotypes and cultural collision through the artists’ perspectives of how history has been portrayed in a colonial context in contrast with their own experiences.

Monkman, Johnson, and Bennett challenge settler perceptions of history and critique them with references, materials, and visuals that are contemporary, familiar, and comforting, further stimulating conversations between people of varying backgrounds.

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Indigenous arts programmer, Aiden Gillis spoke to our group and offered an insightful discussion of a large painting by Cree artist Kent Monkman. Monkman's work is known for its provocative reinterpretations of the North American landscapes and explores the complexities of historic and contemporary Indigenous experience.

We walked away inspired and wanting more knowledge about these amazing works and their creators. Thank you to chaperones Mrs. Susie DeCoste and Ms. Karen Jones in helping to make this a successful trip.