ESTEVAN — The latest exhibit at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's Gallery No. 1 is John Brady McDonald's Omentum: A Look into the Indigenous Experience of the 21st Century.
Omentum is a series of 10 paintings which touch on several of the major recent experiences faced by Indigenous people in this country. These paintings, which McDonald said are influenced by both the works of Norval Morrisseau and Pablo Picasso, speak of some of the major struggles and triumphs that are part of the everyday lives of Indigenous people.
This includes missing and murdered Indigenous women, cultural appropriation, the legacy of residential schools, the rise and honour of the two-spirited in the LGBTQ community, the return of traditional Indigenous tattooing, the rise in systemic racism online, and the death of Colten Boushie, who was fatally shot by Gerald Stanley.
"The origin of the idea for this series of paintings was inspired by my 2018 artist's studio visit with acclaimed Tahitian artist Peter Morin, who encouraged me to 'flesh out' my original idea into a series of paintings," said McDonald, who is a Nehiyawak-Métis writer, artist, historian, musician, playwright, actor and activist born and raised in Prince Albert. He is from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and the Mistawasis Nehiyawak.
In his artist statement, McDonald noted the omentum is the lacy membrane which surrounds the stomachs and organs of a number of mammals, including humans.
"It is a beautiful network of fat and connective tissue that can only be seen when an animal is butchered, so in order to appreciate it, one must be in the hands-on process of transforming a once-living creature into food for survival," he wrote.
McDonald believes these paintings are truly unique because each one has been personally named, not by McDonald, but by an influential Indigenous or Métis artist, activist or leader, such as Isaac Murdoch; Rosanna Deerchild; Boushie's mother; a co-founder of Idle No More; the members of PIQSIQ, which is an Inuit throat-singing group; and Dr. Evan Adams, who played Thomas in the film Smoke Signals.
"Each of these individuals, who are at the forefront of the issues for which these paintings were created, graciously donated a name which they personally felt best-suited the narrative of the painting," he wrote.
EAGM director-curator Tye Dandridge-Evancio said McDonald uses a lot of vibrant colours and bold, clean shapes to create images that represent some of the major experiences Indigenous people face today.
Omentum has been on display since Nov. 24 and will remain until Jan. 23, 2024. It is a touring exhibit through the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.
