Wilfrid Laurier University’s Yellow Brick Wall presents Songide’ewin: Ojibwe Narratives Art Exhibit featuring acrylics on canvas by Rene Meshake, running March 1 to April 15, 2015.
The exhibit reflects the impact of the artist’s residential school experiences and is intended as a healing tool for communities and individuals.
“This exhibit was a contemplative and cathartic experience for me and seeks to answer many questions that I am struggling with: Who am I reconciling with? What am I trying to reconcile? How do I achieve this reconciliation?” said Meshake. “Reconciliation exposes many feelings and emotions: resistance, enlightenment, remembrance, shame, pain, resilience, rejuvenation, healing, pride, identity and finally the restoration and integration of my Ojibwe arts and culture with my current urban lifestyle.”
Meshake is an author/illustrator of children’s books, as well as a poet, storyteller, visual artist, spoken-word performer, musician and filmmaker. He works to seamlessly fuse Ojibwe and English words into his stories, poetry and spoken word performances, sharing his Ojibwe spiritual heritage with the contemporary world.
In his work, Meshake integrates the traditional and the contemporary to bring together the past generations and future generations. He feels Songide’ewin is a celebration of the resilient spirit and an example of how art can heal, inspire, elevate and enlighten.
For more information on Songide’ewin, please visit wlu.ca/brantford/ybw.
The Yellow Brick Wall plays a vital role in providing opportunities to appreciate and enjoy Canadian art for members of the Laurier community and beyond. The new exhibition space adds to a growing list of venues in Brantford – including Glenhyrst, The Station Coffee House & Gallery, Woodland Culture Centre and the Brantford Arts Block – that feature the work of visual artists. The Yellow Brick Wall celebrates visual creativity in a space that encourages dialogue and reflects the diversity and culture of the community.
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For more information, please contact:
Kathryn Carter
Inter-Faculty Associate Dean, Academic Coordination
519-756-8228 ext. 5890
kcarter@wlu.ca
Kevin Klein
Associate Director, Communications and Public Affairs
519-756-8228 ext. 5753
kklein@wlu.ca
