Skeena Reece showcases indigenous resilience in new solo exhibition

Skeena Reece, Honey and Sweetgrass
Jan. 25 - March 7; online artist talk, Jan. 27 

The Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art welcomes multidisciplinary artist Skeena Reece for her exhibition Honey and Sweetgrass, which will run from Jan. 25 - March 7. Based in British Columbia, Reece is of Tsimshian/Gitksan and Cree descent, and her performances combine indigenous culture, myth and humor to address racial stereotypes and the effects of colonization. In Honey and Sweetgrass, Reece will exhibit a range of performance art, videos, photography and installation works. 

“Skeena Reece is an important voice in contemporary art,” says Dr. Beth Hinderliter, gallery director. “She offers us insight into the care, compassion and strength of indigenous women as well as giving us critiques of the violence of colonialism."

Reece studied media arts at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and received the British Columbia Fulmer Award in First Nations Art (2012) and the Viva Award (2014). Reece won a Leo Award for best actress for her work on Savage (2010), a film by Lisa Jackson. The film also won a Genie Award for Best Short Film, Golden Sheaf Award for Best Multicultural Film, Reel World Outstanding Canadian Short Film, and Leo Award for Best Editing. She participated in the 17th Sydney Biennale in Australia. Recent solo exhibitions include The Sacred Clown & Other Strangers (2015) at Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art (Winnipeg, MB); Moss (2017) at Oboro Gallery (Montreal, QC); Touch Me (2018) at Comox Valley Art Gallery (Courtenay, BC); Surrounded (2019) at the Belkin Art Gallery (Vancouver, BC); and, Àbadakone (2020) at the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa).

The exhibition will be online and in person at the gallery.

Read the article: Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art displays Honey and Sweetgrass art exhibit at JMU