IDENTITY, REPRESENTATION, AND INDIGENEITY: ART IN THE HOSPITAL

Exhibition Reviews | Joanna Wreakes 

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For this Exhibition Review we venture out west to Edmonton and the McMullen Gallery, located inside the University of Alberta Hospitals. An intriguing space, the free public gallery looks to reach a wide audience including medical staff, patients, and the greater public. Currently showing at McMullen Gallery is The Future All At Once, a solo exhibition of work by Lauren Crazybull, Alberta’s first provincial Artist in Residence.

View of The Future All At Once in Edmonton's McMullen Gallery. Photo courtesy of Joanna Wreakes

The exhibition features 10 portraits she completed during a recent residency at McLuhan House in Edmonton. Each portrait represents someone that the artist knows personally.

With windows facing into the hospital, Crazybull’s vibrant work draws in visitors passing by who may not have realized that the gallery was there at all!

Looking into the gallery from the hospital's main hallway. Photo courtesy of Joanna Wreakes

Upon entering, viewers are immediately greeted by a large introductory text panel, featuring a reproduction of one of the portraits in the exhibition and the same bright colours found throughout. The introductory panel was written by the artist. In it, she speaks of using portraiture to confront (mis)representation of Indigenous peoples. The title of the exhibition, The Future All At Once, was inspired by thinking both back to her childhood and towards shaping Indigenous Futures - on this topic the artist says "today is a future for our past selves."

The artist and Tyler Sherard, executve director of Friends of University of Alberta Hospitals and McMullen Gallery, work on installation of the exhibition while being filmed by a local journalist. Photo courtesy of Joanna Wreakes.

The majority of works in the exhibition are acrylic on unstretched canvas and all are unframed. Each piece is installed in such a way that it appears to be almost floating off of the walls. By not installing the artworks flat to the wall, beautiful shadows and slightly curled edges of the canvas are visible. The effects that are created here only add to the depth of the work. Though the gallery is relatively small, it’s easy to lose track of time gazing at the expressive portraits.

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🗣 My show is up at @mcmullengallery until August 4th! Hope to see you at the opening reception this Thursday at 7:30 💌

A post shared by Lauren Crazybull (@elceebee) on Jun 10, 2019 at 12:04pm PDT

Crazybull's work is also extremely appropriate considering the location of McMullen Gallery and mandate of the Friends of University Hospitals, the non-profit that overseas the gallery, collection, and other arts programming in the hospital. The benefit of art on people's wellness is beginning to be discussed in both the arts and healthcare realms - remember when the news broke about doctors prescribing museum and art gallery visits? The bright colours and use of portraiture in this setting can be extremely beneficial in aiding patient, staff, and visitor well-being. 

"Power and Vulnerability" by Lauren Crazybull. Photo courtesy of Joanna Wreakes.

Crazybull will also be completing a short residency at McMullen Gallery during the exhibition. From July 24th to 26th, she will be working in the gallery from 1 to 3 each day. Members of the public are encouraged to visit during this residency to see the exhibition and engage with the artist.

To finish this review, a powerful quote from the artist that is included in the introductory text:

“I believe that our choice to be vulnerable in our healing & uprising has created power."

"Self Portrait" by Lauren Crazybull. Photo courtesy of Joanna Wreakes.

The Future All At Once opened on June 8th and runs until August 4th. If you find yourself in the Edmonton area make sure to take a trip to McMullen Gallery to see it!