It's finally here! The November meeting we've all been waiting for!
When? Monday, Nov. 16, 2020
Where? Zoom of course!
Where? Zoom of course!
November we have Metis Artist Nathalie Bertin sharing details about her Breathe group with our membership. You can also check out Breathe on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/856750661403515?tsid=0.6804467298442397&source=result
There is a second call for masks for a future exhibit. The details are on the Breathe Facebook page. The due date to have your mask completed is quickly approaching. We hope some of you will feel inspired to participate.
See detail below for the challenge.
There is a second call for masks for a future exhibit. The details are on the Breathe Facebook page. The due date to have your mask completed is quickly approaching. We hope some of you will feel inspired to participate.
See detail below for the challenge.
GRBS Presents the Art Mask Challenge
November we have Metis Artist Nathalie Bertin sharing details about her Breathe group with our membership. You can also check out Breathe on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/groups/856750661403515?tsid=0.6804467298442397&source=result
Nathalie Bertin CURRICULUM VITAE Biography
Nathalie Bertin is a multi-disciplinary artist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada with documented roots in Michilimackinac & Nipissing. She is of Métis, French, Anishinaabe and Omàmiwininiwak (a.k.a. Algonquin) ancestry. Bertin is a member of the Waawaashkeshi (Deer Clan).
Bertin’s art style is often described as luminescent, energetic, bold and colourful. A self-confessed “colour junkie,” she is inspired by the way light filters through stained glass windows, the layering of colours in printing processes, Woodland artists and the northern European masters.
Bertin’s current body of work focuses on positive images of indigenous people as a means of confronting their romanticized depictions as seen throughout art history. She focuses especially on the women role models who have had an impact on her. Her aim is to present a different view of indigenous people—one that is positive, powerful, knowledgeable, gentle and kind.
Several of Bertin’s projects are also inspired by traditional storytelling. In 2018, Bertin was awarded an Ontario Arts Council project grant for the creation of a series of beaded "Moccushions©" that interpret traditional stories for future generations. The project led to her self-publishing her bilingual book “Loup Garou, Mocassins and Metis Folklore / Loup Garou, moccasins et folklore metis” in 2020. The project is scheduled for exhibition in 2021 and 2022.
Previously, some of Bertin’s story illustrations about the northern lights were reproduced by the Royal Canadian Mint on collector coins in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She was also selected to design a special coin series on the Seven Grandfather Teachings which she obtained overwhelming support for from her Anishinaabe kin, friends and elders.
In 2012, Nathalie Bertin created and curated “This is My Song: Perspectives from Contemporary Native Women” at The Art Space, Huntsville, Ontario. Participating Artists included Kayeri Akweks, Lee Claremont, Raven Davis, Lee Deranger, Lita Fontaine, LauraLee K Harris, Inuk360, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Janice Toulouse. The exhibition was to introduce contemporary indigenous artists and set up as a forum for discussion to bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Continuing in this vein, in 2014, Bertin curated “Indigenesse” at The Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, Ontario. From the Artists Statement: "Indiginesse is a culmination by valiant, contemporary Native women artists working to offer healing, education, and to inform all communities. May this exhibition bring greater compassion, understanding, health, and peace as we all seek to offer responsible caring towards all of our many communities." Participating Artists included Kayeri Akweks, Christi Belcourt, Lee Claremont, Raven Davis, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuck, Lee Deranger, Lita Fontaine, LauraLee K Harris, Maria Hupfield, Nadya Kwandibens, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Shelley Niro, Janice Toulouse.
These curatorial experiences continue to push Nathalie to develop community based projects. In 2020, Bertin co-created “Breathe. A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic” with friend and artisan Lisa Shepherd. The project started as a Facebook group for the purpose of helping artists work through emotions brought on pandemic. It has been featured in three CBC articles, a CBC Arts documentary and exhibitions booked for 2021 in Canada and the US. A school program has also been developed in collaboration with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Lead Colinda Clyne.
In her commitment to community, Nathalie Bertin also spends time working in education as a visiting artist and knowledge keeper. In 2019, she collaborated with Beausoleil First Nation and Springwater Provincial Park to create an art installation that would serve as a catalyst for teachings of indigenous ways of knowing. Bertin also visits many schools in several Anglophone and Francophone boards across the province to deliver a variety of workshops on Metis arts. Since 2017, she has also become a community partner and co-presenter in “First Nations and Métis Math Voices Project” (Dr. Ruth Beatty, Lakehead University), “Indigenous Education and Mathematics Conference” (Dr. Ruth Beatty, Lakehead University) and “Culturally Responsive Math, First Nations & Metis Math Voices” (Nelson PL Series Winter 2020). Bertin also created “Project: Odemin” as a means of fundraising for educational community project that need assistance getting off the ground.
In addition to many book illustration and commercial art projects, Nathalie Bertin’s art can also be found in collections of the Government of Manitoba, Government of Alberta, corporate organizations and private collectors across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Africa.
Nathalie Bertin is a multi-disciplinary artist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada with documented roots in Michilimackinac & Nipissing. She is of Métis, French, Anishinaabe and Omàmiwininiwak (a.k.a. Algonquin) ancestry. Bertin is a member of the Waawaashkeshi (Deer Clan).
Bertin’s art style is often described as luminescent, energetic, bold and colourful. A self-confessed “colour junkie,” she is inspired by the way light filters through stained glass windows, the layering of colours in printing processes, Woodland artists and the northern European masters.
Bertin’s current body of work focuses on positive images of indigenous people as a means of confronting their romanticized depictions as seen throughout art history. She focuses especially on the women role models who have had an impact on her. Her aim is to present a different view of indigenous people—one that is positive, powerful, knowledgeable, gentle and kind.
Several of Bertin’s projects are also inspired by traditional storytelling. In 2018, Bertin was awarded an Ontario Arts Council project grant for the creation of a series of beaded "Moccushions©" that interpret traditional stories for future generations. The project led to her self-publishing her bilingual book “Loup Garou, Mocassins and Metis Folklore / Loup Garou, moccasins et folklore metis” in 2020. The project is scheduled for exhibition in 2021 and 2022.
Previously, some of Bertin’s story illustrations about the northern lights were reproduced by the Royal Canadian Mint on collector coins in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She was also selected to design a special coin series on the Seven Grandfather Teachings which she obtained overwhelming support for from her Anishinaabe kin, friends and elders.
In 2012, Nathalie Bertin created and curated “This is My Song: Perspectives from Contemporary Native Women” at The Art Space, Huntsville, Ontario. Participating Artists included Kayeri Akweks, Lee Claremont, Raven Davis, Lee Deranger, Lita Fontaine, LauraLee K Harris, Inuk360, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Janice Toulouse. The exhibition was to introduce contemporary indigenous artists and set up as a forum for discussion to bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people.
Continuing in this vein, in 2014, Bertin curated “Indigenesse” at The Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, Ontario. From the Artists Statement: "Indiginesse is a culmination by valiant, contemporary Native women artists working to offer healing, education, and to inform all communities. May this exhibition bring greater compassion, understanding, health, and peace as we all seek to offer responsible caring towards all of our many communities." Participating Artists included Kayeri Akweks, Christi Belcourt, Lee Claremont, Raven Davis, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuck, Lee Deranger, Lita Fontaine, LauraLee K Harris, Maria Hupfield, Nadya Kwandibens, Tanya Lukin Linklater, Shelley Niro, Janice Toulouse.
These curatorial experiences continue to push Nathalie to develop community based projects. In 2020, Bertin co-created “Breathe. A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic” with friend and artisan Lisa Shepherd. The project started as a Facebook group for the purpose of helping artists work through emotions brought on pandemic. It has been featured in three CBC articles, a CBC Arts documentary and exhibitions booked for 2021 in Canada and the US. A school program has also been developed in collaboration with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Lead Colinda Clyne.
In her commitment to community, Nathalie Bertin also spends time working in education as a visiting artist and knowledge keeper. In 2019, she collaborated with Beausoleil First Nation and Springwater Provincial Park to create an art installation that would serve as a catalyst for teachings of indigenous ways of knowing. Bertin also visits many schools in several Anglophone and Francophone boards across the province to deliver a variety of workshops on Metis arts. Since 2017, she has also become a community partner and co-presenter in “First Nations and Métis Math Voices Project” (Dr. Ruth Beatty, Lakehead University), “Indigenous Education and Mathematics Conference” (Dr. Ruth Beatty, Lakehead University) and “Culturally Responsive Math, First Nations & Metis Math Voices” (Nelson PL Series Winter 2020). Bertin also created “Project: Odemin” as a means of fundraising for educational community project that need assistance getting off the ground.
In addition to many book illustration and commercial art projects, Nathalie Bertin’s art can also be found in collections of the Government of Manitoba, Government of Alberta, corporate organizations and private collectors across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Africa.
More About the Breathe Exhibit
Plagues And Pandemics Have Affected Us Before.
We Have Survived. We Remain Diligent In Our Resilience.
In early 2020, most of the world was shutting down due to the spread of Covid-19. In Canada, the shock of what we had been witnessing in China and Italy were hard to fathom. When the virus finally made its way into our borders by March, isolation, closures and disbelief had the population in the grip of rising panic. For some indigenous people, it was déja-vu. It had not been many generations prior that infectious disease had gravely impacted First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
Within the first two weeks of Canada’s shut down, Metis artists Nathalie Bertin and Lisa Shepherd noticed a distinct lack of beaded objects being made by traditional artisans. It was curious since this was exactly the time that artists should be making art. It was especially curious that Metis bead workers had also not been producing any beaded items. Known as the Flower Beadwork People, the Metis put their distinct style of beading on wide variety of objects and garments as a general practice. It seemed odd to not see any new beaded objects even the least bit influenced by the pandemic.
By the end of March, the artists co-created a project entitled "Breathe: A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic." They invited people to create hand-crafted masks in a space where creative people can work out their feelings about the pandemic through their process of mask making. At first, the thought was that the group would be for indigenous artists and artisans. Through the realization that all people all over the world were affected by pandemic, the decision was made to open the group to anyone who wanted to create a mask in any traditional medium that is authentic to their culture and artistic practice. Their vision was that these masks would become artifacts that record a significant historical moment in time. The project went live April 6 and currently lives as a Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/856750661403515/
In a few short weeks, a strong, supportive and incredibly creative community guided by the indigenous teachings of reciprocity has evolved. Participating artists have posted heartfelt stories and stunning mask creations. The project has reached beyond Canada’s borders to the US, many parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Each person can relate to the stories being shared as all of us are faced with a common threat in Covid-19. The masks are true records of humanity and human life in 21st century pandemic. They tell their makers’ unique stories of fear, courage, sadness, hope, love and healing that unite us all. Some of the diverse mediums used to tell these stories include beadwork, embroidery, birch bark etching, quill work, quilting, rug hooking, metalwork, and glass fusion.
Lisa and Nathalie are proud of what has been accomplished from their grassroots efforts. The project has attracted media attention for the artists. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Arts) video documentary by Susannah Heathe-Eves was produced about the project that speaks to the power of community and some of the beautiful work that has been submitted. A fantastic program for elementary and secondary students has been developed in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Curriculum Lead Colinda Clyne and the Equity Team at Upper Grand District School Board in Ontario. The program is being made available to school boards and museums for free.
Working as colleagues rather than representatives, Lisa and Nathalie fielded requests by buyers who wanted to support the artists through purchases of the masks, and commercial galleries who wanted to feature certain artists. Some of the masks were purchased by such US galleries as the Smithsonian (Washington, DC), Burke Museum (Seattle, WA) and Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (Overland Park, KS). Despite losing some of the masks to these sales, the overall vision is to honour the community with a travelling exhibition of as many masks as possible in as many venues as possible in Canada and the US. As international recognition of the Breathe project grows, they have engaged Karen Whitecotton (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), owner of Heritage Museum Services, LLC, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an Indigenous museum and fine art professional with over two decades of museum experience.
Canadian exhibitions include: Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (2020-21), Martin Luther University College's Kanata Centre Gallery (2021) with more to come.
We Have Survived. We Remain Diligent In Our Resilience.
In early 2020, most of the world was shutting down due to the spread of Covid-19. In Canada, the shock of what we had been witnessing in China and Italy were hard to fathom. When the virus finally made its way into our borders by March, isolation, closures and disbelief had the population in the grip of rising panic. For some indigenous people, it was déja-vu. It had not been many generations prior that infectious disease had gravely impacted First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
Within the first two weeks of Canada’s shut down, Metis artists Nathalie Bertin and Lisa Shepherd noticed a distinct lack of beaded objects being made by traditional artisans. It was curious since this was exactly the time that artists should be making art. It was especially curious that Metis bead workers had also not been producing any beaded items. Known as the Flower Beadwork People, the Metis put their distinct style of beading on wide variety of objects and garments as a general practice. It seemed odd to not see any new beaded objects even the least bit influenced by the pandemic.
By the end of March, the artists co-created a project entitled "Breathe: A collection of traditionally crafted masks demonstrating resiliency through 21st century pandemic." They invited people to create hand-crafted masks in a space where creative people can work out their feelings about the pandemic through their process of mask making. At first, the thought was that the group would be for indigenous artists and artisans. Through the realization that all people all over the world were affected by pandemic, the decision was made to open the group to anyone who wanted to create a mask in any traditional medium that is authentic to their culture and artistic practice. Their vision was that these masks would become artifacts that record a significant historical moment in time. The project went live April 6 and currently lives as a Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/856750661403515/
In a few short weeks, a strong, supportive and incredibly creative community guided by the indigenous teachings of reciprocity has evolved. Participating artists have posted heartfelt stories and stunning mask creations. The project has reached beyond Canada’s borders to the US, many parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Each person can relate to the stories being shared as all of us are faced with a common threat in Covid-19. The masks are true records of humanity and human life in 21st century pandemic. They tell their makers’ unique stories of fear, courage, sadness, hope, love and healing that unite us all. Some of the diverse mediums used to tell these stories include beadwork, embroidery, birch bark etching, quill work, quilting, rug hooking, metalwork, and glass fusion.
Lisa and Nathalie are proud of what has been accomplished from their grassroots efforts. The project has attracted media attention for the artists. A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Arts) video documentary by Susannah Heathe-Eves was produced about the project that speaks to the power of community and some of the beautiful work that has been submitted. A fantastic program for elementary and secondary students has been developed in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit Curriculum Lead Colinda Clyne and the Equity Team at Upper Grand District School Board in Ontario. The program is being made available to school boards and museums for free.
Working as colleagues rather than representatives, Lisa and Nathalie fielded requests by buyers who wanted to support the artists through purchases of the masks, and commercial galleries who wanted to feature certain artists. Some of the masks were purchased by such US galleries as the Smithsonian (Washington, DC), Burke Museum (Seattle, WA) and Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (Overland Park, KS). Despite losing some of the masks to these sales, the overall vision is to honour the community with a travelling exhibition of as many masks as possible in as many venues as possible in Canada and the US. As international recognition of the Breathe project grows, they have engaged Karen Whitecotton (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), owner of Heritage Museum Services, LLC, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an Indigenous museum and fine art professional with over two decades of museum experience.
Canadian exhibitions include: Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (2020-21), Martin Luther University College's Kanata Centre Gallery (2021) with more to come.
Future Meeting Dates Include:
Monday, September 21, 2020- Virtual Meeting
Monday, October 19, 2020- Virtual Meeting-> Gillian Clarke's Two Colour Twist Earrings
Monday, November 16, 2020- Virtual Meeting -> Nathalie Bertin A Breathe Presentation
Monday, December 14, 2020- Virtual Meeting -> 2020 Annual General Meeting *2nd Monday*
Monday, September 21, 2020- Virtual Meeting
Monday, October 19, 2020- Virtual Meeting-> Gillian Clarke's Two Colour Twist Earrings
Monday, November 16, 2020- Virtual Meeting -> Nathalie Bertin A Breathe Presentation
Monday, December 14, 2020- Virtual Meeting -> 2020 Annual General Meeting *2nd Monday*
General Meeting Information
- Held the third Monday of each Month
- 7:00 - 9:00 pm
- The Hampton Inn & Suites (beside Galaxy Cinema) 725 Imperial Road North Guelph, Ontario Canada map
- Meetings consist of announcements, old and new business, show & tell of member’s work, the evenings’ program, and socializing.
- The program can include anything from: hands-on mini-workshops from invited artists, guest speakers, demonstrations, trunk shows, road trips or informal gatherings.