July 1, 2021 – November 1, 2021
—
Curated by Jaclyn Quaresma
—
Work by Emily Kewageshig
—
Durham Art Gallery, West Grey, Canada
Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Grey County
In rural Ontario, many people have restricted access to the internet. Weak signals, bad weather, remote location and lack of infrastructure prevent connection. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely brings the digital drawings of Emily Kewageshig to the public in an accessible, unique format. As an outdoor exhibition, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely consists of six (6) billboards situated in remote, yet well-travelled rural roads across Grey, Bruce and Wellington Counties in Ontario, Canada. This collaboration between Durham Art Gallery, Grey Roots Museum and Emily Kewageshig is an accessible alternative to the in-gallery exhibition for both rural communities and travellers alike to safely see art during the pandemic, and without the necessity of internet access.
Emily, an Anishinaabe artist raised in Saugeen First Nation # 29, presents for the first time a new series of digital drawings that are printed in large format and mounted on billboards throughout three counties. Placed predominantly in settler farmer’s fields, her vivid images speak directly to the environs in which they will be placed. The imagery in Emily’s drawings calls forward the living stories of her family and ancestors, placing them within the lands of their formation. Emily’s drawings gesture towards being in relation, whether physically of spiritually, or across time and space, providing an antidote for loneliness.
The Grey, Bruce and Wellington communities have taken great care to safely distance themselves and support the health of our greater community. This generous care has also lead to record levels of loneliness, especially for those living without reliable internet service who struggle to maintain communication with those at a distance. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely, then, is a physical response to COVID-19, exploring alternative programming that surpasses the barrier of internet access for those living in remote locations and a step towards reconnecting with the land.
Hosting an exhibition outside, in locations physically distant from one another, speaks directly to the challenges and changes those living rurally have adapted to in response to COVID-19. The outdoor and decentralized format acknowledges the swift turn to digital engagement during the pandemic that has prevented many of those who live in more remote communities from having access to the arts.
About the Artist
Emily Kewageshig is an emerging Anishinaabe artist who was raised in Saugeen First Nation # 29. Emily was the 2020 recipient of the Fallis Scholarship of the Arts, a scholarship that is currently dedicated to IBPOC youth living in so-called GreyBrue. She explores the narrative of her nation through painting, beading and object-making. Her work consists of bold lines, bright colours, and symbolism which is inspired by traditional Ojibwe Woodland artists and Indigenous worldview.
Billboard Locations
1) Hampden: County Road 3 – CR 3, 1.1 km S of Concession Road 18 – Northbound
2) Topcliff: County Road 4 – CR 4, 1.4 km W of Bootjack Ranch Rd – Westbound
3) Chelsey: County Road 10 – CR 10, 2.5 km north of Sideroad 7, on the opposite side of
Hwy – Southbound
4) Arthur: Hwy 6 – Upper – Hwy 6 at Side Road 9 – Northbound
5) Arthur: Hwy 6 – Upper – Hwy 6, 800 m N of Wells St – Northbound, In partnership with
Grey Bruce Community Foundation
6) Owen Sound: Hwy 26 – 620m E of Billy Bishop Airport – Eastbound, In partnership with
Grey Roots Museum and Archives
Jaclyn Quaresma 