Only the shuffling of shoes could be heard in the gallery as viewers gathered around brightly-coloured tapestries hung upon white walls, all stilled by the words: “No longer homeless.”
The Art Gallery of Regina’s most recent exhibit, curated by guest curator Wayne Baerwaldt, featured work by Richard Boulet, an Indigenous textile artist based in Edmonton. The exhibit, “Art Thou the Accuser of Thy Brethren or Art Thou the Inspiration of Their Heart” includes many media, such as fabric applique, cross-stitch, quilting, machine embroidery and knitting.
The work is inspired by Boulet’s experience with homelessness, queer identity, mental illness and substance use.
“You can read the words that he’s embroidered,” said Sandee Moore, Director/Curator. “These poetic stories about his life experiences and his struggles, and you might not understand exactly what he means, but you get the vibe, you get so many feelings, and you can also connect that to your experiences and things that you know about.”
A tour of the exhibit was led by Moore, but a self-guided tour with a pamphlet was also available for those unable to attend the event.
“I hope that people really find something that they can identify with, or that they will empathize if they don’t have the same sorts of struggles, and that they will take strength and inspiration from encountering Richard’s work,” said Moore.
Though currently living in Edmonton, Boulet has a connection to Regina through Phoenix House, who supported him through treatment and according to Moore, provided Boulet with supplies for his art.
“My interest as a curator is a lot about community engaged projects,” said Moore. “Although this isn’t community engaged work by Richard, it was made primarily by Richard, as well as with one collaborator, Marilyn Olson, and with what he calls unknown collaborators.”
The unknown collaborators are community members that gave Boulet items of personal significance to incorporate in his art. Some of these items include dishcloths, trinkets or pieces of clothing.
“It’s maximalism, and you don’t often see that in quilting,” said Sara McCreary, a Métis textile artist. McCreary is in the second year of her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Regina.
Moore’s tour of the exhibit and group discussion was followed by a workshop led by McCreary.
Participants were encouraged to use different types of fabric, thread and cross-stitch hoops to create their own textile art.
One of these participants, Misty Walker, found a pig-patterned fabric in amongst the piles. She chose to sew one of the pigs a sweater.
The exhibit closed on Saturday, but the gallery’s next exhibit, “The Thread of the Wish,” will open on Jan. 30.
Sara McCreary was unavailable for a full interview at the time of the article’s publishing. Her quote was transcribed from the event.
