Through January 24th, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art will feature the works of four up-and-coming two-spirit indigenous artists—Levi Nelson, Jaz Whitford, Morgan Whitehead and Raven John. The exhibition is called Resurgence: Indigiqueer Identities.
The term two-spirit is used by indigenous people of North America to describe transgender, gender non-conforming and other queer identities. Two-spirit people often state that this identity is exclusively for indigenous people; the concept has existed within various nations for millennia. Gender non-conforming people have been historically accepted and honoured within certain communities, such as the Stó:lō of the Fraser Valley. The two-spirit identity differs from emerging Western ideas about gender and sexuality, as it incorporates ancient First Nations traditions and spiritual practices.
A breakdown of the two-spirit identity.
Jordana Luggi curates an exhibition that features the struggles, celebrations and emotions of these artists, each representing a different nation. Resurgence features work from multiple mediums: brightly coloured self-portraits, hand-crafted jewellery, traditional clothing with contemporary flair and dynamic sculptures. Each piece tells an intimate tale of their lives, often blighted by the struggle for acceptance but characterized by a spirit of hope and resilience.
From a 2017 exhibition of the Vancouver Queer Arts Festival.
The wide range of art echoes the diversity within the two-spirit community, a group that receives little attention in LGBTQ media and is mostly unknown to the world. Two-spirit voices are often eclipsed by Western presentations of gay and transgender life, images that do not challenge prevailing ideas about gender and culture.
As queer citizens worked to achieve tolerance in mainstream society throughout the first two decades of this century, many were afraid to appear unusual to the world. A conservatively dressed, white queer person is more likely to earn the respect of the masses and win her rights through legislation. Two-spirit individuals may dress and interact in ways we are unaccustomed to, ways that challenge decades of our own cultural training. This extraordinary year has been marked by social unrest and historical reckoning. The masses are beginning to listen to voices that have been previously pushed to the perimeter. Resurgence highlights a group of artists that comfortably sits centre strange while honouring its culture.
Buy tickets: https://www.billreidgallery.ca/products/regular-admission
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