This Week at Agnes

Frances K. Smith Lectures on Artist
Norval Morrisseau

Sign up to join us for this evening of talks, with a reception to follow.

Dr Carmen Robertson presents Entanglements and Teachings in the Art of Norval Morrisseau
. Following the interconnected lines of inquiry his artworks posit, Robertson interrogates some of the complex teachings Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau’s visual storytelling language quietly offers twenty-first-century audiences.

Armand Garnet Ruffo presents The Legacy of Norval Morrisseau
. Ruffo is working with Brown Bag Productions on an episode of a children’s animation series called Xavier Riddle featuring Norval Morrisseau. Ruffo discusses some themes including kinship, the environment and conservation in relation to Anishinaabe ways of being and knowing. To complement his talk, Ruffo draws from his acclaimed texts Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing Into Thunderbird and The Thunderbird Poems. Both books are available for purchase at Agnes during the event.

Supported by the Frances K. Smith Fund.

Agnes Reimagined Sharing and Talking Circle

Led by our collaborator, Anishinaabe-kwe artist and consultant Georgina Riel, these sessions are aligned with various key moments for KPMB Architects who are listening to what people bring to the table, incorporating our ideas, suggestions and values into the various design iterations.

At this circle, we provide a virtual tour through the landscape, the welcoming centre and new spaces on the second floor. We invite you to share your ideas and thoughts on the design development of the Ceremonial Space, the Keeping Place and the Elders Room. Everyone is welcome! Sign up: In-person > / Online via Google Meet >

Questions? Contact: admin@rielculturalconsulting.ca

Six participants selected for Living Intuition

We are happy to announce our six participants for Living Intuition: A Residency of Practice & Process: Faisal Karadsheh, Sarah Jihae Kaye, Jung-Ah Kim, Yaniya Lee, Anjalee Nadarajan and Elizabeth Peprah-Asare!

The residency is co-facilitated by Fan Wu and Nasrin Himada, and is inspired by the spirit of improvisatory interdisciplinarity and practices of living intuition as it’s conceived by Daoism, poetry, and cinema. We look forward to setting up an atmosphere of exploration and free sharing where we can all practice together in embodied and sympedagogical contexts. The hope is to cultivate new relationships, to create unlikely bonds across artistic mediums, and to offer resident students experience in a variety of forms of making and doing. Read more >

Kitchen Table Conversations:
Truth & Reconciliation with BIPOC Educators

As we approach National Day for Truth and Reconciliation let us take this opportunity to reflect on our individual and collective responsibilities to fulfill the TRC’s recommendations as educators and to support the struggle for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. In this event dedicated to Black, Indigenous, and educators of colour, we want to create space for conversations and shared reflections on Indigenous and BPOC solidarities, struggles, and futurities. Learn more and sign up >

Facilitated by Nasrin Himada, Misty Underwood and Yasmine Djerbal. In partnership with Centre for Teaching and Learning and Office for Indigenous Initiatives.

Creative Movement

Join us for this free and accessible program. Located in Agnes’s galleries, these mindful movement sessions respond to the artworks in the exhibition Emergence and inspire individuals to move creatively in ways that make them feel good.

There is an opportunity for improvisation at each session. This program is facilitated by Amy Booth, a registered Physiotherapist and dance educator. Sign up for one session or all >

Art Hive @Agnes

Artmaking is innately therapeutic and can improve general well-being. We invite adults 16+ to join us and explore the creative process through experimentation and play. Art Hive is free; materials are provided and no prior art experience is necessary. If you are looking for guidance, Harper Johnston, art therapist and facilitator, is onsite to offer support through suggestions and encouragement. Sign up for one workshop or all >

From the Hearth: Poetry and spoken word
with Billie the Kid

From the Hearth is an in-person poetry and spoken word workshop series that expands our circles of care to embrace the journeys, stories and connections we share as humans. We guide both new and experienced poets through the art of storytelling and finding an individual voice that celebrates collective memory and belonging. We discuss why our stories are important, do exercises in expression and inspiration and think about community and collaboration. This series is facilitated by Billie the Kid who is a K’ai Taile Dené and Nehiyaw spoken word poet and storyteller.

All are welcome and no experience is required. Participants can register for individual workshops, or join the full series.

Storytelling and the Land:
Who is Belle Island?

Join spoken word poet and storyteller Billie the Kid and artist Jill Glatt at this unique opportunity to learn storytelling techniques and contribute to an exhibition that is on view at Agnes this winter. Community members are encouraged to bring their memories and stories of Belle Island to the workshop circle. The workshop will be recorded, and at all stages of the workshop participants have the option to be on or off record. Participants whose stories and/or recordings are used in the project will be financially compensated and credited. All are welcome and no experience is required. Learn more >