Wednesday, November 18th
7-9 p.m.
Wychwood Barns Gallery
601 Christie Street
(back of Barns at the corner of Wychwood & Benson)
Concrete Indians
a photographic series by Nadya Kwandibens
Concrete Indians: Portraits of the Urban Indian experience
Concrete Indians is a portraiture series (of large scale black & white
portraits) and exploration of Indigenous collective identity. Since its first inception, the response to this series has been overwhelming; Native people from across Turtle Island have been submitting their ideas regarding what it means to be urbanized and how living in urban centers either strengthens or weakens (or both) ones own cultural identity.
Show opening: 7:00-7:30
Feast by Prairie Smoke Catering
Opening blessing & song by Shkinwe Win Singers
Community Performance Circle: 7:30-9:00
A community performance circle will follow the opening. Bring your shakers, guitars, poetry and songs!
About the artist:
Nadya Kwandibens is of Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) / French heritage from the Northwest Angle #37 First Nation in Ontario, Canada. She is a self-taught, dynamic photographer specializing in artistic natural light portraiture, fashion, promotional sessions, and event photography. Identifying mainly with her Ojibwe roots, she is also known as Makoons and is from the Loon Clan. She has been building her skills in photography and portraiture for the past decade, and founded Red Works Studio in 2008 to empower contemporary Indigenous lifestyles and cultures through photographic essays, features, and portraits. In addition to her photographic endeavours, Nadya finds creative release through web/ print design, traditional beadworking, music and writing. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
“Kwandibens’ photos actively depict the Indian with passion and integrity. She captures an Indigenous spirit (individual and collective) and resuscitates characters overshadowed by the burden of false impression. Her aesthetic, whether shot in black and white or color, is cinematic. Her portraits carry personal and collective strengths forward and create lasting impressions.”
- Ryan Rice
Aboriginal Curatorial Collective
For more info, please call ANDPVA Events/Shandra Spears Bombay at 416 535-4567 ext. 105, or email andpva.events@gmail.com. Thanks!