{"id":46420,"date":"2017-08-30T13:07:35","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T17:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=46420"},"modified":"2018-07-17T13:38:51","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T17:38:51","slug":"suzanne-rochon-burnetts-contribution-to-indigenous-arts-honoured-in-new-exhibit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2017\/08\/suzanne-rochon-burnetts-contribution-to-indigenous-arts-honoured-in-new-exhibit\/","title":{"rendered":"Suzanne Rochon-Burnett\u2019s contribution to indigenous arts honoured in new exhibit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before Suzanne Rochon-Burnett passed away, she asked that her daughter Michele-Elise take over where she had left off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe gave me instructions for her art,\u201d said Michele-Elise Burnett. \u201cShe said, \u2018you\u2019ve been fortunate to see and know this art,\u00a0but it will be\u00a0your responsibility to continue to share\u00a0the knowledge, the teachings and the messages that are being told through our people\u2019s art.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The desire to continue advocating and sharing indigenous art is the driving force behind a new art exhibition opening next week at Brock University\u2019s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA).\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Brock University, The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and Kakekalanicks Indigenous Arts Consultancy are joining together to present\u00a0Awakening Her Spirit \u2014 Select Works from the collection of Suzanne Rochon-Burnett<\/em>\u00a0as part of the first Celebration of Nations event<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The exhibit opens at the MIWSFPA Visual Arts Gallery Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

The exhibition follows Suzanne Rochon-Burnett\u2019s journey to empower and support indigenous arts in Canada and globally through a collection of paintings, mixed media, sculpture and personal objects. Curated by\u00a0Samuel Thomas\u00a0(Cayuga), the show will feature never-before exhibited original works by Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Beam, Roy Thomas, Vince Bomberry, Simon Brascoupe, Bruce King and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom was an advocate and champion of indigenous art before it was being recognized as legitimate art,\u201d\u00a0Michele-Elise Burnett\u00a0said. \u201cShe helped build recognition and respect to ensure that indigenous artists were compensated fairly like everybody else. She championed artists and their work and encouraged them to find value in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Samuel Thomas, a master bead worker and family friend, will lead an interactive Curator\u2019s Talk on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Visual Arts Gallery.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother took beading lessons from Sam\u2019s mother,\u201d Michele-Elise explained. \u201cWhen I told Sam about the Celebration of Nations exhibit of my mother\u2019s art, he was pleased and honoured to help pull it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rochon-Burnett was a M\u00e9tis broadcaster and businesswoman who started her career as a journalist in Quebec.\u00a0Among\u00a0her many accomplishments, she and daughter Michele-Elise became the first indigenous Canadians to own a CRTC broadcast license as owner and operator of\u00a0Spirit 91.7 FM\u00a0radio in Niagara.<\/p>\n

Rochon-Burnett would also become co-founder and first vice-chair of the M\u00e9tis Nation of Ontario, and sat on boards at TV Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canadian Council of the Arts,\u00a0among\u00a0others. In 2002, Rochon-Burnett received an Honorary Doctorate from Brock in recognition of her contributions to Canadian cultural life.<\/p>\n

She has left many legacies, including the Suzanne Rochon-Burnett Scholarship at the University, which has to date helped 18 indigenous students embark on a university education they may have otherwise never had. Fiercely proud of her heritage, Rochon-Burnett has shown that an individual who is inspired can wake up every day and follow and achieve their dreams.<\/p>\n

Awakening Her Spirit<\/em>\u00a0is part of Celebration of Nations, a gathering of indigenous arts, culture and tradition set for Sept. 8-10. The gathering features ticketed performances by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, DJ Shub as well as free workshops, performances and teachings all weekend long.\u00a0The full schedule is available at\u00a0www.celebrationofnations.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

The exhibit continues through Sept. 30 at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts located at 15 Artists\u2019 Common in downtown St. Catharines.<\/p>\n

Situated on the lower level of the MIWSFPA, regular hours of the Art Gallery are Tuesday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. Additional open hours for Celebration of Nations include:<\/p>\n

Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6-9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Friday, Sept. 8 from 1-8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. \u2013 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sunday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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