Donna's Art Exhibition Project

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1024682664253593.1073741828.425739210814611&type=3

My name is Donna Langhorne. I'm a member of Fishing Lake First Nation and was adopted and raised in Air Ronge, Saskatchewan.  I'm a mother of three young children and am in my mid-20’s. I’ve been working as a professional artist in Northern Saskatchewan for six years. I paint in a range of styles, from celebrity popart to contemporary abstract to work dealing with contemporary issues facing Indigenous communities.

I've just been notified that my application earlier this year for a grant from the Saskatchewan Arts Board was successful. That's the good news. Unfortunately I've also been told that although I was ranked as the top applicant the jury only awarded partial funding to all the successful applicants. I need to make up the shortfall in order to be able to tackle what I think is a very exciting project. 

In my application I described my project as follows: to create a series of seven (7) large paintings in a northern woodlands folk style on the theme of RECONCILIATION, relying on the Seven Sacred teachings to address contemporary issues facing Indigenous peoples. The project is very much influenced by the findings and experiences communicated by Canada's Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

 I need the funds to pay for studio rental, cost of materials [paint, brushes, canvas, etc], and childcare expenses that will allow me to focus on creating these large 4-foot x 5-foot paintings over the summer months. I have a proposal under consideration to have this work go on tour and I need to be finished by the end of September.  Time is of the essence as I need to get started on the project right away to meet these timelines.

This is so important to me. I suffer from mobility displacement anxiety that prevents me from travelling. As a result, I don't have the benefit of being immersed in the art world. But I believe in myself and I want to prove to myself and to the world that an Indigenous woman from Northern Saskatchewan can establish a successful career as an artist.  The subject matter of the exhibition is timely but also personally important to me as part of my cultural identity.

I have a proven track record for undertaking such projects. My previous grant was to produce a series of paintings highlighting both positive and negative experiences and conditions that characterize life in northern communities. My objective was to present a balanced perspective of life in Northern Saskatchewan today – not shrinking back from the horrors of poor choice, but freely embracing the uniquely human desire for a hopeful future. I actually surpassed my project goal and have been receiving much positive reaction to the work I created. In addition to the images I have uploaded below, this is a link to the facebook album that includes all the work created through that project:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1024682664253593.1073741828.425739210814611&type=3

I am very grateful for every financial contribution and every word of encouragement. I will acknowledge donors at every opportunity; for example, if my work is chosen to tour I will include a donor acknowledgment listing. Donors giving $200 or more will be entitled to a personally signed print of my first woodlands folk art painting [first image below]. And I will keep everyone updated here and upload images of the work as I complete the paintings.

Here are some images and descriptions of work I completed for my Northern Exposure project:

The Everlasting North: This stylized piece acknowledges the connecting spirit of northern life and the four elements, where human beings occupy a small and transient role. These forces stand from eternity to eternity, always ready to humble people if they act without respect for them. This work is inspired by my experiences in my home community of La Ronge. 


MMIW: Indigenous women are at great risk as the target of predators. Only in more recent times has their plight become more broadly recognized. Missing and murdered Indigenous women had been re-victimized by refusals to call a formal public inquiry into the matter. This piece is a tribute to the grace and forgotten dignity of these women. 


Montreal River: This painting is inspired by flooding of the Montreal River at La Ronge, where the main bridge over the river was at risk due to the abnormally high water levels that began to overtake the nearby birch trees. 


Our Vendetta: It's often stated that the Residential School experience has robbed generations of Indigenous people of proper parenting skills, though the problem of poor parenting is not exclusively one of First Nations communities. But there certainly is abundant evidence of children being neglected in the North, roaming the streets at all hours of the night and hanging out by the Montreal River in La Ronge.  This piece speaks to this tragic reality that spans multiple generations.

 Ophelia: This painting draws its inspiration from the northern woods, the trap lines and the trapping cabins. There was an old abandoned trapper's cabin by our family cabin that, as kids, we often used to visit. These experiences were very much present in my mind as I worked on and competed the painting. The title "Ophelia" has no specific reference, but asserted itself as I completed the piece. This is quite common in my art practice and I like to think in that respect that the piece named itself.


Let Me Out: Like many others living in the secluded north I suffer from anxiety disorder. In my case traveling is especially difficult, compounding feelings of being trapped in space and time. This painting speaks to those feelings of captivity, the longing for freedom and the personal struggle to overcome this inhibiting affliction. 

War of the Worlds: The living conditions in many northern Canadian communities, particularly those on reserve or with high Indigenous populations, have often been likened to Third World countries. This is in stark contrast to the more affluent, First World South. In this respect the North-South relationship is one of conflict. The particular issue at the heart of this painting is homelessness and the lack of proper resources for the homeless in the North. Here in La Ronge there is no homeless shelter, and the homeless are vulnerable to the brutal winter conditions, often resulting in the loss of life.

The Escape: This canvas captures the beauty and colours of the north, and how they afford a release to cope with social pressures and difficulties. Venturing outdoors and bathing in the stunning natural environs puts the troubles of everyday life into a proper perspective.

Chernobyl II: Mining is a key economic activity and mainstay of the North, but brings with it the perils of resource mismanagement. The title invites the viewer to consider issues of toxic waste disposal and the environmental impacts of resource development.


Thank you, everyone!