Tom Hill says his goodbyes at 30th annual art show

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Sunday, May 8 marked both an artistic milestone and the end of an era fueled by the artistic passion of Tom Hill at the Woodland Cultural Centre (WCC) in Brantford. First Nations Art celebrated its 30th annual showing and Hill launched his final art show before retiring from the position of museum director.

This year's exhibition includes 76 works of art by 45 artists. Mixed media, sculpture, beading, fibre art, soapstone carvings, photographs, paintings and pottery were all represented in the exhibition.

Many artists were in attendance including Shelley Niro, Cindy Henhawk, Raymond Skye, Rick Hill Sr., R.G. Miller and Barbara-Helen Hill.

Addressing a crowd of more than 100 artists and art enthusiasts, Tom Hill remarked on his intentions when he first arrived at WCC in 1982. "I came for five years, and stayed for 23," he said.

During the decades that followed, Hill succeeded in steering Native art away from the anthropological attitudes placed on it and putting it in its rightful place alongside mainstream art in galleries worldwide.

Hill remarked on his involvement as a young artist in the Montreal Expo in 1967 when Native Art was misunderstood.

Almost 40 later, he stands confident in knowing that the understanding Native art is strong today. Referring to a recent published article in a national newspaper, Hill acknowledged the accomplishment in reading the headline, "Native Art is Real Art, Not Artifact."

The audience was addressed by Dennis Lewis, chair of the board of governors, Amos Key, language director and Janis Monture, executive director. "The works of art of the past 30 years in First Nations Art exhibits are truly an inspiration, not only to our organization, having the capacity and opportunity to provide a space for them to create, and showcase, but also as pieces that can tell a history of our people through Native eyes," said Monture. The Robert Markle Scholarship Award was presented to artist Ethan Wills of Delhi.

Opening First Nations Art '05 was artist, curator, lecturer, author and colleague of Hill's, Dr. Gerald McMaster. McMaster, former deputy assistant director of the Smithsonian Institute's Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., is from Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan and is one of this year's recipient of a National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

McMaster spoke about the Native art shows exhibited all over the world, focusing on the importance of the culture in the art. "It is the voice of your culture that is made visible," McMaster said. He encouraged the artists to "go beyond the canvas and the sculpture, but always think about the basis and foundation from which you come."

McMaster reflected on his long friendship with Hill that began 23 years ago when Hill asked McMaster to exhibit his work at Casa Loma in Toronto, an exhibit Hill was producing. Since then, the two dynamic forces in the art world have become known to some as "Tom and Gerry."

Turning his thoughts to tradition, McMaster shared with the audience his views that tradition can mean change.

"Even though our art is steeped in tradition," he said, "our ancestors were constantly changing. Tradition seemed to be change."

He explained that principles and philosophies never change. A message that he's found with working with a lot of artists through the years is that "principles must remain the strong foundation."

"We look back historically, and realize our culture is there," he said.

McMaster informed the audience of the American's belief that Canada is a definite leader in Native art. He noted that they are beginning to see the visual symbolism that exists in art exhibition design. He believes that artists and Elders should be involved in submitting their ideas to an exhibition design concept. "Communities have their own sense of visuality," he said, "whether it is art displayed facing the east or circles divided in four to represent the four directions." He encoraged art exhibitors to listen to the artists as they build an art exhibit.

McMaster's attention then shifted to thanking his friend for inviting him back to the Woodland Cultural Centre. It was a nice reunion for "Tom and Gerry."