Artists uses humor, irony as tool

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Canadian Indian artist Gerald McMaster uses humor and irony to address the dischotomy of the stereotypes of cowboys and Indians.

His exhibition, The Cowboy/Indian Show, runs at the Calgary Glenbow Museum until Oct. 17.

When McMaster first started working on the concept three years ago, he saw it as an opportunity to visibly question stereotypes. He saw how the "cowboy/Indian" stereo- type was "pitting an entire race of people against an occupation," and how this stereotype was ironic.

By utilizing this concept as the foundation for his exhibition, McMaster has given the public an opportunity to challenge and question the status quo.

He cited the Calgary Stampede and the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics as just two examples of stereotypical acceptance and irony.

"While it is wonderful to see Native people come out in traditional wear, there is an irony and absurdity about it of playing up to the stereotypes.

"Indian is a construction, a symbol. I think Indian and cowboy are both symbols and taken as an equation it is more absurd."

McMaster combines his visuals with a text overlay which persuades viewers to take a second look and seek additional comprehension and insight.

"People come to galleries, look at work, and sometimes if you write text on it, it stops them and they look again. It gets people to think and take an impression away with them. A double take is an important strategy," he explained.

Blending humor with irony is a way to establish a point of view.

"Humor puts people at ease. It draws you in. I want the viewers of my work

to think about something profoundly serious. Humor invites dialogue and promotes understanding."

Besides the Glenbow exhibition, McMaster has one called Savage Graces in Vancouver at the Museum of Anthropology. Again, he takes a stereotypical image of

the "noble Savage" and treats it with irony and humor.

In Savage Graces, McMaster further delves into the Indian stereotype and questions what creates it and how that creation feeds into stereotypes.

He's looked at Indians not just as a symbol, but as they are often treated by society, as a commodity.

"What interested me was in what ways has the Indian been 'commodified' and exploited?"

He cites comic books and the movie industry as two examples of ways the Indian has been and is treated as a commodity.

Above all, McMaster sees himself as a critic of what is happening around him. He sees his exhibits as a way to bridge the gap between a pre-conceived attitude and potential change.

"I'm a commentator. Contemporary art is like that, you can comment on what's happening around you, historically and contemporarily," he explains.

Among other challenges this year, McMaster has been involved with the Indigena Exhibition in his role as curator of contemporary Indian Art at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, in Ottawa.

That exhibit is in Ottawa and will come to the Glenbow within two years.