Shamans and Superheroes

Artist Statement:

This exhibition features new work created by Jordan Bennett during his time as the University of Alberta’s Inaugural Indigenous Artist in Residence. Works include a collection of in progress paintings based on halftone prints from a 1985 Iron Man comic and his encounter with Indigenous Superhero Shaman in Sarcee, AB. The paintings explore printing and painting techniques of the pop art era, and reference both popular culture and the current political issues and events in Canadian Indigenous culture. Other works include a series of text and textile works exploring notions of artifact, tradition, and historical significance.

Bio:

Jordan Bennett is a multi-disciplinary visual artist of Mi’kmaq decent from the west coast of Newfoundland. He currently calls Edmonton, AB home where he is the first Indigenous Artist in Residence at the University of Alberta. Jordan has shown extensively over the past few years across Canada and abroad, in places such as The Museum of Art and Design, New York City, NY, Ottawa Art Gallery,Ottawa ON, Modern Fuel Artist Run Centre, Kingston ON, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, St. Johns NL, The Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver BC, the Alternator Artist Run Centre, Kelowna BC amongst many others. His work is derived from a combination of popular and traditional cultural reflections, which he portrays through his passion for and knowledge of pop culture, new media, traditional craft, political issues, and his own cultural practices. Through the processes of sculpture, digital media, text based media, installation, painting, endurance performance and various others, he strives to push boundaries and play with the ideas of re-appropriation, reclamation, participation and the artifact within traditional aboriginal craft, ceremony, and contemporary culture.

Opening Reception: June 6, 7–9 pm.