Pop-up brings art to powwow
An example of some of the art by Swampy Cree beadwork artist Marcy Friesen, the subject of the second Pop-Up exhibition at the Kahnawake powwow by the daphne Art Centre. Courtesy Marcy Friesen
Indigenous art was not in short supply on Tekakwitha Island for the 33rd edition of the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow-Wow, but one organization had something unique to offer to the powwow grounds’ visitors.
That would be the Tiohtià:ke-based daphne Art Centre, and their Powwow Pop-Up, where they hosted a gallery-like exhibit inside of their tent space, which was only 10 feet by 10 feet.
This is the second year that daphne has run the pop-up. According to daphne co-founder and Kahnawake-born artist Skawennati, it was natural for daphne to have a presence at the powwow, and the concept of the pop-up came from wanting to bring what daphne does to the powwow instead of only providing information on the arts centre.
For the first year, the art centre chose Qalipu First Nation artist Jordan Bennett to be the focal point, and were very happy with the result.
“We really liked the way it looked. We really thought we had accomplished what we wanted, to create a tiny, little temporary reality,” said Skawennati.
After the first edition worked so well, it was decided to make the pop-up a yearly occurrence.
The second edition featured Swampy Cree artist Marcy Friesen, whose beadwork takes traditional methods and makes them into unorthodox pieces of art - beadwork motifs photographed on feet with a big blue sky in the background, bead cigarettes between toes, and fried chicken buckets, to name a few examples.
Friesen answered an open call from the arts centre, and it was decided her work would be a great fit for the event.
“Her art feels like a powwow. The brown body of a Native person, the beadwork that is being used in an unusual way, the beautiful summer sky, and there’s that playfulness to it,” said Skawennati.
The booth also let powwow visitors make their own buttons with the daphne logo on it.
Overall, Skawennati believes this edition was a hit, and it will be coming back again for the 34th edition.
“Each year we want to try and improve a little bit, or do something to get better than last year,” she said.
That includes possibly bringing in the artist to the powwow to answer questions about their exhibit.
She also believes that this idea could become a popular one across the powwow trail going forward.
“I can really imagine the powwow pop-up gallery idea spreading. I can imagine this particular show that we put on going to another powwow. I can imagine other powwows putting on their own pop-up exhibitions,” said Skawennati.
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