Indigenous artists create wearable art, share knowledge at gallery workshops

Jan 10, 2024, CTV, Kevin Fleming

Throughout January, Sparrow Artspace is hosting 11 Indigenous artists who mainly use materials harvested from the land to create wearable art.

Sandra Neill, who runs the gallery and organized the workshops, says there's a waiting list to attend.

"It's wonderful to have these artists share their art form," she said.

"They've really embraced what Sparrow Artspace is all about: creativity, community and collaboration. They're all learning from each other and they're sharing their passion and their skills with the public, which is amazing."

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Calgary Indigenous artists share ‘incredible diversity’ of wearable art traditions

JANUARY 9, 2024, Global News

This new year brings a new chance for Calgarians to get in touch with some very old traditions. As Gil Tucker shows us, local Indigenous artists are showcasing a strong connection with nature that goes back many centuries.

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Check out the feature about the wasakamapiwak wearable art collective in Curious Magazine!

Magazine - Issue 3 - Jan 2024 by Kathryn Kozody

ᐊᐧᓴᑲᒪᐱᐊᐧᐠ

wasakamapiwak wearable art collective

December 7, 2023 to Jan 27, 2024

Opening Reception Sat Dec 9, 5-7pm, free/drop-in

Wasakamapiwak is a collective of Indigenous artists living and working in Treaty 7 territory. 

Wasakamapiwak is a collective of 11 Indigenous artists living and working in Treaty 7 territory including: Danielle Piper, Jasmine Piper, Staci Duchene-Wolfe, Sarah Whalen Lunn, Sikapinakii Lowhorn, Matthew Hiltermann, Riel Starr, Melrene Saloy-EagleSpeaker, Amber Boyd, Melissa Victor, and Faith Starlight.

We are a varied group, but the thread which binds this collective is an engagement with creating wearables; either in part or wholly. Our collective aims to bring a diverse group of artists together to connect and learn from one another, finding new ways to collaborate and incorporate new techniques into our own practices. We are committed to diverse representation across indigenous cultures, age, training and discipline. We believe in the strength and growth which emerges from the gathering of different perspectives and experiences. 

ᐊᐧᓴᑲᒪᐱᐊᐧᐠ wasakamapiwak is a nehiyawewin (cree language y-dialect) word, meaning "they all sit in a circle". 

Check out this collective on Instagram

The wasakamapiwak collective thanks the Calgary Arts Development for the Original Peoples Investment Program grant for making this residency possible!

Artists