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December 1– 8, 2018
Gallery hours: Wed-Fri 2-7pm & Sat 12-5pm
Reception: December 1, 6-8pm

Satellite Project Space
121 Dundas St, London

The phonetic transcription of the homophones: routes and roots. The exhibit explores concepts of empathy, land, origins, and paths as the fourth year School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities cohort delves into Indigenous history and its evolution through time.

Shelley Niro’s fourth-year capstone seminar class’ exploration of self and the material touches upon colonization, decolonization, Indigenous art, repatriation, myths of Pocahontas, murdered and missing Indigenous women, and our ability to empathize. Exploring this history includes looking at the deeply disturbing colonization that occurred in Canada as well as the current mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. Artists hope to shine a ​light and perhaps offer some hope in their pieces for a better future regarding HUMAN relationships.

Stereotypes, prejudices, and “norms” are broken down as the pieces demonstrate that every narrative is unique. Questions that artists focused on include: How did we get here? Where do we go from here? What does reconciliation look like? What does it mean to be Canadian? Many of the artists have chosen to connect their pieces back to their own identities which speak​ to the idea of empathy. This connection allows for a greater depth of understanding for the artists and the audience as narratives are interwoven but the themes of empathy, land, and representation are persistent.

An important concept that is explored in all pieces is the universality of being a human. In an increasingly globalized world, we are becoming more and more connected, but more to the point, we were and always will be connected because even though we all live different paths in life, our roots are the same. Stories intertwine and paths differ but at the core of it all we are all humans; therefore, we can all empathize.

Satellite Project Space is a dynamic partnership between four significant London, Ontario, arts institutions: Fanshawe College, Museum London, Western University and McIntosh Gallery. The mandate of Satellite is to provide a flexible space for new and temporary projects, collaborations, and experiments in the arts and culture.