In our July 26 issue I reviewed this exhibition by Calgary-based First Nations artist Terrance Houle. If you avail yourself of the above link you’ll see that the show critiques stereotypes about First Nations people — their history, culture and current reality.
Tonight, there’s a closing reception for GIVN’R at the Dunlop Art Gallery at 7 p.m. As part of the proceedings, there will be a performance at 8 p.m. by Contrary Collective titled Little Big Man Remix. As you might expect, the performance does reference the classic 1970 Western Little Big Man which was directed by Arthur Penn and starred Dustin Hoffman, Chief Dan George and Faye Dunaway.
One of the biggest purveyors of grossly simplified and even outright racist stereotypes of aboriginal people has traditionally been Hollywood. So to give you a bit of context for tonight’s performance, here’s a link to the trailer for a film called Reel Injun by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond that looks at the relationship between Hollywood and aboriginal people over the last 100 or so years:
