School of Art

Minaw-pishi-mowin / Seeing in a Good Way

Seeing in a Good Way is a School of Art Gallery initiative that offers a summer program designed to instill confidence in young Indigenous artists. In a time when Indigenous art is gaining increased visibility and support, many Indigenous youth still encounter barriers that hinder them from recognizing their gifts and developing their artistic potential. This year, we are dedicated to fostering growth in our participants through workshops that celebrate the creative process. By exploring how making art can teach us about our interests, strengths, and vision, we aim to create an environment where young artists can thrive and shine.

Working in partnership with Willow Tree Action Therapy, Seeing in a Good Way will invite Indigenous youth in action therapy programs to explore Indigenous ways of seeing and being through making art using various mediums and processes. Seeing in a Good Way is led by professional Indigenous artists Jaime Black, Jessie Jannuska, Claire Johnston, and Peatr Thomas, and developed in close consultation with Elders. Art is a gift for now and future generations, and we hope that by creating a safe space for artistic expression, youth can build courage and self-understanding.

Seeing in a Good Way will launch with a public celebration on Thursday, June 27. Free and open to all, this event will include a birding walk led by our partners at the University of Manitoba Indigenous Birding Club, a pizza party, and a Build-a-Bird art-making workshop led by the School of Art Gallery’s Indigenous Art Education team: Dee Barsy, Rosie Beck, and Jory Thomas.

Seeing in a Good Way will conclude with open studio sessions at the School of Art Gallery on a date to be determined. Open to all, the open studio sessions will give new and returning students, participants, families, and friends an opportunity to learn from, collaborate with, and visit young Indigenous artists who participated in this workshop series. The space will also be available for summer workshop participants to work on their art while gaining comfort and familiarity with the School of Art and its community.

Anishinaabemowin translation by Language Keeper Virginia Thomas.

Artists

Jaimie Black smiling with long brown hair and white earrings, looking at the camera.

Jaime Black

Jaime Black-Morsette is Red River Metis with family scrip from St Andrews, Manitoba. Black-Morsette is an interdisciplinary artist whose works incorporate performance art, video, photography, installation and poetry. Black-Morsette is the creator of the internationally renowned REDress Project, an installation art project to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2S people. Their art practice engages in themes of memory, identity, place and resistance/resilience and is grounded in an understanding of the body and the land as sources of cultural and spiritual knowledge.

Jessie Jannuska smiling with glasses and long white and black earrings, looking directly at the camera.

Jessie Jannuska

Jessie Jannuska (she/her) is a Winnipeg-based mixed Dakota, Ojibway, settler artist and art workshop facilitator. Her family is from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation in Treaty 2. Jessie’s artwork explores her Indigenous culture through her beadwork, painting, mixed media, and mural work. She aims to make artwork that will leave a lasting impact by working with community on large art projects, and by teaching workshops to all ages.

Claire Johnston smiling with long brown hair wearing a white shirt, looking directly at the camera.

Claire Johnston

Claire Johnston is a Red River Métis visual artist based in Winnipeg/Treaty 1 Territory. As a Two-Spirit Piitoshi-iteeyihtam, Claire is inspired by the material and spiritual legacy left by Michif Grandmothers past and present—they engage in relational-making that centres balance, slowness, and connection to the land, to oneself, and to one's kin. Claire is an artist and team member with the Re*Storying Autism project (Queen's University), which works to combat Western, colonial, capitalist and biomedical understandings of Autism through Autistic storytelling and narratives that affirm difference as desirable and needed. A mentee of Master Métis Beader Jennine Krauchi, this fall Claire exhibited their largest beaded artwork yet during the Manitoba Opera's Li Keur, the first-ever full-scale Indigenous Opera in North America. In September 2024, they will showcase works at their inaugural solo show in Winnipeg with support from the Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba. Claire is a Sundancer, a hide tanning student, an Auntie, a Helper, and an MMF citizen with membership with the Two-Spirit Michif Local.

Peatr Thomas sitting, looking directly at the camera, with hands clasped in their lap, wearing a black jacket and a red shirt.

Peatr Thomas

Peatr Thomas is an Ininew and Anishinaabe self-taught, full-time visual artist from the Pimicikamak and Miskwewe Ziibi territories, located near the Heart of Turtle Island. Raised on reserve and later introduced to city life at the age of 14 in the early 2000s, Peatr found his voice in street art for the following 15+ years. Over the last decade, he has integrated cultural and traditional teachings into his artworks. His focus has mainly been on mural painting and facilitating youth workshops, with his work spanning coast to coast and overseas

Events Workshops

Seeing through our Grandmother's/Ancestor's hands: Métis beading workshop with Claire Johnston

In this intimate workshop, Two-Spirit Red River Métis visual artist Claire Johnston will teach two-needle Métis beadwork and share stories of themself and their ancestors being Piitoshi-iteeyihtam, or people who think differently. Youth will have the opportunity to see and feel a historic Métis Grandmother hide jacket, which Claire recently rematriated from Denmark. Informed by the Métis floral beadwork designs on the jacket, youth will bead their own Métis floral beadwork onto smoked deer hide tanned by Claire and their family using 100-year-old+ antique Venetian and Parisian seed beads. As a late-diagnosed AuDHDer, Claire is excited to partner with Action Therapy and the University of Manitoba School of Art Gallery this summer in supporting neurodivergent youth to explore their gifts, build self-compassion, and live good lives. 

Harvesting Clay with Jaime Black

Join artist Jaime Black in a workshop revolved around Red River clay and plants. With harvested clay, the youth will be making traditional clay pots (and other creations) along with natural dye made from plants. This will take place at the School of Art in a laid back environment with snacks and fun!

Connecting to Community through Impactful Art with Jessie Jannuska

Join Jessie in a workshop to make a mixed-media mini medallion (or patch!) Using pen, pencil, sharpie marker, flat stitch beadwork, and canvas, you can make the medallion you’ve always wanted.

Cultural Mists with Peatr Thomas

An introduction to water-based spray paint and stencils on canvas. No artistic experience required.

Closing Event

Minaw-pishi-mowin / Seeing in a Good Way Closing Celebration: Indigenous-Led WalkandSustainable Art Making Workshop 

Thursday, September 5, 5:00-8:30 pm

Meeting point: School of Art Gallery, 255 ARTlab, 180 Dafoe Road

Presented in partnership with Willow Tree Action Therapy, ArtsJunktion, and University of Manitoba’s Land and Water Program 

Minaw-pishi-mowin / Seeing in a Good Way is a School of Art Gallery initiative that seeks to instill confidence in young Indigenous artists. Right now, there is increasing visibility and support for Indigenous art. However, many Indigenous youth still face barriers that prevent them from recognizing their gifts and developing their artistic potential. This summer, the Gallery hosted workshops for Indigenous youth that  ceebrated the creative process and explored the ways that making art can teach us about our interests, our strengths, and our vision.