Sagkeeng First Nation member named WAG curator of Indigenous and contemporary art

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This article was published 06/09/2017 (3322 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jaimie Isaac has been named the new curator of Indigenous and contemporary art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Over the past two years, Isaac — who is of Anishinaabe and British heritage and a member of Sagkeeng First Nation — made an impact during her time as the WAG’s Aboriginal curatorial resident. During her residency, she curated four exhibits that explored everything from treaties and residential school experiences to reconciliation. She is also a member of the WAG’s Indigenous advisory circle, which leads the development of Indigenous-focused exhibitions, education, community outreach, partnerships and programming.

“In her short time so far at the WAG, Jaimie Isaac has assembled some of the gallery’s most thought provoking and unique exhibitions, built important new partnerships and engaged new audiences with art,” Stephen Borys, the gallery’s director and CEO, says in a release. “I have no doubt that she will continue to drive dialogue in our community— educating, critiquing and celebrating the complexities of Canadian identity, Indigenous culture and issues that motivate art production today. There is perhaps no better moment than now to analyze, document and exhibit Indigenous contemporary art in Canada, and we are excited to continue working with Jaimie in this regard.”

Isaac, too, is excited to continue developing programming and partnerships, as well as acquire Indigenous and contemporary art for the WAG’s collection.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my work at the WAG supporting and promoting Indigenous and all contemporary artists,” Isaac says in a release. “There are exciting shifts and projects happening that I’m honoured to be part of that include a multiplicity of voices and reflect a wider community.”

Isaac’s appointment comes ahead of the Sept. 22 opening of Insurgence/Resurgence, the WAG’s largest exhibition of Indigenous art to date, which she co-curated with Julie Nagam, the history of Indigenous art chair in North America for the University of Winnipeg and the WAG.