Tania Willard: Claiming Space

The catalogue accompanying Tania Willard's exhibition features full-colour reproductions of her works in the exhibition, including sculptures, paintings, large-scale graphite drawings and panoramic ochre murals. Willard's work explores sense of place in relation to her Secwepemc roots. She draws from storytelling traditions referencing landforms, petroglyphs and tree stands found in Secwepemc lands. Willard utilizes materials from the region - for example, applying red ochre directly to the gallery walls - as a way of reclaiming space within the gallery. She takes an activist approach in her various creative practices, blending elements of traditional First Nations art with contemporary culture.
Artist Chris Bose writes an insightful essay describing the artist's exploration of Secwepemc culture within the context of contemporary life. Jordan Strom's essay provides in depth background to the works in the exhibition.