A consortium of local groups is hoping for a wide representation of Canadian aboriginal art this spring at an art exhibition to be held at the university beginning March 12th.

A call for submissions for the exhibition was issued this week by the TRU First Nations Students’ Association, the Interior Aboriginal Artists’ Society, the TRU Department of Visual and Performing Arts, and the newly-created TRU Centre for the Study of Canada.

The exhibit, called ImagiNative, will include the work of aboriginal photographers, ceramic artists, painters, bead-workers, handicraft artisans, carvers, film-makers, leather workers, and installation artists.

“ImagiNative holds the promise of a truly egalitarian art exhibition,” said exhibition co-coordinator Martin Whittles.

“All aboriginal artists in the region-First Nations, Métis, and Inuit-of all ages and abilities, using all varieties of media, modern and traditional, are invited to submit their work.”

“One dividend of ImagiNative is that it will bring to TRU and the Central Interior an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable cultural diversity of the region’s aboriginal peoples, past and present,” he added.

“Given the array of geographical landscapes encompassed by the province, including rain forests, near-deserts, boreal forests, coastal flood plains, mountains and glaciated regions, visitors to ImagiNative can expect an opportunity to share and celebrate a remarkable collection of artistic styles and themes.”

ImagiNative will run in the TRU Art Gallery from March 12th to April 7th. The exhibition will coincide with the TRU Aboriginal Awareness Week celebrations of Aboriginal heritage and culture and the 2006 BC Aboriginal youth conference Gathering our Voices, hosted at TRU by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres from March 12th to 15th.

Exhibitors are requested to submit their work, including the title and a description of the work, plus a brief biography of the artist by email in JPEG digital format to csc@tru.ca by February 17th, 2006.

For further information, please contact:

• Dr Martin Whittles, TRU Centre for the Study of Canada, by emailor call, 250.371.5914
• Ms. Deb Draney, President, Interior Aboriginal Artists’ Society, by emailor call, 250.374.5047
• Professor Terryl Atkins, TRU Department of Visual and Performing Arts, by emailor call, 250.377.6060
• Mr. Vernie Clement Jr, President, TRU First Nations Students Association, by emailor call, 250.376.4024