There are a lot of great Aboriginal artists past and present in Canada. I am amazed at the natural talent we Native Canadians have when it comes to creativity. One of my favourite artists is Norval Morrisseau. He has a special place in my heart because his paintings are so powerful and connected to the land and the creatures of Mother Earth.
I was very excited when I discovered recently that Montreal artist Carolina Echeverria had developed an exhibition of a collection of 30 paintings and three installations inspired by the distinctive style of Norval Morrisseau. Her art exhibition titled Native Immigrant is a labour of love that she, as an immigrant from Chile to Canada, has connected to the visionary and shamanic art work of Norval Morrisseau.
Carolina with her incredible art has taken her own style and the influences of her life in Chile and that bold. colourful art of Norval Morrisseau to make some very powerful visions to give Native immigrants a voice in this country.
Love and a life partner drew her to Canada and although she was apprehensive of a move across continents and leaving her family and home, Carolina put her faith in her belief that people everywhere operate on a basis of goodness and inclusion. She was not disappointed and quickly began to develop as a mother, activist, artist and storyteller. She also improved her English and learned to speak French.
The fact that she had experienced a dark right wing period in Chile’s history under the dictator Augusto Pinochet provided her with the knowledge, strength and commitment to give a voice to immigrants, minorities and the disenfranchised right here in Canada. She is like our canary in a coal mine when it comes to identifying signs of weakening in our democracy.
As a Canadian and a Quebecer for almost 30 years, she has blazed a trail to develop as a visual artist who has exhibited across Canada and on the world stage. Carolina has been featured far and wide in media, including a two-year stint with CBC. She is also a professor of art.
With her exhibition “Native Immigrant” Carolina connects many peoples and in a style influenced by one of our greatest Aboriginal warrior artists. Her art is bright, colourful and extremely powerful. The images really challenge you and make you think. As she explained to me, she strives with her paintings to create a visual language of who we are and to encourage us to imagine a collective and inclusive future for Canada based on a sense of community, not merely nationality.
As part of her exhibit she has provided opportunities for everyone to have a voice and to participate in the creative process.
Her exhibition features a piece titled Immigrant Dress which poses a naked mannequin planted in a pot of indigenous earth that awaits those who want to participate in a collective dress making creative process.
The idea is that people will bring and donate objects of sentimental multicultural value. She is hoping that this interaction will allow for conversations about immigration and connections among Native immigrants. She has also provided a mural that will feature input by exhibition visitors as a work in progress dedicated to creating awareness and conversation around the recent controversial Quebec Charter Of Values.
Carolina as an artist, activist and environmentalist is carrying a torch for all of us who feel strongly about the issues of intolerance on any level and any wanton destruction of our land, rivers and lakes. In doing so she hopes to provide us with the inspiration to speak up and stand up.
Her support of First Nation causes has always been strong and with this exhibition she makes a stand that helps us all.
As a staunch believer in the Idle No More First Nation movement, Carolina has produced a poster and dedicated a portion of the profits of her Native Immigrant exhibition to this deserving group.
Her opening night featured Philip Deering from Kahnawake and Native performers. More than 20 people have come forward to help with the exhibition as volunteers and a video documentary of Native Immigrant is being produced. Native Immigrant was launched Oct. 24 in Montreal at Rialto Hall Theatre, 5711 Ave. Du Parc.
To learn more about Carolina, her work and upcoming exhibitions and events go to www.carolinaecheverria.ca
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