P’q’el’qel by Carrielynn Victor. | Photo courtesy of Bill Reid Gallery

The current exhibition at Bill Reid Gallery, RezErect: Native Erotica, presents a diverse and provocative collection of artwork that intends to stimulate more nuanced ways of thinking and talking about sexuality, sensuality, and First Nations’ cultures and identities.

Let’s talk about sex

Co-curated by Kwiaawah Jones and Haida artist Gwaai Edenshaw, RezErect features a unique array of works from twenty-seven First Nations artists from central Canada and the Northwest Coast. This includes an interactive Zoetrope and View-Master from Dionne Paul of Nuxalk and Sechelt Nation as well as a playful creation from Edenshaw, titled Looking at You Looking Into, where the viewer can peek into a keyhole above a brass doorknob.

“The most striking thing about the show is the diversity of expression, and the liberty to say something our parents or grandparents were not encouraged to speak about,” says Alida Kinnie Starr, Mohawk artist and Juno-nominated musician.

According to Starr, art making allows us to consider and discuss subjects that remain hidden and subjects that have the potential to evoke feelings of shame.

“A lot of us feel weakened by the knowledge that we are sexual beings. We don’t have enough representations of people’s real sexual lives,” she says.

The artworks in RezErect offer erotic representations energized with humour and playfulness through a clever mix of visual and linguistic jokes.

“If I could think of one bond that ties the indigenous people, it’s humour. We like to laugh. I’m sure we’re not the only ones. So it is not surprising to me to see humour surface in a show like this,” says Edenshaw.

Bodies of mass media

The human body is a central figure in the collection, represented in a variety of forms, and we are invited to imagine bodies in ways that are different from the familiar images of mainstream media. Starr suggests that our media consumption is dominated by mass media, which tends to depict narrow images of bodies, sexuality and love.

“The message we hear about [Native] sexuality is that we are somehow damaged goods, and anything noteworthy about us in terms of sexuality is born out of sadness,” says Edenshaw.

The works in RezErect attempt to challenge both mainstream conceptions of sexuality and the limited representations of Native identity.

“Native people are generally portrayed in the media as lost, drunken, stoic, hardened… many things other than sexy, or healthy,” says Starr.

RezErect seeks to illustrate a narrative of power and pleasure for First Nations people. Starr calls them “flirty, sexy, proud stories.” The response from both the audience and the collaborating artists has been enthusiastic.

“It is about time that a public gallery has devoted so much time and energy to this story,” Edenshaw agrees.

To accompany the exhibition, Bill Reid Gallery has offered a series of related programming, which included a recent panel discussion on the pornification of society.

According to Edenshaw, the panel brought forth a very interesting exploration around notions of gender. He considers the gallery to be an ideal location for this kind of forum and feels this is just the beginning for these essential and critical conversations.

“I hope that all participants, makers, and audience feel the breadth of an individual’s sense of sensuality and walk away with a smile on their mouths and a flush on their cheeks,” says Edenshaw.

RezErect: Native Erotica runs
from Sept. 25, 2013 through
Feb. 16, 2014. To learn more,
visit http://www.billreidgallery.ca.