Indigenous Designer in Residence exhibits work
The School of Art’s latest exhibit, Sebastien Aubin: no brighter in the middle, will open with a two-part “dialogic” workshop by Professor Norman Cornett, a specialist in theology of the arts, on Feb. 27, 28.
Aubin is the University of Manitoba’s inaugural Indigenous Designer In Residence and the exhibit presents a body of seven artworks he produced since taking up this role in September 2017.
Aubin’s design activities are represented by a three-dimensional work that incorporates text set in the Cree syllabic font he created. Other works are based upon found objects: orphaned shoes collected from a garbage dump near his reserve, Opaskwayak Cree Nation; gloves donated for a wall work – gloves that will ultimately be redistributed through homeless shelters in Winnipeg. Additionally, Aubin has created an animated work with sound that will be projected during the exhibition.
These works will be explored in two-session run by guest lecturer Norman Cornett. In the first workshop, participants will creatively explore the exhibition through the ‘dialogic’ method elaborated by Cornett. Based on their writings from this first workshop, participants will discuss with Aubin his creative vision and artistic development during the second workshop.
Both events are free and open to the public with all supplies provided. While attendance for both workshops is recommended, it is not required.
Exhibition Dates: Feb. 26 – April 13, 2018
Reception: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 4 – 7 p.m.
Dialogic Workshops with Professor Norman Cornett
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 1 – 3 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP contact Lisa [dot] Schroeder [at] umanitoba [dot] ca or 204-272-1519
*RSVP is not necessary to attend but appreciated for planning purposes.
SÉBASTIEN AUBIN
Sébastien Aubin has been Indigenous Designer in Residence at the School of Art since September 2017. He is a proud member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. Having worked for some of the most prestigious design studios in Canada, Sébastien is currently a freelance graphic artist based in Montreal. He has designed publications for numerous artists, organizations, and art galleries in Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba, including Terrance Houle, KC Adams, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Carleton University Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba. He is a founding member of the ITWÉ Collective, which is dedicated to researching, creating, and educating audiences about Indigenous digital culture. He is also part of the AM Collective, which creates works that revolve around the imagination to spark dialogue on subjects that relate to everyday life and emotion.
NORMAN CORNETT
Professor Norman Cornett is a specialist in theology and culture, particularly theology and the arts. He has published in numerous Canadian and American magazines as well as being a guest professor in many North American and European universities. During his career, he has built a ‘dialogical’ approach, which has become a research topic in Canadian, American, French and German universities. He has published about Lionel Groulx, his PhD thesis subject. Professor Cornett’s translations have been featured in reference literary journals such as Canadian Literature, Windsor Review, Rampike, Literary Review of Canada, FreeFall & ARC. He is the main translator of Naim Kattan’s novel Farida. He directs jazz ‘dialogic’ workshops with composers and musicians such as Branford Marsalis, Beverly Shaffer, Vijay Iyer, Tord Gustavsen, David Murray, Joelle Leandre, Toots Thielemans, Jane Bunnett, Co Hoedeman, David Amram and Antibalas, among others. He also proposes artistic ‘dialogic’ workshops with artists such as Michel Goulet, Peter Greenaway, Dominique Blain, Martine Chartrand, Gabor Szilasi, Frederic Back, John Oswald, John Greer, Eruoma Awashish, Melvin Charney and Ethan Hawke, among others. His approach has also been the subject of a documentary Professor Norman Cornett, directed by Alanis Obomsawin, one of Canada’s most distinguished filmmakers.