Winter | Spring 2023 Exhibitions & Programs

WINTER | SPRING 2023

Until March 18, 2023

In this exhibition, artist Skawennati (Mohawk, Turtle clan) gathers a number of works which, together, trace a line from our place of origin somewhere in the heavens to the virtual realm, one of the newest territories on Earth . The line sometimes curves, sometimes becomes invisible, but along it are Onkwehonwe—Indigenous people—alive and kicking From Skyworld to Cyberspace is a result of Skawennati’s continuous investigation of cultural construction, contemporary Indigenous self-representation in cyberspace, and of our relationships with the digital world .

This exhibition is curated by Matthew Ryan Smith .

Art & Ideas: Imagining Indigenous Futurism with Grace L. Dillon

Thursday, January 26 @ 7:00PM

See page 9 for details

Art & Ideas: In Conversation with Skawennati

Thursday, February 23 @ 7:00PM See page 9 for details

Skawennati, Celestial Tree, 2017, Machinimagraph from She Falls for Ages, inkjet print, image courtesy of the artist

Darla Fisher-Odjig Beneath the Mask: Symbols as a Healing Phenomenon

Until March 18, 2023

Lambton County-based artist Darla Fisher-Odjig walks through many worlds . As a visual artist, poet, and art therapist she brings a soulful and heartfelt engagement that is both challenging and healing Her lyrical paintings sweep the viewer into worlds both familiar and strange but always ground themselves in realities that cannot be denied

“As an artist, I feel that my voice through art and poetry can help educate” – Darla Fisher-Odjig

Darla Fisher-Odjig, Fragmented Innocence: Stolen Children & Divine Wholeness (detail), 2021/22, acrylic on canvas Image courtesy of the artist

It has been 10 years since Gallery Lambton closed its doors at the former Bayside Centre and moved down the street to re-open in the historic Thom Building as the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery. To honour its first decade in this purpose-built facility the gallery is installing a series of six exhibitions over the next year and a half collectively titled Re View. The exhibitions place the gallery’s permanent collection in the spotlight and celebrate the power of art. Each exhibition features a range of artworks accompanied by audio tours written and voiced by gallery volunteers. The varying tones and approaches of the tours aim to enrich the visitor experience.

Become a member to access exclusive content. Visit jnaag.ca to find out about membership benefits.

November 4, 2022–July 14, 2024

November 4, 2022–January 21, 2023

The first exhibition in the series pulls visitors into the past to trace the building’s history and offers an opportunity to celebrate J .S . Thom (1893-1933), the artist that built the Thom Building . Original Thom photographs are brought together with artifacts of the era to reconstruct the feeling of his historic photography studio

February 3, 2023–April 15, 2023

The second exhibition in the series features a deliriously bright and immersive experience highlighting the paintings of Canadian Modernist pioneer William Ronald (1926–1998) .

& Ideas: The

Thursday, March 23 @ 7:00PM See page 9 for details

May 5, 2023–July 23, 2023

The third exhibit in the series features dramatic portraits that encourage us to explore identity, an en plein air painting by a historic female artist asks us to reflect on shifting landscapes, and Lambton County based artists dive into folklore and abstraction .

For the most up-to-date information about this series of exhibitions visit our 10-year anniversary page at jnaag.ca

Art

Art Career of William Ronald with Lawrence Brissenden

Experience the Past

In partnership with TMRRW Tech. a division of TMRRW inc., the gallery has merged the historic with the modern and members of the public can experience the Thom Building through augmented reality.

Scan the QR code to bring the Thom Building to life in front of you. You can also experience the full-scale view from Lochiel Street until January 22, 2023.

AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE

Imagine the Future

Future Community Blueprint

December 2022–March 31, 2023

What do you imagine when you think of the future? What do you hope downtown Sarnia will look like? What do you see for the future of the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery?

This December, we invite Sarnia Lambton to collaborate on a blueprint for our community’s future . Submissions will be realized when they are integrated into an augmented reality visualization that will be revealed in May of 2023

Brought to you in partnership with:

Art & Ideas

This series of presentations complements the current exhibits by drawing connections to themes found in the exhibition, and by featuring discussions with specific artists and experts The Art & Ideas series is redesigned each season to entice creative thought and encourage new perspectives .

The Art of Augmented Reality & Artificial Intelligence with TMRRW inc.

Thursday, January 12 @ 7:00PM

Free | In-person | Registration required

Join Liwordson Vijayabalan and Lewis Menelaws co-founders of creative & technology firm TMRRW inc . as they discuss the future of art and creative expression Explore how alternative realities and artificial intelligence will change art forever . Learn about the process used to create the historical augmented reality experience at JNAAG and be part of the magic as they share their creative passions and imagine the future of art .

Imagining Indigenous Futurism

with Grace L. Dillon

Thursday, January 26 @ 7:00PM

Free | In-person and online | Registration required

American academic and author Grace L . Dillon will join us virtually to discuss Indigenous Futurism; a term she coined to describe the movement consisting of art, literature and other forms of media which express Indigenous perspectives of the past, present and future in the context of science fiction and related sub-genres .

In Conversation with Skawennati

Thursday, February 23 @ 7:00PM

Free | In-person | Registration required

Join multidisciplinary artist Skawennati for a discussion about the inspirations behind her exhibition From Skyworld to Cyberspace . See page 4 .

The Art Career of William Ronald with Lawrence Brissenden

Thursday, March 23 @ 7:00PM

Free | In-person | Registration required

Lawrence Brissenden will discuss the art career of William Ronald . Working with the original source documents and photos from the estate of William Ronald, the lecture will provide previously unknown details and unseen photos of the artist’s important career .

For program and event registration, call 519-336-8127 ext. 3231, or visit jnaag.ca.

In this workshop participants will be guided through the process of creating, decomposing and recomposing an image using drypoint on Plexiglass Participants are welcome to bring a drawing or photograph that they would like to recreate using this printmaking technique . All inks and basic materials are included in this course . No prior experience is necessary .

Art & Books Club

JNAAG has collaborated with Sarnia Library to create a book club for art lovers and avid readers alike . Book selections are made to connect to themes in current exhibitions to enrich conversations at the library and JNAAG .

In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness . The only people still able to dream are North America’s Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world . But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors . Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the “recruiters” who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing “factories ” Submission

Lambton County Library and the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery are partnering up once again this year for the Take Your Shot: Teen Photo Contest

Teens from Lambton County, ages 13–18, are asked to submit a photo inspired by “Humans of Lambton ”

Winners will be selected by a jury of professionals and will feature young artists from across the County All winning photos will be on display in an exhibition at the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery opening August 2023 . Visit jnaag.ca for themes and details.

Circuit Trees

January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25

Take inspiration from Sky World’s celestial tree in Skawennati’s machinimagraph She Falls for Ages . Learn about electronic components that can be used to make a paper circuit and create your own illuminated tree .

Monoprint Shop

March 4, 11, 18, 25

Draw inspiration from words in this session . What colours, lines and shapes will come to mind? Combine layers of colour and texture to make layered prints .

Abstractions in Ink

April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Be inspired by one of Canada’s most colourful artists . Experiment with various inks on a fine art plastic paper to create vibrant abstracts full of texture and movement

Selfies in Place

May 6, 13, 20, 27

What places inspire you? Use digital media to create a self-portrait placing you in your favorite spot .

Try New Things (TNT)! Develop your creative skills, make new friends, and explore your community . This two-day program, led by local artists, is filled with a variety of creative experiences that will allow youth to discover new passions .

Poster Design Studio with Kennady Rayn

February 2–3

Be inspired by current and historic artists alike and experience the art of poster creation . See how artists use elements of design to express a message Experiment with a variety of media to create your own poster .

Diary of an Artist with Lauren Davidson March

2–3

Art journaling helps you creatively express the way you see and experience the world . Explore topic ideas and page layouts for your journal using a variety of materials and techniques . These methods are designed to bring your everyday experiences to life on the page as you start your own daily art journaling practice .

Mixed

Portraits

Combine digital photography with painting and explore how they can be used together to create new forms of expression . Participants will take and edit photographs and incorporate painting in order to express even more than what a photo captures .

Inspirational Moments

A specialized art program for people with dementia and their care partner . JNAAG develops exclusive exhibition tours and hands on art activities in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of SarniaLambton . No experience required . To learn more or register contact Brooke Salenbien: (519) 332-4444 ext 234

jobPath

jobPath is an Employment Discovery Workshop for work-ready people who have a disability . jobPath not only helps people with a disability find a job but specializes in coaching people on how to keep their job and remain successful at work . To learn more or register email: info@employment-transitions .com

First Fridays

Visit jnaag ca for details on First Friday events

School Tours

Attention teachers! Did you know that JNAAG offers a two-hour art experience which includes a gallery tour and an art making activity? We love working with teachers to create experiences tailored to meet your learning goals . For fee schedule and booking contact Rayneata Dunn: 519-336-8127 ext . 3231, rayneata .dunn@county-lambton .on .ca

Holiday Art Drop-ins

My Own Avatar with Sarah Whalls and Audrey Edwards

Family Day | Monday, February 20 | 1:00–3:00PM

All ages | Children must be accompanied by an adult Free | Suggested donation $5/family | Drop-in

Join the mother-daugher duo in the art studio and create your own avatar to take home using a doll or action figure as a base Repaint your figure and create the outfit and accessories of your wildest desires bringing to life an avatar of yourself . Create yourself in the future, yourself if you were a game character, yourself right now in this present time, or any version of yourself you can dream up .

May Flowers Up-close with Riley Shortt

Victoria Day | Monday, May 22 | 1:00–3:00PM

All ages | Children must be accompanied by an adult Free | Suggested donation $5/family | Drop-in

April showers bring May flowers Examine flower anatomy and its influence on creating art . Examine flowers up-close with magnifying glasses then use inks and pens to create beautiful abstract artworks influenced by those magnified views .

Nico Williams

April 14–September 9, 2023

“Using the bright, tactile materiality and relational nature of beadwork, my practice looks at the ways we live through connections with objects, place, and language Often in collaboration and community with others, I make sculptures that are sometimes highly patterned abstracted geometric forms, sometimes sparkling representations of familiar objects, and always hand-woven from hundreds of glass beads . ” – Nico Williams Nico Williams, ᐅᑌᒥᐣ (b . 1989) is Anishinaabe and member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation community He is currently working in Tiohtià:ke | Mooniyang | Montréal He has a multidisciplinary, often collaborative practice that is centered around sculptural beadwork .

Many Lives Mark This Place

John Hartman paints Canadian writers in the landscapes that inspire them

April 14–September 9, 2023

John Hartman has long been interested in the connection between people and place With this most recent body of work, he has captured the intimate relationship Canadian authors have with their personal places of inspiration

This exhibition has been organized and circulated by the Woodstock Art Gallery a division of the Culture Department of the City of Woodstock, Ontario .

Top: Nico Williams, Privé (blue), 2021, beads, commander fabric, cotton Photo credit: Paul Litherland

Bottom: John Hartman, Cherie Dimalin, Above Penetanguishene Bay, 2019 (detail), oil on linen

William Ronald, Untitled, 1995, aquacryl and graphite on wove paper, from the collection of the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery