November 11 – December 18, 2021
Frédérique Gros-Louis: Regalia
We invite you on Saturday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. for the launch of the exhibition Regalia in the presence of the artist Frédérique Gros-Louis.
She:kon Gallery
5826 Saint-Hubert (2nd floor)
Tio’tia:ke (Montreal, QC)
The exhibition features four complete regalia, belonging to the artist Frédérique Gros-Louis (Wendat) and her two children. The patterns, materials and accessories that make up the regalia are real cultural landmarks. The regalia is much more than a dance garment, it preserves the spiritual bond with ancestors and traditions. Making regalia is a spiritual activity.
“The dream is very important to the First Nations; it is a message that comes to us directly from the creator. Designing regalia and beading is a traditional process of healing and prayer that enables my personal growth.” Frederique Gros-Louis
In her work, Frédérique Gros-Louis is inspired by nature and her dreams to design her regalia. The artist incorporates notions of history and current events in her beaded patterns, with female figures and shadows that evoke the murdered and missing sisters. Wearing your regalia is carrying the past and the present of your people, their status, their gender, their family. Each element of the regalia has a symbolic or ritual value.
The Jingle dress, which often makes up the female regalia, is worn to perform the Jingle dance, a healing dance. The dress has 365 jingles sewn onto the lower part of the dress. Those jingles were formerly made from the lids of metal tobacco jars.
Frédérique Gros-Louis is a young Wendat artist who grew up in Wendake, near Quebec City where she attended school. It was in her late teens that she recognized her identity as a First Nations person. Since that time, she has continued her apprenticeship in Wendat traditions. She has been making regalia since 2015 and she offers beadwork and regalia design classes to members of her community who want to learn about these skills. As a young mother since 2018, this made her aware of the importance of cultural transmission. In 2021, she received the Première Ovation grant, a measure to support the next generation of artists from the Manif d’Art de Québec. Frédérique Gros-Louis is a member of the Quebec Youth Research Network Chair for the Aboriginal component.
Galerie She:kon, which means “hello” in Kanien’kéhà, focuses on showcasing solo exhibitions by up-and-coming Indigenous artists. This initiative aims to uncover fresh talent and provide an opportunity for those interested in curating their first exhibition.
Acknowledgements
La Biennale d’art contemporain autochtone / The Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) would like to thank the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) for their financial support.
