Exhibition: People, Power, & the Park

This exhibition reflects the many roles Allan Gardens has played over the past 125 years. It has been a village commons, a city park, a speaker’s corner, a community centre without walls. It has offered cooling shade in the summer, a storied greenhouse in the winter, a place to gather with others, or enjoy solace and solitude. Long before it was designated as private property, and then a city park, this was a place of great significance to Indigenous communities who have lived, gathered and held ceremonies here for millennia and continue to do so. The exhibition features installations from the four day festival happening in Allan Gardens Sept 22 - 25, as well as original work from Indigenous Artist in Residence Michel Dumont.

Michel is a two-spirited Métis artist who enjoys breathing new life into discarded vintage tiles by making mosaic pieces. He is a self-taught artist and occasional teacher whose mediums include fibre arts, ceramics and unconventional materials for wearable art. Working with shattered mirrored tiles is symbolic of Michel’s daily dealings with a shattered back and decades of PTSD, driving him to turn these struggles into something beautiful. As a son of an Indian Day School survivor, Michel also aims to honour his culture through his work. Paul H. Cocker Gallery is grateful to have Michel’s voice be a part of this project.

Michel is represented by Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto.

There will be an opening reception on Thursday, September 29th at 6:30 PM ET, Michel will be putting together his River of Pride piece in the gallery, where visitors will be able to interact with him. Food and drinks will be served, no registration is required.

After the opening reception, this exhibition will be on display at 325 Church St. at Paul H. Cocker Gallery between September 30th - October 27th during the hours of 9AM - 5PM 7 days a week and open to the public.* No registration is required.

*Please use the intercom system to gain access via the South East doors.