Spotlight on Nelson White & Fogo Island Arts
Nelson White is no stranger to the local, national and international visual arts scene. As a member of the Flat Bay Band, White's personal and powerful portraits challenge stereotypes, while documenting the changing cultural landscape and what it means to be Indigenous today.
White's work has been exhibited throughout Canada and the United States and is a part of private and public collections, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Now, visitors and residents of Fogo Island will have a chance to experience the renowned artist's work, as part of his latest exhibition "Wutanminu - Our Community," hosted by Fogo Island Arts.
On May 18, Nelson White (second from left) participated in a panel conversation at the Fogo Island Gallery, with artists Jordan Bennett and Amy Malbeuf, moderated by Andria Hickey.
Consisting of 13 new paintings, the exhibition (which runs until November 30, 2024 at the Fogo Island Gallery, located within Fogo Island Inn) celebrates the resilience, vitality and strong ties within Indigenous communities in the province, while drawing inspiration from White's family legacy of advocating for Indigenous rights.
Featuring contemporary portraits of doctors, lawyers, musicians and community leaders, bound by the connective threads of Indigenous kinship, White's vibrant and colourful works introduce Indigenous histories into the historically Western art form of portraiture, where Indigenous subjects have been marginalized, misrepresented, or left out altogether.
“Potato Dance” by Nelson White, which shows a traditional dance held at powwows.
"I wanted to provide a group of works that are reflective of my community as I know it. I wanted to present images that are unique, yet that others can find some commonality with, plus continue to draw on my family and friends as a source of inspiration," White says.
"I wanted the pieces to reflect not the stereotype of what people think a native person looks like, but focus on representations of people who are fiercely proud of their culture. I want the viewer to investigate their own identity and what it means to be native. My attempt is to step in and show people who exist in the 21st century. My community is full of beautiful, interesting people and I want to continue to show this."
“Modern Family” by Nelson White. This painting shows White’s cousin, fellow artist Jordan Bennett, and Bennett’s wife, artist Amy Malbeuf, enjoying time with their children.
Artists have long contributed to the rich cultural tapestry that weaves throughout Fogo Island. Since 2010, Fogo Island Arts (the founding program of Shorefast) has been bringing artists from a range of disciplines to live and work on the island for several months through its international residency program. Since then, over 140 local, national and international artists have participated.
These artists, says Iris Stünzi, Program Manager at Fogo Island Arts, have "brought new perspectives, sparked collaborative projects with community members, and offered visitors and Fogo Islanders the opportunity to learn about contemporary art through exhibitions, workshops, talks and informal gatherings."
Artist Nelson White (centre) speaks to some of the crowd at the opening of his exhibition "Wutanminu - Our Community” at the Fogo Island Gallery back in March.
"Fogo Island has a community of incredible local artists and the combination of artists from around the globe with the existing thriving arts community makes it a hub for creativity," she adds, noting the upcoming Shore Time festival as an example of this unique exchange.
"There is also a sense of pride among many that this little island is home to four unique contemporary studios, hosting interesting and renowned artists each year."
A visitor to the exhibition checks out Nelson White’s painting titled “Cousins Picking Berries.”
Pointing to New York-based artist Liam Gillick’s "A Variability Quantifier (The Fogo Island Red Weather Station)," which has become a landmark as well as a venue for discussing weather and climate change, Stünzi says, "FIA believes that artists have a unique capacity to reveal and respond to the complexities of our time."
"Shorefast’s work also touches on ecology, economies, foodways and heritage, and we have found that having artists as part of that 'ecosystem' is essential in shaping how we approach these huge topics."
Can't visit Nelson White's exhibit in person? Click here to check out the audio guide for "Wutanminu - Our Community" and hear White discuss the artworks in his own words, or click here to read the audio guide transcript.