The Flower People is a story artist Melanie Monique Rose, her family, her people and their connection and relationship to the land, themselves, and each other. It is derived from the name ‘The Flower Beadwork People’ a name given to the Métis who are well known for their floral beadwork,
Rose is a fibre and visual artist from Regina, Saskatchewan, Treaty 4 Territory. She attended the Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson, BC and majored in Fibre Arts. Since then, Rose has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions nationally. The Flower People is derived from the name “The Flower Beadwork People,” a name given to the Métis who are well known for their floral beadwork. Rose uses felting techniques on collected blankets to create a canvas; exploring her Métis identity alongside her Ukrainian heritage. Personal, cultural, and universal symbolism are woven into the fabric of Rose’s work with an emphasis on movement, colour, and narrative.
Rose’s most recent works explore personal acts of Indigenous survivance and solidarity, which have made her look critically at how she tells her story as an active Indigenous presence and contemporary artist in the world today.
In conjunction with the art show a workshop was held Friday, with the artist sharing some of the processes and inspirations for her needle felted artworks in the exhibition.
In the workshop participants had the opportunity to create (and take home) their own unique felted artwork! Also in conjunction with the exhibition the public was invited for a special public presentation with Rose and Métis fiddle player Tristen Durocher Saturday at the Land Titles Building.
The event included the artist sharing the stories behind her artworks.
In addition, Tristen Durocher spoke on the preservation of culture and connection to community through fiddle music and camps.
Durocher also performed the fiddle tune ‘A Song For All Seasons’ by Oliver Shoerr, as well as other traditional Metis fiddle tunes like The Duck Dance and the Red River Jig.
Durocher started playing fiddle at the age of nine after his grandfather, who also played fiddle, passed away. He learned to play by listening to his grandfather on a recording.
If you couldn’t make it to the in-person event in Yorkton? No problem! There will be a recording of the artist talks which will be presented in a livestream event later this year, in partnership with Sâkêwêwak First Nations Artists Collective.
The art exhibition will be at the Gallery until Dec. 23.
Visit the gallery Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, and Sat 1-4pm to view the exhibition.
