Tracey-Mae Chambers #HopeandHealingCanada

Artist Statement

"Since July 2021, I have been building site-specific art installations across Ontario, at residential school historical sites, cultural centres, museums, art galleries and other public spaces. Many (but not all) of these public spaces serve to present a colonial viewpoint and primarily speak about the settlers who arrived and lived here, but not the Indigenous people that were displaced along the way. 

The installations are constructed with red acrylic yarn, which is strong and resilient. The string represents the connectivity between each other and our environment, as it will also not last forever.

Red is the colour of blood. Red is the slur against Indigenous people. Red is the colour of passion and anger, danger and power, courage and love.

The goal of #HopeAndHealingCanada is to broach the subject of decolonization and reconciliation. These discussion are hard to start and harder still to maintain.  I am hoping to bridge the gap between settlers and Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit people by creating art that is approachable and non-confrontational, so we can start. "

 -Tracey-Mae Chambers

About the Artist

Tracey-Mae Chambers is a Métis artist and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Her family is from the traditional Métis community in Sault Ste. Marie and Penetanguishene, Ontario. She is currently based in Hamilton, ON.