the scar project
Every individual bears the scars left by time and the confluence of moments and events.These scar stories thread through our identity, active or dormant within us, unveiling their various stigmas. Wanting to explore this emotional landscape, Nadia Myre initiated The Scar Project, driven by the idea of recording and sharing personal histories. The stories that we loathe, love or cherish will be exchanged, acknowledged and named.
Myre strives to decipher these intimate territories through an interactive lab where individuals are invited to work on numerous canvases hanging in the gallery space. They participate by sewing the topography of their own scar onto the stretched fabric and by recording the story of the wound at one of the writing stations, thus linking it to its scar.
By playing on a number of modes of language – linguistic and material – the artist proposes to intertwine individual and collective memories: canvas and words become the conduit of the exchange. This dialogue, in its linguistic, cultural and aesthetic forms, addresses the scar traces left behind by memory. Identity is examined in a moment of rest that will tangibly define the echoes of memory. This precious moment of meditation narrates the sensitive path that meanders in the territories of the mind.
The Scar Project is a participatory work in progress that will eventually travel to a number of communities across Canada. The artist has also set up a web site (www.nadiamyre.com) where workshops, dates and locations will be posted, as well as a gallery of all the scar canvasses with their stories. This type of community-based activity is in keeping with Myre's previous work. During 2000–2002 Myre hosted regular beading workshops to create the Indian Act, a 56 page document beaded over with glass beads by over 230 people. Once again, the artist's process is thoroughly contemporary, as much in the gesture as in the poetic power with which it is interlaced.
Text: Yann Pocreau
Translation: Claudine Hubert
| date | venue | address | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 7, 2008 to October 19, 2008 |
Musee d'art contemporain des Laurentides | 101, place du Cure-Labelle Saint-Jerome, Quebec |
Part of a solo exhibition titled A fleur de peau, The Scar Project will be featured and awaits your participation! Entrance is free. Please visit www.museelaurentides.c… for museum hours, or phone 450-432-7171 |
| July 26, 2008 to August 2, 2008 |
Nadia Myre's Studio | 210 Route du Long-Sault Saint-Andre d'Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada |
The scar project will be featured during the Route des Arts, in my studio. Viewers will be able to participate and sew their scars. |
| June 12, 2008 to June 12, 2008 |
Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery | 1515 St. Catherine St. West Montreal |
Join me from 2-4 to celebrate the closing of IZHIZKAWE: TO LEAVE TRACKS TO A CERTAIN PLACE: AN EXHIBITION OF CONCORDIA’S INDIGENOUS ALUMNI. All are welcome. For more info about this and other events, please visit: http://fofagallery.con… |
| June 22, 2007 to July 20, 2007 |
Urban Shaman | 203-290 McDermot Avenue Winnipeg |
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Scar Project, the lab will be installed in Urban Shaman's project room. Please contact Urban Shaman for opening hours. Tel: 204.942.2674 Email inquiries@urbanshaman.org |
| May 1, 2007 to May 1, 2007 |
Place Cartier Centre | 257 Beaconsfield Blvd montreal |
The Scar Project was presented as an in class activity to students enrolled in Elizabeth Iten's art class. |
| July 15, 2006 to July 15, 2006 |
Woodland Cultural Centre | 184 Mohawk Street Brantford |
A one day workshop hosted by the Woodland Cultural Centre (11 am-2 pm). Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information please contact Jessica Hill or Naomi Johnson at 519-759-2650. |
| July 13, 2006 to October 13, 2006 |
The Koffler Gallery | 4588 Bathurst Street Toronto |
This happens in the context of the Fray exhibition, a joint project with the Textile Museum of Canada. Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Friday: 10 - 4 pm, and Sunday: 12 - 4 pm. The Gallery is closed on Saturdays. Admission is free. Please contact kofflergallery@bjcc.ca or phone 416-363-1800 x 268 for more details. |
| July 13, 2006 to January 7, 2007 |
Textile Museum of Canada | 55 Centre Avenue Toronto |
This happens in the context of the Fray exhibition, a joint project with the Koffler Gallery. The Museum is open daily: 11-5 pm, and Wednesday: 11-8 pm (pay-what -you-can 5-8 pm). Please visit www.textilemuseum.ca or call 416-599-5321 for more information. |
| July 12, 2006 to July 12, 2006 |
Native Child and Family Services Youth Drop-In Centre | Northwest Corner, College and Young Toronto |
A one day workshop hosted by the Youth Drop-In Centre. 9:30-12 pm. For more information please contact Maria Hupfield at 416-969-8510 x 4291 |
| June 16, 2006 to June 16, 2006 |
picnic table | Cheifswood Ohsweken, ON |
Thank you to the people who participated during this improvised scar session and for the beautiful weather and great entertainment. |
| June 15, 2006 to August 19, 2006 |
McMaster Museum of Art | Alvin A. Lee Building, University Ave., McMaster University Hamilton, ON |
Installed in the group exhibition “Making Sense of Things”. Opening hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11-5; Thursday 11-7; Saturday12-5. Please phone 905-525-9140 ex 23081 for further details. |
| May 6, 2006 to July 31, 2006 |
Inter-Tribal Youth Centre (Montreal Friendship Centre) | Corner of Ontario and St. Laurent Montreal, QC |
Drop in workshop every Wednesday afternoon from May until July. Everyone is welcome, please contact the Project Leader at the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre for more information. tel: 514-499-1854 |
| April 26, 2006 to April 26, 2006 |
Atelier Cent Pressions | Ville-Marie Ville-Marie |
I would like to thank the wonderful women at Atelier Cent Pressions for their exchanges and participation in the Scar Project |
| April 25, 2006 to April 25, 2006 |
Elders Community Centre | Temiscamaing First Nation Notre-Dame-du-Nord |
This was a one day event with some of the elders from Temiscamaing First Nation. I would like to thank Karl Chevrier and his sister, as well as Carol for their help in setting it up. |
| February 10, 2006 to March 25, 2006 |
Third Space Gallery | 42 Princess Street Saint John, NB |
For those that wish to make a scar to leave with the exhibition they can do so between Wednesday-Friday, 4 pm - 10 pm, or Saturday afternoons 12 noon - 6 pm, or call Chris Lloyd, Artistic Director, to make an appointment. (506) 644-8840. www.galerietiersespace… |
| December 1, 2005 | University of Lethbridge | Arthur Erickson Building, 8th fl. Lethbridge, AB |
Please contact Professor Tanya Sehn at the University of Lethbridge for more details. |
| November 17, 2005 to December 17, 2005 |
Gallerie Art Mur | 5826 St Hubert Montreal, QC |
ENDS December 17, 2005 Gallery hours are Fri. 12-9, Sat. 12-5, www.artmur.com, (514) 933-0711 |
| October 6, 2005 | Queen's University | Fine Arts Building, 4th fl Kingston, ON |
This workshop happened for one day only. For more infomation please contact Nadia Myre or Professor Kathleen Sellars at Queen's Universiy. |