Dana Justine Belcourt
Did It Hurt?
Exhibition Run: September 28- December 7, 2024
Opening Reception: September 28, 5- 8PM
Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre 10124 96 St Edmonton, AB
Ociciwan has been hosting a series of films made by Indigenous filmmakers from across Turtle Island throughout 2024 in our New Media Gallery. This initiative is generously supported through the Edmonton Arts Councils Connections and Exchanges Initiatives Grant. Through this program, the Edmonton Arts Council provides project and initiative funding to organizations to activate the City of Edmonton’s 10 year plan, Connections and Exchanges.
------------
Featuring video work by Dana Justine Belcourt. Did It Hurt? shares a curatorial theme of care and tattooing with our main space exhibition, Take Care.
There are so many layers of care that go into giving or getting a tattoo. There’s care in the relationship between artist and the receiver, for the client’s wellbeing, for the artist’s self, their practice, the culture, and of course the care the client takes to heal their tattoo.
Did It Hurt? navigates self-perception, care, and grief. Told through a series of diaristic vignettes, the video captures fleeting, everyday moments, and presents them as worthy of attention, care, and celebration.
These moments focus on both landscape and body, with special attention to the west coast, hands, tattoos, and the blemishes of themselves and others as they illustrate heartache, tenderness, and healing from grief.
------------
Exhibition run: September 28 - December 7, 2024
Gallery Hours: 12pm-5pm, Wednesday to Saturday
Opening Reception: September 28, 5:00- 8:00 PM
Artist Talk: September 28, 6:00-7:00 PM
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Edmonton Arts Council.
------------
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dana Justine Belcourt (They/She) is a multidisciplinary mixed Cree/Métis artist from Amiskwaciwâskahikan, specializing in paintings, zines, and murals. Their work deals with themes of love, indigeneity, and relationships through symbolism, metaphors, and narratives. Their paintings tend to be focused on specific emotions and personal stories, while their murals and public pieces are often commemorating community experiences. Their zine work allows them to showcase their writing and journaling practice, which is emotive and sentimental. Overall, their pieces are highly personal, including small details and nuances which are elusive and secretive in nature. They hope for their work to be a lens into themselves, allowing others to see how they experience the world.
They’ve recently exhibited at Latitude 53 (2022), Emily Carr (2022, 2023), and Sâkêwêwak (2022), as well as completed murals in Edmonton (2021), and Vancouver (2022). They’re currently practicing on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They completed a BFA at Emily Carr in 2023, and are currently an artist in residence at Skwachays Lodge.
------------
ACCESSIBILITY
Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre is barrier-free and is equipped with a lift to reach upper floors and lower floor gallery. Single stall and wide stall washrooms available on every floor. Children are welcome! Change tables available in select washrooms.
ETS stops at 96 Street and Jasper Avenue 1 minute walking distance (Routes 2, 5, 111, 131), 95 Street and Jasper Avenue 5 minutes walking distance (Routes 1), 100 Street and Jasper Avenue 10 minutes walking distance (Central Station, routes 8, 130X, 150X, 201).
LRT Valley Line is a 1 minute walking distance (Quarters Station)
Street parking: 96 Street, Rate: Free parking, Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Saturday; 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sundays
Street parking: 101A Avenue, Rate: $2.00 / HR Monday to Friday; $1.00 / HR Saturday and Sunday, Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Saturday; 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sundays
Paid impark lots available down 101A Ave