WINNIPEG, MB – The University of Winnipeg’s Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies (IWGS) in partnership with local Métis artist Jaime Black proudly presents the inaugural and campus-wide installation of the REDress Project from March 7-12, 2011. This interdisciplinary on-campus art & education project aims to raise awareness surrounding the murders and disappearances of more than 600 Aboriginal women across Canada.
Extension of the Community-Building
“The installation of the REDress Project is a logical, and timely, extension of the community-building work that IWGS has been engaged in over the last several years with organizations such as the Coalition of Families of Missing and Murdered Women in MB, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Art Building Community symposium,” explained Kim Hunter, IWGS Projects and Events Coordinator. “IWGS continues to focus on the ways in which art can be used in tandem with education to address the issues that affect our communities.”
Along with the installation of 120+ dresses, IWGS is coordinating free events in conjunction with the project including daily tours of the installation, providing educational materials, supporting a movie screening as well as a panel of speakers. This project is designed to provide an environment for students, staff, faculty and the general public to learn through engagement through art, and to provide opportunities for conversation about the serious impact of this gendered and racialized violence on all of the peoples of Canada.
REDress Project EVENTS – all events open to the public:
Installation Tours (includes 8 installation locations)
All tours start at escalators, 1st floor Centennial Hall at UW
March 7 – 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
March 8 – 7:00 pm
March 9 – 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
March 10 – 12:30 and 4:00 pm
March 12 – 2:30 pm
Tuesday March 8
Free Cinema Politica screening of Finding Dawn
7:30 pm, Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, UWinnipeg (free childcare, snacks and bus tickets available).
Lisa Michell – advocate, activist and chairperson of the Women’s Memorial March of MB – will host a discussion after the film. IWGS, along with Ka Ni Kanichihk’s Aboriginal Women Reclaiming Our Power program (supported by Status of Women and Heritage Canada), are honoured to support the UWSA, UWSA Womyn’s Centre and Gallery 1C03 in the screening of this important film.
Wednesday March 9
REDress Panel Discussion
12:30 pm, Convocation Hall, UWinnipeg (Free, snacks available)
With REDress Project artist Jaime Black, filmmaker & activist Tina Keeper, volunteer for Amnesty International and member of the Stop Violence Against Aboriginal Women Action Group Lisa Forbes, and artist Leah Decter.
For more information about REDress events please contact Kim Hunter at iwgs@uwinnipeg.ca
