Fire creates its own wind
Melissa Tremblett
June 23th - August 25th
This exhibiton provides an overview of the work of Elmastwek (Bay of Islands) based artist Mellissa Tremblett. Tracing an arc of practice that draws on a variety of artistic strategies propelled by matrilineal connection to decolonize and speak truth to institutional power. Tremblett’s practice is intuitive and fearless, drawing on her cultural exploration and recovery to combat colonial trauma.
fire creates its own wind points to answers, metaphorically and materially. In her work Proclomation elevated and adhered to the walls of the institution, hand painted onto the surfaces that support teaching and learning, etched using the ashes of memorials to lost Indigenous children. An alumna of the Visual Arts program at Grenfell Campus, Tremblett’s practice speaks truth to institutional power, of persistent decolonization in the face of resistance to change. Her practice, as an Innu artist who works full-time in addition to maintaining a nationally engaged practice, Tremblett’s is acutely subjected to the forces of colonial capitalism
this prompts the question what actions can be taken to support this process?
Forces of colonial capitalism are exerted on an innu artist
Artist Bio
Melissa Tremblett (she/her) is a visual artist of Innu and English heritage from the community of Sheshatshiu, Labrador. Currently based in Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk territory (Bay of Islands, western Newfoundland), Tremblett works with installation, performance, and photography, as well as traditional techniques of doll making and beading to explore identity, community and transmission of knowledge.
Within her art practice, she uses both strong visuals and subtle details to entice the viewer to step closer. By blurring voyeurism and curiosity, Tremblett’s work can create a sense of dis-ease and discomfort in her audiences. Tremblett acknowledges the necessity of discomfort and art to her own personal growth. Working in these liminal spaces means her work also considers the importance of reducing barriers to for safe, non-judgemental dialogue about such topics as: the transmission of knowledge; connection to land; contemporary Indigenous realities; family; identity; and, vulnerability.
Melissa completed a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience (2011) and a BFA in Visual Arts (2015) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has shown her work nationally and abroad in such venues as The Rooms, St. John’s; Government House, St. John’s; Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL; Grenfell Art Gallery, Corner Brook, NL; Tina Dolter Gallery, Corner Brook; and Gatehouse Arts, Essex; as well as site-specific performances through the Mealy Mountains of Labrador; Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland; the Art Gallery of Ontario; and the British Museum, London.
Melissa has been the recipient of honours such as Emerging Artist for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (2019), longlisted for the Scotiabank New Generation Photography Award (2019), Corner Brook Emerging Artist of the Year (2018), and a Professional Project Grant from Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (2017). Her photographs are published in Tracing Ochre: Changing Perspectives on the Beothuk, University of Toronto Press, 2018; and Tshaukuesh Elizabeth Penashue, Nitinikiau Innusi: I Keep the Land Alive, University of Manitoba Press, 2019.
