Kevin McKenzie: ayîkisis ᐊᔩᑭᓯᐢ

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Kevin McKenzie, "Untitled (Hockey Gloves)," 2021

Kevin McKenzie: ayîkisis ᐊᔩᑭᓯᐢ

Nostalgia, ritual, and performances of masculinity pervade his oeuvre, with bison skulls lit in gaudy neon or painted up like hot rods, office attire rendered in materials indigenous to the Prairies, or, in his latest series, which will be featured in ayîkisis ᐊᔩᑭᓯᐢ, hockey gear made from sacred and traditional Indigenous media such as deer skin and elk rawhide.

In addition to the exhibition at the AGSM, McKenzie is currently working on a public art sculpture at Brandon University to honour Truth and Reconciliation. In collaboration with Broden Halcrow-Ducharme, a recent graduate of Assiniboine Community College and participant in the 2022 edition of CBC New Indigenous Voices, McKenzie and the AGSM will be producing a short documentary about the fabrication of this significant work.

About the upcoming exhibition at the AGSM, McKenzie said, “My work has always been autobiographical in nature, so I tend to be the most excited about the next thing I'm doing. It's been interesting to reflect on my past, recent, and future work coming together in one space. I am thrilled about exhibiting this work in Brandon, where I've learned so much from my community--my mentor Dr. Cathy Mattes and Knowledge Keeper Barb Blind.”

The opening reception for ayîkisis ᐊᔩᑭᓯᐢ will be held at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba on July 14th at 7:00 P.M., followed by a Lunch and Look with the artist on Friday, July 15th at 1:00 P.M. New to the AGSM, each Wednesday afternoon between 1 P.M. and 2 P.M., visitors to the gallery are invited to take part in an in-person tour of the Main Exhibition.

Kevin McKenzie is an assistant professor in the IshKaabatens Waasa Gaa Inaabateg Department of Visual and Aboriginal Art at Brandon University. During his thirty year art practice, he has exhibited across Turtle Island and internationally, including the National Gallery of Canada and the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institute. His practice juxtaposes sacred and ceremonial objects from Indigenous cultures with similar objects from colonial cultures.