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DOWNSTREAM WHERE THE WATERS MIX


New Westminster Museum’s newest exhibition, titled “Downstream Where the Waters Mix” a season of “Honouring Our Grandmother’s Healing Journey”, is a multi-year movement. Curated by lead visionary artist, Nadine Spence, the project connects artists and Indigenous communities across B.C. through culture, arts and ceremony to restore relationships between generations with the water, lands and wild salmon. Featuring bentwood chests and boxes, woven blankets, carving, art, and regalia, this exhibition focuses on personal, family, and community healing journeys in a safe and respectful space that does not oppress the truth and realities of Indigenous Peoples of the past or in the present day.

Click here to watch Nadine Spence and NWMA Curator, Michelle, walk through the galleries and speak about the exhibition.

Programs associated with this exhibition:

Indigenous Art in Cultural Spaces: A Round Table Discussion (16+ years)

Join artists, curators, and supporters of the exhibition, Downstream Where the Waters Mix. Discuss the featured works and reflect on historic and working relationships between Indigenous artists and museums, galleries, and cultural centres. Light refreshments provided.

Topics:
  • The unique practice, work, and perspective of each speaking artist.
  • Historic and working relationships between Indigenous artists and museums, galleries, and cultural centres.
  • Meaning and impact of featuring Indigenous art in cultural spaces.
  • Historic and present-day role of museums in documenting community, identity, and history, including within the New Westminster context.
At this gathering, consider a larger goal to improve relationships between Indigenous artists, culture carriers, knowledge keepers, peoples of the lands, and those organizations or institutions who feature them. What and who is truly required to improve these relationships? The group will also think about the future of Honouring Our Grandmothers Healing Journey as living and breathing art and history. Listen, ask questions, meet the artists, and visit the exhibition to contextualize the discussion.
 
Speakers, Facilitators & Supporters:
Carrielynn Victor, Artist
Nadine Spence, Artist and Exhibition Curator
Atheana Picha, Artist
Michelle Taylor, City Curator
Rita Wong, Artist
Ronnie Dean Harris, Artist
Rebeca Salas, City Cultural Heritage Supervisor
 
Anvil Centre Ground Floor

Sunday, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
October 6
Registration Fee: Free
Course ID 215250

Please note this is an in-person, and live stream event with a Zoom link available for those who cannot attend the discussion in person: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/61153460348


The Grandmothers Canoe Journey: Film Screening and Discussion (16+ years)

From Cheam to Sapperton Landing, follow a special cedar chest on an interconnected journey of wild salmon and Indigenous peoples. Talk with the filmmakers of Love Intersections Society, visionary lead Nadine Spence, Downstream Where the Waters Mix exhibition artists, and local supporters to honour Indigenous women, who despite colonial harms, persist in healing with the lands and waters.
Anvil Centre Theatre (604.527.4640)
Sunday, 6:00-8:30 pm
November 24
Registration Fee: FREE
RSVP to museum@newwestcity.ca 

MEET LEE SING YEN

Gallery 2 (Anvil Centre)

Opening July 1 2023

On July 1, 1923, the Canadian government passed a law designed to stop Chinese immigration to Canada.  Over the next 24 years, only 14 new Chinese immigrants were allowed into Canada.  To commemorate this event, we invite you to meet Lee Sing Yen – an ordinary person who lived in New Westminster for 50 years and endured the consequences of Canada’s historic, anti-Chinese legislation.