Mary Longman facts for kids

Mary Longman, born in 1964 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, is a talented Canadian artist. She is a member of the Gordon First Nation and has Saulteaux heritage. Her Indigenous name is Aski-Piyesiwiskwew. Mary Longman creates amazing sculptures, drawings, and paintings. Her art often explores important topics like culture, spirituality, and the environment. She also focuses on the experiences of Indigenous people and the effects of colonialism, which is when one country takes control over another. Her work helps people understand difficult parts of history, like the Sixties Scoop and residential schools.

Mary Longman's Art Career

Mary Longman is an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan. She teaches art and art history, specializing in Aboriginal Art History, sculpture, and drawing. Her artwork has been shown in many famous galleries across Canada. These include the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Her art has also traveled to international places like the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian in the United States.

What Her Art Is About

Mary Longman wants her art to show how past events, like colonialism, have affected Indigenous people. She says her goal is to "depict the psychological and social effects these views have upon people of First Nations, minority groups and the general public." Because of her Aboriginal background, she can look closely at how European ideas have influenced everyday life. She hopes her art helps people understand these effects and encourages new ways of thinking.

Ancestors Rising Sculpture

One of Mary Longman's important sculptures is called Ancestors Rising. The MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan, asked her to create this piece. It celebrates Saskatchewan's 100th anniversary and highlights the presence of First Nations people in Regina. On National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2006, the sculpture was officially revealed. You can see it in front of the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Wascana Park.

Art Inspired by Family History

Mary Longman's own family experiences have greatly influenced her art. Her mother, born in 1949, was sent to a residential school as a child. These schools were often difficult places for Indigenous children. Mary created a digital art work called Warrior Woman: Stop the Silence!! This piece was made to respond to her mother's experiences and to bring attention to the stories of residential school survivors.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Longman has received several important awards for her work. In 2000, she earned the Distinguished Alumni award from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. She was also a finalist for the Lieutenant Governor Award in the Saskatchewan Artist Award category in 2012. In 2015, she received the Provost Teaching Excellence Award in Aboriginal Education, recognizing her excellent teaching in Indigenous education.

Exhibitions of Her Work

Mary Longman's art has been featured in many solo exhibitions. Here are some of them:

• 2016 – Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective, Regina, Saskatchewan, Warrior women & selected works
• 2004 – Makenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, Mary Longman
• 2000 – Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Blood and Stones
• 1999 – Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, Saskdiaspora
• Waneuskwewin Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Blood and Stones
• 1996 – Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops, British Columbia, Traces
• 1995 – Neutral Ground, Regina, Saskatchewan, Coming Home
• 1988 – Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver, British Columbia, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing