Mary Longman facts for kids

Mary Longman, born in 1964 in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, is a talented Canadian artist. She is from the Saulteaux people, part of the Gordon First Nation. Her Aboriginal name is Aski-Piyesiwiskwew. Mary is well-known for her sculptures, drawings, and paintings. Her art often looks at important topics like politics, culture, spirituality, and the environment. She explores issues related to the experiences of Indigenous people and the effects of colonialism, including events like the Sixties Scoop and residential schools.

Mary Longman's Art Career

Mary Longman is a professor at the University of Saskatchewan. She teaches art and art history, focusing on Aboriginal Art History, sculpture, and drawing. Her artwork has been shown in many important Canadian galleries. These include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of Civilization, and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Her art has also traveled to international places. It has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian in the United States.

What Mary Longman's Art Is About

Mary Longman has explained what she hopes to achieve with her art. She wants to show how certain historical views have affected Indigenous people. She also aims to highlight how these views impact minority groups and the general public.

Because of her Aboriginal background, she can closely examine these ideas. She understands how past and present Indigenous voices speak about these experiences. Her main goal is to help people understand these effects. She hopes her art can bring about a much-needed change in how people think.

Important Sculptures and Influences

One of Longman's sculptures, called Ancestors Rising, is very special. The MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan, asked her to create it. This sculpture celebrates Saskatchewan's 100th birthday. It also shows the strong presence of First Nations people in Regina's art scene.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2006, Ancestors Rising was revealed. It stands proudly in front of the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Wascana Park.

Mary Longman's own family experiences have greatly influenced her work. Her mother was born in 1949 and was forced to attend a residential school as a child. These were special schools that Indigenous children were made to attend, which caused a lot of pain and cultural loss.

Longman created a digital artwork called Warrior Woman: Stop the Silence!! This piece was made in response to her mother's difficult experiences.

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 Saskatchewan in 2012. In 2015, she received the Provost Teaching Excellence Award in Aboriginal Education.

Exhibitions

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• 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

Sources

• Dales, Jennifer. (2010-01-10). "Landmarks of time and place: The art of Mary Longman" Rabble.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
• "Mary Longman" University of Saskatchewan College of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
• "Mary Longman"^[Usurped!] Aboriginal Curatorial Collective (ACC). Retrieved 2016-02-28.
• "Dr. Mary Longman MFA ‘93" NSCAD University Alumni & Friends. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
• [1]Mary Longman: Transposing Perspectives Mendel Art Gallery, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-896359-75-5