Skeena Reece facts for kids

Skeena Reece (born 1974) is a talented Canadian First Nations artist. She uses many different ways to create art, like performance art, writing songs, and making videos. Skeena Reece is from the Cree, Tsimshian, Gitksan, and Métis peoples.

About Skeena Reece's Life

Skeena Reece was born in 1974. Her mother, Cleo Reece, was an activist for Indigenous rights. Her father, Victor Reece, was a famous carver. Skeena studied art at Northwest Community College and later at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She has been making art since 1996. Today, she lives and works on Vancouver Island. She has also helped manage art groups. For example, she was a director for the Indigenous Media Arts Group.

What Kind of Art Does Skeena Reece Make?

Skeena Reece is known for making art that talks about important issues. Her work often explores the effects of colonialism on Indigenous communities. She especially focuses on the experiences of Indigenous women. Her art sometimes makes people think deeply and challenges their ideas.

The Sacred Clown and Trickster Figures

Skeena Reece often connects her art to the idea of a "sacred clown." This is a figure from Hopi culture who teaches important lessons in surprising ways. She also uses ideas from trickster figures like Coyote and Raven. These figures are often seen as playful but also very wise.

Raven on the Colonial Fleet Performance

In her 2010 performance called Raven on the Colonial Fleet, Skeena Reece wore special clothing. This clothing included a corset, skirt, and a blanket with designs from traditional Northwest Coast Aboriginal Art. She also wore a feathered headdress. This type of headdress is usually worn by men from Plains cultures. By wearing it, Skeena Reece made a statement about gender roles. Her clothes also had images of grenades and mythological figures. These images showed her as a strong "fe/male warrior" fighting against colonial violence. She performed this piece at a big art show in Sydney, Australia, called the 17th Biennale.

It's not TV, It's Indians! Performance

In 2008, Skeena Reece performed at the National Museum of the American Indian. She dressed as a nurse and asked the audience if they wanted to share feelings about being a "colonizer." Another artist then painted one of Columbus's ships on a large board. Skeena Reece talked about how Indigenous people are shown on TV. She saw the painting as a way to show how white people have written their own history.

Art About Care and Healing

Skeena Reece's art also explores themes of caring and healing. She focuses on how people can come together and make things right.

Touch Me Video Art

Her 2013 video, Touch Me, is a good example. In this video, Skeena Reece bathes another artist, Sandra Semchuk. Sandra Semchuk starts to cry, and Skeena Reece comforts her. This film was inspired by Skeena's own parents. They both went to Canadian Residential Schools. These schools caused a lot of pain for Indigenous families. The video shows an act of connection and care. It reminds us that everyone needs care in their lives.

Savage Short Film

Skeena Reece also acted in a short film called "Savage." This film was also about residential schools. It won several awards, including a 2010 Genie award for Best Short Film.

Moss Bags as Symbols of Care

Recently, Skeena Reece has made adult-sized moss bags. These are like swaddle bags used for babies. They represent the care that families give to new members. They also remind us that we always need care and support.

Art Shows and Performances

Skeena Reece's art has been shown in many places. Here are some of her exhibitions and performances:

• 2019 – Surrounded: Skeena Reece, Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2018 – Sweetgrass and Honey, Plug In ICA, Winnipeg and at the Comox Valley Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• 2017 – Moss, Oboro Gallery, Montreal, Canada
• 2015 – The Sacred Clown and Other Strangers, Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• 2013 – Witnesses: Art and Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2012 – BEAT NATION: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture, Vancouver Art Gallery, British Columbia, Canada
• 2012 – Like a Boss, The Power Plant, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2011 – Acting Out, Claiming Space, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
• 2010 – The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age, 17th Biennale of Sydney
• 2009 – Please Do Not Disturb, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2009 – Vampyre Love Ball, LIVE Biennale, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2008 – UBC Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2008 – It’s not TV, It’s Indians!, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC, United States

Awards Skeena Reece Has Won

Skeena Reece has received several awards for her amazing art:

• 2017 – The Hnatyshyn Foundation, REVEAL: Indigenous Arts Award
• 2014 – VIVA Award, 2014
• 2012 – British Columbia Creative Achievement Foundation, Award for First Nations Art