Native art heads to Canadian Embassy in Washington

An exhibit of Canadian aboriginal art is headed for the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C., designed to coincide with the opening of the new National Museum of the American Indian which will open in the U.S. capital later this month.

The Canada Council has pulled out a number of works from its Art Bank to be a part of the exhibit, which is called Dezhan ejan, after the phrase "medicine song" in the language of the Northern Tutchone people.

"The works from across Canada are so strong and pertinent, they will stand well beside the works to be showcased in the [new U.S. museum]," said Victoria Henry, director of the Art Bank and curator of the exhibit.

Henry said that selecting only 18 works from the Art Bank's collection of native art was a difficult task.

The collected artworks reflect and explore the themes of nature, spirituality and politics through painting, photography, sculpture and drawings. Among the artists featured in the exhibit are Anishnaabe artist Norval Morrisseau, Inuit artist Isaaci Etidloie, Connie Watts and Rande Cook from the Northwest Coast and other contemporary Native artists.

The free exhibit runs Sept. 23 to Nov. 27 at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. The artists will be present at the opening ceremonies on Sept. 23. The new U.S. museum opens on Sept. 21.