Michael Belmore - REVEAL Indigenous Art Award Laureate

Micheal Belmore - photo courtesy of the artist

Michael Belmore receives the 2017 REVEAL Indegenous Art Award.

As part of its plans to increase support for Indigenous arts practice, The Hnatyshyn Foundation launched REVEAL Indigenous Art Awards to honour Indigenous Canadian artists working in all artistic disciplines. The comprehensive one-time program of awards and promotional activities, including 150 cash awards of $10,000 each awarded in 2017, will fuel the creation of new artistic works and leave a lasting cultural legacy.

The Awards are intended to recognize emerging and established Indigenous artists working in traditional or contemporary practices. The awards will be given in six artistic categories including dance, music, theatre, literature, film/video (media arts), and visual arts/fine craft.

A special event honouring the artists was held in Winnipeg on May 22nd, 2017.

Michael Belmore

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Michael Belmore has been a full time practicing artist since graduating from Ontario College of Art and Design in 1994. Belmore’s employment of a variety of materials and processes may at times seem disjointed, yet, the reality is that together his work and processes speak about the environment, about land, about water, and what it is to be Anishinaabe. Much of his practice has been exhibition-based but more recently he has been participating in artist residencies where he creates site-specific works that respond to the local environment. 

Seemingly small things, simple things, inspire his work; the swing of a hammer, the warmth of a fire, the persistence of waves on a shore. Through the insinuation of these actions, a much larger consequence is inferred. Materials have a voice, they speak a language, and they speak to each other. Through his work Belmore attempts to join in that conversation, offering a voice that speaks about the past and the future, about our connection to this island and to its ever-changing landscape.

Michael Belmore is a visual artist from Lac Seul First Nation living in Ottawa.