Lecture by Dr. Jessica Metcalfe

Gallery 1C03 proudly presents

"Threads of Power: Native Designers of High Fashion and Clothing as a Form of Resistance"

A public lecture by Dr. Jessica Metcalfe

Friday, October 14, 12:30 p.m.
Room 2C14 (2^nd floor of Centennial Hall)
The University of Winnipeg
Free Admission

This public lecture is presented as part of Gallery 1C03’s current programming initiative The Ephemerals: Trending. Trending began as a four-day performative embedment on The University of Winnipeg campus by The Ephemerals, an all-female Aboriginal collective of artists and curators. By inserting themselves into the university community, The Ephemerals have explored the trend of Indigenously-influenced clothing and accessories among post-secondary students, encouraging a critical reading of fashion as codified text and highlighting the need for a deeper awareness of its cultural implications. Further supporting this project is an ongoing intervention in the public display windows of the university’s Anthropology Museum, drawing from and responding to the Anthropology Department’s Ethnographic Collection, as well as a blog.

In her lecture “Threads of Power: Native Designers of High Fashion and Clothing as a Form of Resistance”, Dr. Metcalfe will discuss how Native American fashion designers from different generations use clothing as a form of communication and as a way to continue age-old clothing practices, deconstruct stereotypes, subvert the mainstream fashion industry and create new opportunities for Native youth. Dr. Metcalfe’s presentation highlights the work of Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), Wendy Ponca (Osage), Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo) and various Native American streetwear artists.

Dr. Jessica R. Metcalfe (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) earned her Ph.D. in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. She previously served as managing editor and contributor to Red Ink Magazine, and has taught courses in Native American Studies, Studio Art, Art History, Literature and Anthropology at tribal colleges and state universities. Her current work focuses on Native fashion design. She has presented at numerous national conferences, lectured at various museums and co-curated several exhibitions.

Gallery 1C03 gratefully acknowledges financial support of The University of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Arts Council for making this program possible. We are also grateful for the support of Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Image: Wendy Ponca (Osage), Ceremonial Attitude for the New Millennium, 1996, mylar, feathers and body paint. Courtesy of the artist.