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A close photo of a necklace with multiple coloured beads consisting of red, blue and yellow. There is a blue gem and black strings attached to the necklace.
Curated by

Shauna McCabe

“Why am I not seeing beaded masks anywhere?” It was a question that Métis artists Nathalie Bertin and Lisa Shepherd both pondered in April 2020. The coronavirus pandemic was affecting people around the world, and they wanted to explore how traditionally crafted masks were being used as a way of expressing this time. Inviting artists to design beaded masks emerging from their experiences as they navigated changing COVID-19 conditions, they launched a Facebook group simply called “Breathe.” to facilitate image sharing. Within two weeks membership had grown to over 1500.

The second touring exhibition emerging from the Breathe. project, this iteration includes 44 masks that speak to both cultural resilience and strength of community in the face of a pandemic. Acknowledging the global impact of the virus, the initiative has encompassed the mask designs of any artist working with traditional beadwork techniques as well as an array of other materials and methods, creating space for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.

Image detail: Naomi Smith (Chippewas of Nawash), Oh, Let Me Be Free…, 2021, glass beads, crystals, vintage glass, cotton velveteen, deer hide, cotton sheeting, fabric foundation, metal pieces, beading thread. Collection of the artist.


Gallery

Joeann Argue
Spirit of the Bear
Close up image of a beaded mask with pink strands and floral patterns on a tan backdrop
Crystal Behn-Dettieh
Wisdom
Nathalie Bertin
Finding the Acorns
Nathalie Bertin
She Who Brings the Light
Cynthia Boehm
Wisdom
Sheryl Boivin
yandyaˀwish tewonnhe (Turtle protector)
Dianne Brown-Green
The Roost
Dianne Brown-Green
Invisible Scars
Teresa Burrows
Howl: wildest of the wild
Lisa Carlin
Beaded Pandemic Mask
Michel Dumont
Amethyst Crystal Mask
Close up image of a mask with red string attached and tiny mirrors attached to the blue background and having blue, red and yellow strings with little bells attached
Isabella Falashoka
Noktiipa; Mask for the Infected
Eliza Firth
Fanny Rose
Marcy Friesen
Self Care
Marcy Friesen
Mourning Mask
Amanda Hageman (Burke)
Pandemic Dualism
Beaded stamp against purple background with writing DOUBLE DOWN and a blue medical mask in the middle surrounded by blue and white flowers
Jessica Hiebert
Double Down
Jessica Hiebert
Médicine
Vanessa Hyggen
Moth Mask
Christina Kappas Dufrene
Tribute to Athena
Marlene Kelly
Kiskisiwin (the act of remembering)
Close up image of a beaded mask with yellow, red and black ribbon on the sides and beadworks of black bears and trees on the base of the mask with the backdrop being light brown
Marlene Kelly
Journey Through the Medicine Wheel
Don Kwan
Pandemic Mask, Covid 19 Series
Don Kwan
Luncheon Special, Pandemic Mask, Covid 19 Series
Lynette La Fontaine
Untitled (mask with lace)
Marsha Lafferty
Northern Lights: naka, nàaka
Close up image of a leather tan mask with metal spikes in the middle of the mask going vertically
Erik Lee
Indigenous Punk Rock Road Warrior Mask
Sherry Lickers
Strawberry & Turtle
Candace Longjohn-Constant
ᐸᐢᒁᗞ ᑕᐸᑵᗞ ᐃᐢᑵᓯᐢ Prairie Rabbit Snaring Girl
Brandi Murray
Peacock feather mask
Fance Poliquin
Métamorphose
Close up image of a beaded mask with yellow ribbons coming out the side and a purple and yellow flower against a baby blue backdrop
France Poliquin
The Purple Dome Bouquet
Carolina Reis
Protest Masks (collection of 4 masks)
Naomi Smith
Oh, Let Me Be Free...
Lisa Shepard
Legami Familiari, un Mondo a Parte (Family Ties, a World Apart)
Taalrumiq (Christina King)
The Bounty of Our Land
Close up image of a beaded mask with white strands at the bottom with a white border surrounding black and white floral patterns and two black ribbons coming out the sides
Terri Thomas
Gray Areas
Cheryl Trudeau
Women's mask "Speaking but not heard"
Cheryl Trudeau
MMIW Butterfly
Louise Vien
Medicine Shield
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Artists

Joeann Argue
Crystal Behn-Dettieh
Nathalie Bertin
Cynthia Boehm
Sheryl Boivin
Dianne Brown-Green
Teresa Burrows
Lisa Carlin
Michel Dumont
Isabella Falashoka
Eliza Firth

Marcy Friesen
Amanda Hageman (Burke)
Jessica Hiebert
Vanessa Hyggen
Christina Kappas Dufrene
Marlene Kelly
Don Kwan
Lynette La Fontaine
Marsha Lafferty
Erik Lee
Sherry Lickers

Candace Longjohn-Constant
Brandi Murray
France Poliquin
Carolina Reis
Naomi Smith
Lisa Shepherd
Taalrumiq (Christina King)
Terri Thomas
Cheryl Trudeau
Louise Vien


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