Oct 13 & 14 – Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest
‘Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest’ (2010)
6.30pm, October 13th and 14th, 2010
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria,
Admission $13 (includes gallery admission)
Please note earlier start time: 6.30pm
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and OPEN CINEMA are proud to present the Victoria premiere of Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirits of the Forest, an evocative and moving portrait of the life and times of Emily Carr. Renowned Canadian filmmaker Michael Ostroff will be in attendance for a Q & A October 13th and for a panel discussion with key speakers October 14th. Winds of Heaven screens both nights at 6:30pm.
Winds of Heaven is an impressionistic exploration of the spirit that informed the solitary life of one of Canada’s most celebrated and irrepressible painters. Emily Carr began painting in an era when women didn’t, travelling to remote locations that few professional adventurers chose to go. Not only did she adopt the painting techniques of modernism, when such ideas were considered dangerous, Carr chronicled the extraordinary art and culture of native peoples, who were at the time invisible to the dominant culture.
The film disp els a number of myths about Carr’s life and her contradictory relationship with and attitude towards the First Nations people of the Northwest Coast of British Columbia. While she resisted the predominate white attitude of portraying natives as ‘savages’, devoid of cultural sensibilities, the film explores the critique of Carr that she did contribute to the “traffic of native images”. It also recalls the racism of the day – the Canadian government’s celebration of the ancient native arts and its determination to preserve the totem poles, while ironically advocating and implementing policies that were determined to assimilate First Nations people and eradicate their way of life and culture.
Please note earlier start time: 6.30pm
