The installation of public art frequently initiates conversation and even polarizing debate about the role of art in community; the artworks, artists, curators, and institutions often face intense scrutiny and critique from a broad array of community voices that may otherwise not typically engage with contemporary art. With growing public and civic recognition of Indigenous assertions of territory and sovereignty, these instances and the subsequent discourse are further complicated.
What are the ‘limits’ of artistic freedom in regards to public art on Indigenous nations’ asserted territories? How have artists, curators, and institutions (whether galleries or cities/municipalities) navigated this terrain – and how is it shifting? How can Indigenous protocols, histories, and understandings of both place and relationality inform the development of public art projects?
Participating Speakers: Ange Loft and Kimberley Moulton.
