Exhibition Tour

Many visitors enjoyed an informal tour of the James Henderson exhibition that took place Sunday, September 27. Curators Dan Ring and Neal McLeod were joined by Henderson expert James Lanigan, and researcher Linda Many Guns for a stimulating and insightful afternoon. For your convenience, the conversation has been separated into parts. Click on the links below to listen to the audio recording. The audio is in mp3 format and will play automatically in your browser’s default media player.

Part 1 (17m 29s)

Dan Ring offers insight into the life and work of James Henderson, exploring his influences and situating his practice in a National art context. James Lanigan refers to a “suite” of Henderson landscape paintings titled, October in the Valley, to illustrate Henderson’s working method in the studio.

Part 2 (8m 58s)

Using the Portrait of Shot Both Sides as a starting point, Linda Many Guns reveals the history of the noted Blackfoot leader and the history of his people.

Part 3 (9m 05s)

Neal Mcleod outlines the historical context of Henderson’s work from an indigenous perspective and reflects on the connection between the Henderson portraits and indigenous memory. Dan Ring and James Lanigan muse on the portrait of Standing Buffalo, one of Henderson’s early portraits and the individual who bestowed upon Henderson the title of Wicite Owapi Wicasa.

Part 4 (5m 42s)

Neal Mcleod provides some information on the process of painting the portraits. He shares information uncovered through his research about Eliza Rider and Oho Owasis.

Part 5 (4m 22s)

James Lanigan outlines the history and provenance of the Portrait of Sitting Bull.

Part 6 (8m 53s)

Linda Many Guns offers insight into the portraits, commenting on the images in regards to historical accuracy and shares stories about the history and exploits of such notable Blackfoot leaders as Crowfoot, Many Chiefs, Big Kidney, Sun Walk, and Weasel Calf.

Part 7 (15m 08s)

The group responds to questions from the public and touch on a range of topics including the University of Saskatchewan commission, portraiture, and the humourous adventures on horseback while conducting research in the Qu’appelle valley.