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Lori Blondeau, The Lonely Surfer Squaw, 1997 (durotrans on light box). Image Courtesy of the Artist
Lori Blondeau, The Lonely Surfer Squaw, 1997 (durotrans on light box). Image Courtesy of the Artist.

Respondent Series | An Artist Talk by Lori Blondeau

November 16, 2017 – 7pm


Please join us for a talk by cherished artist, Lori Blondeau on Thursday, November 16 at 7pm. In conjunction with our current exhibition Entering the Landscape, we present this talk by an artist known for her astute use of pop cultural aesthetics paired with searing political commentary and cultural parody.

As a prominent artist, and founding member of the collective TRIBE, Blondeau’s impact on the artistic production and discourse in Canada is enduring. This talk will offer an in depth look at her work, which often looks at the influence of popular media and culture on Indigenous self-identity, self-image, and self-definition.

Blondeau’s work focuses on the impact of colonization on Indigenous women. The Lonely Surfer Squaw, currently on display for Entering the Landscape, is part of a larger body of work that deconstructs racist pop-cultural images – specifically the ‘Indian princess’ and ‘Squaw’. To this end, Blondeau creates absurd hybrid characters placed in classic poses, referencing mainstream pin-up or cover girls. This work interrupts the constructed stereotype of Indigenous women and refers to the damages of colonialism and the ironic pleasures of displacement and resistance.

Lori Blondeau is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in performance and photography. She is Cree/Saulteaux/Metis from Saskatchewan, her mother is Cree/Saulteaux from George Gordon First Nation, located in Treaty 4, and her late father was Metis from Lebret, Saskatchewan. Blondeau holds an MFA from the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to her extensive exhibition history, Blondeau is co-founder of the Indigenous artist collective, TRIBE, and has sat on the Advisory Panel for Visual Arts for the Canada Council for the Arts. Blondeau has exhibited and performed nationally and internationally including the Banff Centre; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon; Open Space, Victoria; FOFA, Montreal. In 2007, Blondeau was part of the Requickening project with artist Shelly Niro at the Venice Biennale and recently had a solo exhibition at Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery, Winnipeg.


This talk is programmed in conjunction with Entering the Landscape (October 1 to December 31, 2017) 

Pia Arke • Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory  • Jaime Black • Lori Blondeau • A.K. Burns • The Ephemerals • Melissa General • Rebecca Horn • Katherine Hubbard • Maria Hupfield • Simone Jones •  Tau Lewis • Amy Malbeuf  • Meryl McMaster  •  Ana Mendieta • Natalie Purschwitz • Dominique Rey • Jamie Ross • Xaviera Simmons • Ming Wong • Alize Zorlutuna

Entering the Landscape is a contemplative group exhibition featuring twenty-one artists from Canada, the USA, Denmark, and Berlin. Working in film and video, photography, sculpture, and performance these artists represent a breadth of politicized contemporary and iconic historical works that place the female or queer body in the landscape. Bringing together artworks that conceptually and aesthetically overlap, this exhibition identifies and considers a persistent motif in contemporary art.


All public programming is free and open to the public. Everyone welcome!


Plug In ICA extends our gratitude to our generous donors, valued members and dedicated volunteers. With special thanks to our Director’s Circle.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council. We thank the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for their support of our 2016 and 2017 program, as well as Payworks and Wawanesa Insurance for the direct support of our youth programs.

Plug In ICA relies on community support to remain free and accessible to all, and enable us to continue to present excellent programs. Please consider becoming a member of Plug In ICA and a donor at https://plugin.org/supportor by contacting Angela Forget: angela@plugin.org

For media inquiries please contact: Sarah Nesbitt at sarah@plugin.org or by telephone at (204) 942-1043.