STRIKING SIMPLICITY
MICHEL SAINT HILAIRE
BY JOELLE KIDD
ACTS OF RECLAMATION
JAN-FEB
Two major exhibits at the Winnipeg Art Gallery explore the concept of land ownership through the intersection between Indigenous identity and sport . Boarder X features contemporary Indigenous artists from across Canada , drawing parallels between areas prohibiting snowboarding , or the surfer ’ s search for uncrowded waves , and the contested spaces of politics , identity , and land . Presented alongside this exhibit , Vernon Ah Kee : cantchant engages with territorial disputes centred around Australia ’ s beaches . Traditional Aboriginal designs and colours turn surfboards into works of cultural meaning . 300 Memorial Blvd , 204‐786‐6641 , Map 1 : P‐3
STRIKING SIMPLICITY
TO FEB 1 The Through Her Eyes Photography Collective presents an exhibit of black and white minimalist photography at the Wayne Arthur Gallery . Dramatically reduced design elements create imagery that is striking and thoughtprovoking , imbuing everyday items with unfamiliar beauty . 186 Provencher Blvd , 204‐477‐5249 , Map 1 : P‐6
Artist Spotlight
MICHEL SAINT HILAIRE
If you ’ ve wandered the streets of Winnipeg , you ’ ve likely seen some of Michel Saint Hilaire ’ s work . An accomplished muralist , the Winnipeg artist also creates arresting contemporary pieces that blend seemingly disparate media , inspiration , style , and emotion into an incredible whole .
Michel found his calling in grade school and spent years honing his ability , drawing floor plans of houses and classic cars , a precursor to the architecturally influenced style of his later work . After two years of University training in Fine Arts , where he was taught by renowned Winnipeg artist Ivan Eyre , he began selling his art and painting murals full time .
Though he originally worked solely in pencil , Michel now blends media , usually pencil and acrylic , to create a layered effect punched with contemporary flourishes of line and colour .
His latest work was inspired by a 3 week residency in Moncton , NB , during which time he painted roughly 20 portraits of community members . He became enthralled with the unique qualities and complexity of faces , and set out to recreate the experiment with Winnipeg muses . The resulting exhibit , which begins in January , originally featured members of the city ’ s French speaking arts community , but has evolved to include portraits of famous figures , a mannequin , and the likeness of reclusive photographer Vivian Meier , whose work was recently discovered posthumously . “ I started from a place of nurturing my home and community ,” says Michel , “ Then expanded to painting people that I don ’ t know , then to pieces that touch on global and environmental issues .”
Michel ’ s collection of portraits will be exhibited at La Galerie inside the Centre Culturel Franco- Manitobain from January 26 . 340 Provencher Blvd , 204‐233‐8972 , monmichel . com , Map 1 : P-6
PHOTOGRAPHY ; VERNON AH KEE : CANTCHANT COURTESY WINNIPEG ART GALLERY ; NANCY KERR - DROP SHADOW , COURTESY WAYNE ARTHUR GALLERY ; PHOTO COURTESY MICHEL SAINT HILAIRE
8 where . ca JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017