Summer Institute II: Indigenous Architectures | Panel Discussion | Cheyenne Thomas, Ryan Gorrie, and David Thomas. Moderated by Joar Nango
Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art | 1, 460 Portage Ave | Winnipeg MB | Canada
Thursday, August 8, 2019 – 6pm
Plug In ICA is pleased to present a panel discussion between Cheyenne Thomas, Ryan Gorrie, and David Thomas moderated by Joar Nango in conjunction with the Summer Institute II: Indigenous Architectures. Each speaker will give a brief overview of their respective practice and speak to Indigenous urbanisms, architectures and landscape design projects in the city of Winnipeg and beyond.
Cheyenne Thomas is an Anishinaabe designer from Peguis and Sagkeeng First Nations. She graduated in 2013 from the Faculty of Architecture with an Environmental Design degree. She has worked on numerous Indigenous architecture, landscape, and installations across Canada. She is a facilitator and designer for the Indigenous Gardens at the Assiniboine Park. She has presented in London, New Zealand, and extensively across Canada. Currently, Thomas is a board member for The Forks and The Forks North Portage Partnership, and passionate about bringing her people’s visions and values into her projects.
Ryan Gorrie has been collaborating with Brook McIlroy since 2009, when he was retained as a key member of the design team for the award-winning Spirit Garden in Thunder Bay, and formally joined the firm in 2016 to lead the Indigenous Design Studio. Ryan is a member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation on Lake Nipigon) and strives to ensure the perpetuation of Indigenous culture through creative opportunities ranging from the crafting of traditional items for ceremonial use to large-scale landmark architecture. In 2018, Ryan’s work was showcased in UNCEDED: Voices of the Land at the Venice Biennale along with the work of 17 other Indigenous architects and designers across Turtle Island.
David Thomas is Anishinaabe, a member of Peguis First Nation, in the architecture profession for over 20 years. He is currently involved in the development of the Indigenous People’s Garden at Assiniboine Park part of Canada’s Diversity Garden. Along with Indigenous architecture projects and installations in Toronto and Vancouver, David has presented in New Zealand and the UK. David was also on the team of UNCEDED, Canada’s entry of Indigenous Architects for the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. David’s practice, process and research focus on identity and lived experiences as an Indigenous person.
Our 2019 Summer Institute II: Indigenous Architectures is lead by Joar Nango, who is joined by Lorraine Albert, Carrie Allison, Albyn Carias, Julie Gendron, Alicia Marie Lawrence, David Peters, and Evan Taylor for a collaborative two week session that will focus on Indigenous architectures, foregrounding Indigenous approaches to design and alternative models of social space.
Summer Institute II: Indigenous Architectures | Panel Discussion | Cheyenne Thomas, Ryan Gorrie, and David Thomas. Moderated by Joar Nango August 8th 2019.
He is represented by Catriona Jefferies, Vancouver.
Raymond Boisjoly, Artist Talk. Summer Institute 2019, Indigenous Architectures.
Chris Cornelius is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the founding principal of studio:indigenous, a design practice serving Indigenous clients. Cornelius was a collaborating designer with Antoine Predock on the Indian Community School of Milwaukee, and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the inaugural Miller Prize from Exhibit Columbus, a 2018 Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Award, and an artist residency from the National Museum of the American Indian. Cornelius has exhibited widely, including at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Chris Cornelius Artist Talk. Summer Institute August 13, 2019, Indigenous Architectures.