04 Aug Ruth Cuthand
Fellowship Artist
meet 2023 fellowship artist
Ruth Cuthand
Cultural Affiliation: Plains Cree
Cuthand was born on Treaty 6 Land, of Plains Cree and Scottish ancestry. She grew up in Alberta near the Blood Reserve, where at the age of eight she met artist Gerald Tailfeathers and decided that she too wanted to be an artist. Cuthand studied at the University of Regina in 1977 before completing her BFA at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon in 1983. She later pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Montana (1985), completing her MFA at the University of Saskatchewan (1992). She was instrumental in developing the first Aboriginal Art History courses at the University of Saskatchewan and until recent budget cuts to the First Nations University of Canada, taught Art and Art History at the Saskatoon Campus
learn about Athena’s focus on
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“(Artist statement from Matthew describing the overall purpose and meaning behind their body of work and chosen mediums.)”
The 1876 Indian Act was passed into law as a means to protect, civilize and assimilate the Indian population. Today it remains a barrier to improvement in First Nations standards of living and a paternalistic system of governance devoid of transparency. My personal experiences with this system are reflected in work that throughout my career has included `{`several`}` subjects: “white liberal” attitudes towards Aboriginal women, and the Canadian response to the 1990 Oka crisis. As well as Mormon-Native relations in Cardston, Alberta; the diseases that ravished First Nations upon European contact; and the deplorable living conditions in Indigenous communities that exemplify the social issues that have affected Canadian First Nations people`{`s`}`.
a glimpse of Ruth’s art
Athena’s artist
snapshot
Mediums
Pencil | Chalk | Oil Stick | Mixed Media
Homebase
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Interesting Fact
Self-taught