Joanna McEwen

Our roads to recovery are going to be varied...
twisty, precipitous, slow, with unexpected revelations.

  • UNTITLED Fabric, News Paper, Ribbon, 29”x 31”

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Biography

Joanna McEwen was born in Parry Sound, ON. Both before and after completing an MFA at Norwich University in Vermont, USA in 1999, McEwen has been creating, teaching and exhibiting across Ontario.

“A considerable portion of my work is a record of select historical phenomena marking place, particularly the domestic mappings of place made by rural folk. I am particularly moved to record the banal of the daily; tasks completed by the hand, most often conditioned mechanical acts made by women as markers of place. A maker by trade, I am totally immersed in my materials and their particular physical properties. My most recent projects include the interiors of small rural Ontario churches; a series investigating aged and aging women and select images from Georgian Bay- where the earth bares her spine.”

petermcewen5@sympatico.ca

Statement

I am confident! My confidence is fuelled and energized by conversations and quiet actions occurring from one side of Canada to the other. These disparate actions are grounded in hope, respect, and growing ability to listen deeply! Having something to say, then speaking out and being heard is paramount. This lengthy, but steady process rests with us all! We can do this! Joanna McEwen.

Inspired by Mercedes Sandy  December 3-17 2022

A thought.... when you conceived and put together the first round of a Truth and Reconciliation wildfire project the extended environment around the Report and suggestions for Calls To Action were much different than they are today (as I see it)! Now we can see that our roads to recovery are going to be varied... twisty, precipitous, slow, with unexpected revelations, (residential school mass graves)! Our collective task is to remain committed to reconciliation and to the long struggle ahead of us! Quiet reminders... not letting any opportunity go by, no matter how trivial it may seem! Calling gently anyone to account who thinks reconciliation efforts are trivial, unnecessary and so on! That how we respond as individuals is as important as responding as a collective of like minded folks. This quagmire did not happen over night and we are not going to get through it with any speed either. Let’s get it right !
Love from Joanna xxxxx