By Alexandra Shimo, Mississauga News. Monday, May 1, 2023
Artist Jaime Black-Morsette created REDress Project — an art installation of red dresses
Acclaimed Indigenous artist Jaime Black-Morsette is known across Canada and the United States for her public art. She’ll be talking about her installations in a speech given to the Mississauga Public Library on Thursday, May 4, at 7 p.m.
The talk will be accompanied by an exhibition of red dresses as part of Black-Morsette’s REDress project, which will be on display until Thursday, June 15, the City of Mississauga said in a news release.
The REDress Project is an art installation of red dresses created by Black-Morsette, a multidisciplinary artist of mixed Anishinaabe and Finnish descent.
Since 2011, red dresses have been hung in public spaces as a symbol of the more than one thousand murdered and missing women. The colour red was chosen because in Indigenous spirituality, that is the colour that the spirits can see.
“Indigenous women face higher rates of violence than any other cultural group in Canada” said Jodi Robillos, commissioner of Community Services. “As we commemorate National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People, we are honoured to feature this powerful exhibition by talented Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette in our city.”
“The REDress Project helps raise awareness about the thousands of Indigenous women and girls across Canada who have gone missing or were murdered and highlights the disproportionate violence that this group faces,” said Robillos. “It is a powerful reminder of an important national issue.”
The empty red dresses have been exhibited across Canada and the United States. On her website, she explained why.
“I’ve collected hundreds of red dresses and we display them in empty and public spaces, so people are confronted with the violence that women are experiencing, and the presence and power of Indigenous women.”
This talk at the library will be moderated by Diane Thomas Black, an Indigenous activist and artist. Registration to the free event is required.
