What makes the Allen Sapp Gallery unique?
This is the only public gallery named after a living artist in Canada. By having done that we were able to achieve many of the things that we otherwise could never have done. You can't do what we've done as a commercial gallery, because your motive is to sell work. Our motive isn't to sell art, our motive is to actually take the profound insights, the extraordinary vision that this man brings and the cultural history that he depicts through his work and share it with all Canadians. This community has done something that no other community in Canada has done, is that an important thing? You bet it is. Because usually we wait until people are dead to honour them, and then we have a lousy job doing that. This initiative, this gallery has played a huge role in setting an example in so many ways.
Could the Allen Sapp Gallery have been as successful anywhere else?
There was discussion apparently, at one point, about the collection going to the Museum of Civilization. And my answer is, 'absolutely not.' The value of culture is that it's situated in the home to which it belongs. People come here because Allen was born here, he was raised here, his people are here. The depiction of the people that he renders allows people to see these windows and experience this timeless element that he's created. And they walk out of these doors here, and they realize that this is part of the rich culture and history. So there's no question in my mind about the importance of this gallery having been put here as opposed to somewhere else. It's unquestionable. His work in Saskatoon or Regina would have been misplaced, and certainly any further beyond would have been ridiculous.
Did you know the current exhibit, Inspired by the Land, would be your last?
I knew it was going to be the last serious curatorial work that I would be doing before I left here because Inspired by the Land, like Through the Eyes of the Cree, has taken years to develop. It's not just a simple sort of expose or exhibition on Allen. This is an extension of Through the Eyes of the Cree, where we have brought in the ideas and the voices of other people to allow the audience to more deeply experience the significance of Cree culture, allowing Allen's work and the work of other artists, the work of other elders, and in this case the work of scientists to come together and to explore ideas that help bridge the cultural gap.
With this exhibit's focus on reliance and connectivity to the land, was it strange seeing people's reaction to the movie Avatar?
There's lots of controversy surrounding Avatar, but to some extent, this exhibition is why Avatar has social relevance to a lot of people. See, 125 years ago, First Nations traditional worldviews were considered obstacles to progress. They were considered backwards; they were considered problems with respect to modernization. We have, over the last century, come face to face with the reality that we have real problems with sustainability and people all over the globe are recognizing that maybe indigenous worldviews had more to teach us than western civilization was prepared to recognize. I think there's been a real sobering that's gone on in terms of our recognition of how we treat the land and how we treat people. When we don't really respect the many different worldviews that are out there, we don't respect the richness and the bounty that we have, and there will be consequence to that. So to some extent, the reason why we think this exhibition is important to people is the reason why there's so much buzz around Avatar.
What has working at the Allen Sapp Gallery taught you about art?
Many of us who have never been outside of the worldview that we're born into, that we're acculturated into, don't understand that we can all stand and look at the same thing but view it entirely differently. Many of us are afraid of the diverse views because we're afraid of things that we don't know or understand. Those different world views are actually exciting, they're invigorating, they're fascinating, they're enlightening, and the more we experience the diversity of world views that are out there, the more we have a richer understanding of the world we all share.
First Nations culture and traditional views have taught me more and have given me a far deeper understanding about the arts than I have ever gotten from western culture. Western culture fundamentally has been usurped to see the arts as some utilitarian money-making market-based effort, whereas the traditional view of the arts was the gift of sound or the gift of colour as a means of expressing light or spirit; as a means of communication of truth or communion with people.
We are not a society whose first and primary purpose is commerce. We have lost so much of the richness in life because we have bought into the capitalist dream and not understood that traditional societies offer us views of community and the role of the individual and the importance of sharing that would help us get back to a more balanced perspective. We've moved from a view of the world where we used to be seen as, even in western culture, as citizens, to a view of the world where we actually see ourselves and accept ourselves as being consumers. And these are worldviews that are really problematic in terms of growing and relating and moving forward as people.
Do you think the gallery is in good hands with the new curator?
Absolutely. He comes highly recommended, and I think he, as with anybody that you put into the saddle, is going to bring some new energy, some new vision, some new angles, and I certainly am excited about that. There's lots of things that still need to be done and can be done. And that's important to me. I feel we've built a lot here, and you never want to see it lost.
People tend to focus on the Allen Sapp Gallery; what's important about the Chapel Gallery?
In our community we have an art museum, which does honour the work of one man, but we have a community art gallery which honours the work of many other people; from school children through to developing and emerging artists within our community, and invites the work of other artists. So to a large extent, when people say, 'well, we have two galleries in this community,' that's a misnomer, that's not a fact at all. We have an art museum which has huge significance to us as a nation, as well as a local community. But we also need to understand that in order to have the Allen Sapps emerge, there needs to be a gallery like the Chapel within our community so those children who see Sapp as a mentor, those adults who are endeavouring to grow, also have a place to learn.
You have five children; have they followed in your footsteps artistically?
I think all of my children are very creative. I use the term creative because artistic for me is creativity and the language you happen to choose is your choice. So I have an interest in writing, I have an interest in sculpture, I have an interest in painting, I have an interest in poetry, I have an interest in music... I'm not musical but my family is. I believe that the richness in life and the possibilities in life are really fully realized when we approach life through the eyes of the artist, and that's a gift that I could only hope would be shared by all of my children. But it's really the personal journey that's the most important thing because you have to find your own voice and your own particular approach to self-expression.
What are you most of proud of as director of galleries?
I'm most proud of the fact that with the ordinary people who I've worked with here, we've been able to create and work with a city that has valued the arts, that has offered its community a community gallery and an art museum, that has been able to exercise its full potential and been able to reach out to the region, the province and the country and say, 'North Battleford is a place to be reckoned with,' because we celebrate the arts and the culture here. I have a great respect and appreciation for having been able to work for the city. I think the reality is that they've done something extraordinary here, and I don't even think they realize it.
Do you have any regrets?
I don't think I have any regrets, I think I feel blessed. In many respects, I'm leaving at this point because I love what I'm doing. That might sound crazy, but I know I don't want to continue to be the administrator for another twenty years, I know I want to exercise my creativity. At the same time, I feel like I have been able to live a very rich and very full experience in my job and too many people hang on until they become exhausted and embittered and frustrated and burnt out, and that's what I would regret. But I haven't. I love my staff, who are all exceptionally hard working. I love the two galleries, and what they offer. I love the world that it's opened up for me. I love my relationship with Mr. Sapp, and I love the opportunity I've had to be part of the First Nations community.
