MASS MoCA, review by Marc Foster

A Tribute To Canada

by Marc Foster

Canada doesn’t do much, right? Many people seem to think Canada is not very active. However, in viewing the Oh, Canada exhibit at Mass MoCA I have come to appreciate our northern neighbors’ history and culture with a sense of respect and admiration. In Oh, Canada contemporary artists from Canada are showcased to pay tribute to their country. Some of the art reflects the Canadian culture, and the history of Canada, while other art is meant to leave you thinking more about issues and your own life. One of the first pieces on display is Widow by Janice Wright Cheney. Widow is a sculpture of a red bear made out of wool and felt flowers. The flowers range from deep red to purple to pink. Bears being an iconic symbol of the country represents Canadian culture, and works to show the viewer the real history and development of Canada as a country.

            Canada is the second biggest country in the world but can sometimes be forgotten about. Most of its territory is in the north, which is too harsh and cold for normal folks to live in. Only the aboriginal people venture far north, and attempt to survive the harsh Canadian wilderness. Bears are a big part of these people’s lives. Bears threaten their villages and raid their food supplies, making life harder for these people when it is already hard enough. Cheney has been able to incorporate this bear in representing the struggles of the Canadian people.

The bear shows the power and the will of Canadians and the flowers show the solitude and simplicity that Canadians live with. The colored roses blend together to make a mournful but content emotional trigger in the viewer. With the power of the bear and the subtly of the roses the viewer gets a distinct picture of the pride and struggle that comes with being a Canadian.

The most affective aspect of this piece is that it is displayed in a gallery specifically for tributes to Canadian culture. As one of the gateway pieces into this exhibit this piece sets up a mood for the viewer that compliments the other pieces of work in the gallery. The bear entices its audience to explore Canadian culture and to look at the art in the Oh, Canada exhibit with a keen eye that looks for the Canadian struggle and identity.