Tania Willard: Claiming Space

As First Nations' land claims slowly grind their way through British Columbia's provincial courts, Secwepemc artist Tania Willard's work addresses territorial issues. Willard's practice is concerned with cultural displacement, transfer and translation. She uses screen-printing and stenciling processes as well as oral and written storytelling to speak to language and land. Willard’s grandparents were key interpreters of Secwepemc stories, and Willard’s work often emphasizes the narrative potential of picture-making. Her work characteristically revive historical elements or contexts within mechanically reproduced images.

This full colour publication was produced in conjunction with the solo exhibition Tania Willard | Claiming Space at the Kamloops Art Gallery April 5 to May 24, 2009 and includes documentation from the exhibition.