Among the Falling Stars: Megwe-aya’iing anangoog gaa-bangishimowaad | Michel Dumont

Artist Statement

It began with a box of discarded vintage Italian tiles. I made natural scenes in rough geometric shapes. With time, trial and error, stories took shape.

The tile speaks of the terrazzo floors built by my Italian neighbours. It tells of mining, asbestos, and the hazardous chemicals required to achieve vivid permanent colours.

From these stories, I broke, smashed, and carved them into something new. I tell my own stories, and those of the animals of this region articulating the scars, chips, and scrapes we bear from survival in this colonial reality.

My disabilities pose unique challenges to my practice. I must rest my injured spine often. A heavy gas mask protects my hyper-sensitive immune system.

My reality of being a disabled, queer, urban-Indigenous trauma survivor encompasses every inch of this work. The silver lining is the zen pain-free state I can achieve during high-focus work sessions. From this work comes both pain and medicine; beauty from the broken.

Thank you to the Ontario Arts Council for their support with exhibition assistance.

Artist Biography

Michel Dumont is a queer Metis two-spirited disabled artist and survivor of intergenerational trauma stemming from Indian Day School. He currently resides in Thunder Bay. He works in wearable art, using packing tape, mylar, cellophane and LED lights.

Opening: April 1, 7-10 pm

If you wish to attend the opening on Friday, April 1, please RSVP to gallery@aceart.org to schedule a time slot (7-8 pm, 8-9 pm, 9-10 pm).

Run: April 1- May 7, 2022

Virtual Artist Talk: TBA