Residential school art series awarded to U of M

WhenAnishnabe artist Robert Houlewanted to come to terms with his residential school experience on Sandy Bay First Nation in Mantioba he turned to the medium that he knew best.In just one month, August 2009,Houle created 24 striking paintings that tell a story of survival and hope.

Now theSandy Bay Residential School Serieswill have a permanent home at the School of Art Gallery at theUniversity of Manitoba. The gallery can make this purchase because itjust wontheYork Wilson Endowment Award,administered by the Canada Council.

"I'm just so honoured," says Houle, who still has family ties in Manitoba."It's very special because my family will be able to come and see them, thereby figuratively and metaphorically, they're coming home."

"I'm also honoured because this is my treaty territory, Treaty One, and also my alma mater," he adds.

Houle, who now makes his home in Toronto, says that during the processmemories came back that he had previouslysuppressed. "Halfway through, the faces began to actually appear, began to be recognizable. I would try to capture them and I would get so angry. I wouldwant to judge them and that became the struggle, the need, and the delirium for retribution. And Iwould constantly stop myself from completing that emotion."

He says he found the whole experience cathartic. At the end, he felt a sigh of relief, a sigh of liberation.

RobertHouleis one of Canada's most significant Aboriginal artists. Heis also an active art curator, critic and educator. Among his activities, he was the first curator of Contemporary Indian Art at the Canadian Museum ofCivilizationfrom 1977 to 1980.

He studied Art History at the University of Manitoba and Art Education atMcGillUniversity. In 2004,the U of M named hima distinguished alumnus. He is a member of Sandy Bay First Nation in Manitoba and currently works in Toronto.

The acquisition of this collection comes at an important time for the School of Art Gallery as it moves location to the Art Research Technology lab (ARTlab). It also coincides with the School of Art's 100th anniversary as well as the decision with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to host the National Research Centre on Residential Schools at the University of Manitoba.

Houle'slast Winnipegexhibit,enuhmoandhyaun(the road home), opened the School of Art Gallery in September 2012.