Bail
Bail is a Woodland Cree artist from Sucker Creek First Nation in Treaty 8 territory, currently practicing in Amiskwaciwâskahikan on Treaty 6 territory. Bail works primarily with printmaking, photography, and the traditional print medium of fish scales as a form of personal archiving, creating a visual dialogue, and connecting back with the land. Her practice explores narrative through memory, speaking to ecological issues, social issues, and cultural identity as an Indigenous person. To create conversation about bringing visual art in Indigenous communities and creating space. Bail began her BFA in New Media at the University of Lethbridge, where she had numerous opportunities to showcase her work. Recent group exhibitions include Petulant Pixel at the penny gallery in 2016, Stories for the Collection at the Hess Gallery in 2019, and Stories for the British Museum at the Hess Gallery in 2020. In 2020, she received the Roloff Beny Photography Scholarship through the University of Lethbridge to conduct field research studying with photography in Sucker Creek First Nation. Bail then transferred to the University of Alberta in 2020 to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Art and Design for printmaking. During her time in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, her work has been shown in a group exhibition, titled the EAU: Emerging Artist Unleashed in 2022 on the Alberta Society of Artist website.
Artist Statement
My practice utilizes printmaking and fish scales to create artwork relating to themes of culture and land. Evoking suggestive lines to create a narrative through memories, my work speaks to ecological issues and social issues, and cultural identity. Using the vibrant colours of fish scales and any living expression to relate to land — animals, plants, fish, and insects populate my work as a form of personal archiving, creating a visual dialogue, and connecting back with the land. The inspiration behind this body of artwork is the discussion of the interruption of transferring traditional knowledge that affects Indigenous people’s cultural identity and practices. I consider art as a form to reconnect with culture and traditional methods by reconnecting with the land.
walleye and wildflowers, 2020, relief print on rabbit hide: 18” x 11”
kinosêw and ohsawinc͔êyipêyihk, 2022, relief print on paper: 22” x 15”
remains, 2022, relief on paper: 15” x 22”
gathering, 2021, digital print on paper: 25” x 38”
offering, 2023, digital print and screen on paper: 30” x 44”
