b'ART GALLERIESCOLLECTIONS Indigenous arts are thriving at two important galleries in Thunder Bayof the NORTH By Sarah B. HoodThe Thunder Bay Art Gallery has become an important destination for Indigenous art in OntarioT o see museum exhibits ofGallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto,times our size and started to collect art by Indigenous art in Ontario,but the Thunder Bay Gallery did notcontemporary Indigenous artists. A lot of some may visit the Nationalown a collection of its own. the work has been donated, says Godwin.Gallery, while others may tour the McMichael Collection. ButIn the early years, we had a long-termToday, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has Thunder Bay should also be part of the itin- loan from what was then the Museum ofa three-part mission: first, contemporary erary, as two galleries in the city are makingCivilization, which is now the MuseumIndigenous artists; second, artists from their mark on the Indigenous art scene.of History: 400 pieces of contemporaryThunder Bay and Northern Ontario; and Indigenous art, says the gallerysthird, important touring exhibits from other A signature attraction is the Thunder BayDirector Sharon Godwin. That startedinstitutions. It is now at the forefront of the Art Gallery, which became an importantus showing this amazing work. At theevolution of thinking about Indigenous art, repository of Indigenous work almost bytime, the work by these amazing artistswhich has been changing throughout the accident. It opened in 1976, along with 25was not being shown in art galleries;international art world.other spaces across the country, as a smallit was being collected as ethnographic national exhibition centre conceived bypieces in museums. My personal opinion is that some of the the federal government as a place to housemost exciting work being produced in the travelling exhibits from Ottawas four majorAs cultural attitudes began to change, theworld is by Indigenous women artists, museums. Over time, exhibits began togallerys premises and its mandate bothsays Godwin. She mentions, for example, arrive from other spaces, such as the Artgrew. We expanded in 1981 by fourinterdisciplinary Anishinaabe artist Rebecca 26Fall/Winter 2022'