The new exhibit in the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s Gallery No. 2 is Jason Baerg’s S/He Makes it Rain, an exhibit of paintings which takes a deeper look at the importance of water.
Baerg was at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum on Jan. 20 for an artist’s reception. He hails from Prince Albert, and has had his works displayed at art galleries throughout North America.
He believes that S/He Makes it Rain represents an artistic journey. Baerg created it while he was in residency for five months in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
“It was really great to be there in the community, and be surrounded by other artists, and they were focusing on water rights,” said Baerg. “All the artists were really considering how rare our relationship is to water, and how we need to defend it as modern citizens.”
His research led Baerg to think about the characteristics of water, which so many people are familiar with.
“Water is a conduit for a journey, and I think that it’s really simple for us to think about traversing on a boat, across massive water,” said Baerg. “So I was trying to get into the more abstract notions of what water does for us.”
S/He Makes it Rain features several works with paintings on fabrics, and Baerg said it was fun to work with that medium.
Baerg, who is of Cree Metis descent, noted that S/He Makes it Rain translates to kimowanihtâwak, and Baerg loves how it is a conceptually full expression.
“One of the things that I appreciate in the concepts and in the language is just how conceptually full one word can be,” said Baerg. “One word can engage the gender spectrum, and include the gender spectrum, and it can also empower.”
He recently wrapped up his masters of fine arts from Rutgers University in New York. After living in the New York area, he believes knowledge about indigenous people is more important than ever. And he is pleased with Canada’s current relationship with First Nations people.
Baerg also lauded the EAGM’s staff for the work they did with the exhibit, and he believes this is likely the first time a curator has taken the time to interpret his work.
“When I do these kinds of works, I’m really interested in how people engage with the opportunity of making an installation,” said Baerg.
S/He Makes it Rain will remain on display until Feb. 24.
