Raven Davis
Ojibwe artist and activist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raven Davis (born 1975) is a multimedia Indigenous artist, curator, activist, and community organizer of the Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Nation in Manitoba.[1] Davis's work centers themes of culture, colonization, sexuality, and gender and racial justice.[2] Davis currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia and works between Halifax and Toronto, Ontario.[1][3][4] Davis is also a traditional dancer, singer, and drummer.[citation needed]
Raven Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 (age 50–51) Toronto, Ontario |
Career
In 2010, Davis joined the Friends United initiative as an artist and associate and currently sits on the advisory board.[5]
In 2017, Raven Davis was hired as co-artistic director of Halifax's Queer Acts Theatre Festival.[6]
Awards, honours, and residencies
- Art and Activism Resident, NSCAD University (2016)[7]
- Cape Breton Partnership, Aboriginal Women of Distinction in Business, nomination (2010)
- Cape Breton Industry Award, Sydney Ports Authority (2009)[8]
Curatorial
- Nocturne, Halifax, Nova Scotia (2018)[9]
- Bonnie Devine | Circles and Lines: Michi Saagiig. Art Gallery of Mississauga. Mississauga, Ontario (2018)[10]
- Wsitqamu | Nunak | Ktahkomiq | Land, co-curated with Aidan Gillis, PETAPAN: First Light Indigenous Arts Symposium, Dieppe, New Brunswick (2016)[11]
Filmography
- "I Still Believe" (2015) Director and Producer.
- "Spooning" (2015) Co-Produced with Elisha Lim.
- "Love Never Felt so Good" (2014) Collaboration with Elisha Lim.
Selected exhibitions
- Friends United Art Exhibit. Halifax City Hall. (2012)[12]
- This is My Song: Perspectives from Contemporary Native Women. Huntsville. (2012)[13]
- Friends United. Casino Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nova Scotia. (2013)[14]
- Indiginesse. Aurora Cultural Centre. Aurora, Ontario. (2014)[15]
- Wagmatcook Arts & Culture festival. Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia. (2014)[16]
- Assembly of First Nations Conference. Halifax, N.S. (2014)[17]
- Basquiat Idea Bar: Justice. Art Gallery of Ontario. (2015)[3]
- Map of the New Art. Cini Foundation. Venice. (2015)[18]
- Duality. Kennedy Gallery. North Bay, Ontario. (2017)[19]
- The De-Celebration of Canada 150. Khyber Center for the Arts. Halifax, Nova Scotia. (2017)[20]
- níchiwamiskwém | nimidet | ma soeur | my sister. The Biennale of Contemporary Aboriginal Art (BACA). Art Mur, Montreal, Quebec. (2018)[21]
- In Dialogue. Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba. Brandon, Manitoba. (2018)[22]
Personal
Raven Davis is a parent of three sons.[23] Having a mother who is also an Anishinaabe artist has influenced Davis in their life and career.[5][24] Davis was born and raised in Toronto and attended Ryerson University and George Brown College.[25]
The artist is two-spirited and uses gender-neutral pronouns. Davis speaks at schools, art venues, and community events, raising awareness around issues of gender, sexuality, and race.[26][27]