Ullus Collective
The name Ullus is a direct word translated from the Syilx Language, which translates as “a gathering of people for a common purpose”. The metaphor is the evolvement of the Ullus Collective as an Indigenous collective to advance media arts.
In 1997 IASO undertook studies of Indigenous media artists in the province of BC within the sector. Results found were that artists were underrepresented and have limited to access and opportunity to develop works. This also included funding similar other art disciplines. The findings from this study prompted the Ullus Collective members to continue to work together and initiated the formal process of organizing activities to serve its members. To date a majority of collective members still lack formal funding and knowledge expertise to carry on activities such as community screenings and enhanced professional media arts development.
The ULLUS Collective membership that consists of Indigenous artists, writers, directors, producers, stage, theatre actors, playwrights, journalists, camera operators, field technicians, video editors, on-camera hosts and casting directors. Ullus artists pool their talent base to develop new skills and opportunities for exhibition and presentation. The collective has met consistently over the past fifteen years to develop as a working cohesive artist run centre.
The Ullus Collective continues to indicate a strong interest in advance-level training and networking opportunities to assist further media arts development. Additional infrastructure and development will lend to a cohesive entity and provide the artists with ongoing programs towards the advancement of Aboriginal works.
CURRENT ULLUS COLLECTIVE PROJECTS
 Geotag Project |
 Picto ProphesyProject |
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Geo Tag Art Dot ComJune 10 - October 31, 2011 Members of the Ullus collective are offering a location-based art experience to wireless audiences visiting Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park this summer. In partnership with the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, they invite you to participate in the 100-year anniversary of BC Parks, by checking in to an art experience showcasing video, sound, sculpture and painting. This innovative platform allows wireless audience to link to works by Okanagan artists and explore creative connections to the land. They hope the artists’ ideas will stimulate and entertain visitors as they walk, bike or hike along the Kettle Valley trail. |
Picto Prophesy ProjectJune 24 - Aug 15, 2011 The Picto Prophesy Project is a new media artwork project, exploring the role of prophesy in Indigenous Culture. The Project was conceptualized as a response to the growing hype around the 2012 end of the world Mayan prophesies. While these prophesies may have caught the interest of mainstream culture through Hollywood style Armageddon themed movies, many people may not be aware that prophesy plays an important role in Indigenous communities across this land. Through this project the Ullus Collective artists will do what they can to help put this hype into perspective by sharing some of their own cultural understandings of prophesy. Penticton Western News Article - PICTO
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EXHIBITION- WOMEN IN THE OKANAGAN
The Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art &
En’owkin Centre/ Ullus Collective
WOMEN IN THE OKANAGAN
September 10, 2010 - October 22, 2010
Featuring works by:
Tracey Kim Bonneau, Mariel Belanger, Roja Aslani
Each artist reflects upon different historical narratives within the region - and the ways in which those memories can inform, enlighten and construct our notions of place and identity.
This media exhibition has been sponsored by the following organizations
EXHIBITION - REACT 2010
The Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art & En’owkin Centre/ Ullus Collective
REACT 2010
THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE ON BC
CLICK TO WATCH TRACEY KIM BONNEAU'S EXPERIMENTAL FILM "DREAMING MY LAND"
The Alternator is engaging artists and the global community in a creative cultural conversation about the values surrounding the Olympics. REACT2010.com is a dynamic medium for creative expression that we hope will lead to an examination & appreciation of diverse cultural values.... Utilizing the medium of your choice, we invite you to react to the values you see expressed in the Olympic Games. REACT2010.com provides the platform to display your art to the world.
Join us for a webinar hosted at REACT2010.com
Monday January 18 at 8pm PST (11 EST):
Tour of the site and presentation of new works by 5 feature artists
Olympic Launch: Friday February 12
Okanagan nation writer, professor, cultural worker and Ullus Collective member Jeannette Armstrong explains that: "creative acts are continuance links." We envision our artist-run centre as a unique, welcoming site for radical art making and community-building. We honor diverse forms of art/new media and support both emerging and mid-career artists. We are especially compelled by controversial, engaged, or interventionist work that challenges prevailing cultural standards. As a progressive cultural collective, we are dedicated to stepping beyond the gallery walls.
EXHIBITION - CONDUIT
Kelowna Rotary Centre for the Arts & En’owkin Centre/ NAPAT/ Ullus Collective
CONDUIT
Saturday, February 6, 2010
En'owkin Centre NAPAT Venue highly successful!
Storytellers ~ Music Performances ~ Visual Arts Works
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Kelowna, British Columbia TIME: 4:00 pm - 1:00 AM
PLACE: KELOWNA ROTARY CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Over 1000 people attended this exciting event!
This was a green friendly art revolution with dancing, musical performances by NAPAT students Sam Mitchell and John Terbasket, Oral storytelling performances by Gunargie OSullivan, Harron Hall and Levi George and a Spoken Word piece by Angel Alexander.
Cakewalk Co-op, Alternator and ‘Okanagan Greens Society’ presented ‘CONDUIT’ A live showcase of emerging and established Art, music, installation, sculpture, Eco-Activism, handmade crafts, Cake, literature, furniture, heirloom seeds, fire spinners, story tellers, slam poets, performance art and speakers. All Organic, gourmet local food was a highlight.
Conduit is all about the Global Green Movement. It is a Zero Waste all Organic and Local faire, self-sufficiency Festival that will be dealing with the issue of Climate change with proactive creative solutions and visions from our community. It is for everyone to be inspired and involved in our societal evolution, understanding and well being. There are over 100 local artists, musicians, poets and crafters contributing.
Thanks to city of Kelowna Cultural Services branch for providing the venue.
PRODUCTION - A COMMON EXPERIENCE
Dust Dancer Productions & Ullus Collective
A COMMON EXPERIENCE
June - October 2009
Written and Directed by Victoria Baptiste
Starring Alexis Taylor and Tracey Bonneau
Introducing Lyndsie Kruger & Maykhaela Tomma
Theresa is brought into the Kamloops Indian Residential School for the first time, has her regalia taken from her, her hair cut and is surrounded by a language she doesn't understand. When two other female students (played by Kruger and Tomma) try to help her, all three girls get into trouble.
"A Common Experience" is the second of five short films Okanagan Director Victoria 
Baptiste intends to create based on the five (5) traumas of residential school. "REZcue Me" which is unreleased to the general public, was the first of this series and based on the sexual abuse of students. "A Common Experience" is the second and was intended to show the COMMON EXPERIENCE survivors went through in the government and school's attempt to force a loss of language, culture and identity. The other three subjects Baptiste shall re-create using dramatic re-enactments include: abandonment, malnourishment and physical abuse.
Controversial, Hard-to-watch and accurate depictions is how Victoria chooses to describe this series.
VIEW TRAILER FOR A COMMON EXPERIENCE
EXHIBITION - MATTERS OF INCLUSION: RED, YELLOW, BLACK & WHITE
The Alternator Gallery for Contemporary Art & En’owkin Centre/ NAPAT/ Ullus Collective
MATTERS OF INCLUSION: RED, YELLOW, BLACK & WHITE
October 20 - November 27, 2009
ULLUS Collective Youth Members Exhibit Works:
Media Arts Exhibition of new works by Taylor Belanger, Nathan Lindley, Twylla Lindley, Charlene Smith, Saynah Stewart and Stephanie Squakin, local Indigenous youth from Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna. Artworks include digital drawing, photography, sound and web communications created during a ten-week digital media workshop overseen by Jason Baerg.
The solo and youth exhibitions run from October 20 - November 27, 2009. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Tuesday October 20, at 7pm. All are welcome and admission to the Alternator is by donation.
Jason Baerg opens at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art on Tuesday October 20, 2009. Developed during an artist residency in Kelowna BC, Baerg’s artwork boldly claims new territory for all people of the red, yellow, black and white nations.
A resident of Toronto, Jason Baerg’s art has been presented at such institutions as the Walter Philips Gallery in Banff, Art Basel Miami and the Luminato Festival in Toronto, Ontario.
Baerg’s exciting work combines traditional painting techniques with new digital extensions. This innovative blending of new and old technologies is also mirrored in his exploration of traditional knowledge in a contemporary context.
When asked about his approach Baerg reflects, “My work is grounded in ancient wisdom's but is equally invested in focusing forward, investigating spaces of politics, the media, the environment and other contemporary creative movements such as the visual arts, literature, music, fashion, architecture and industrial design.”
Baerg is founding member of the Métis Artist Collective, one of three official officers of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for the Creative Rights Alliance, a board member for the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition and the Independent Media Arts Alliance.
Exhibition of new works by Taylor Belanger, Nathan Lindley, Twylla Lindley, Charlene Smith, Saynah Stewart and Stephanie Squakin, local Indigenous youth from Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna. Artworks include digital drawing, photography, sound and web communications created during a ten-week digital media workshop overseen by Jason Baerg.
The solo and youth exhibitions run from October 20 - November 27, 2009. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Tuesday October 20, at 7pm. All are welcome and admission to the Alternator is by donation.
The Alternator gratefully acknowledges generous project support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Hamber Foundation, Westbank First Nation, Sookinchoot Youth Centre, the En’owkin Centre and the Centre for Arts and Technology.
For more information please contact the Alternator at 250-868-2298 or dir@alternatorgallery.com.
TRAINING - SOOKINCHOOT
Coordinated by Mariel Belanger
for the youth of the Okanagan Indian Band
