On the topic of Orientalism

We had a class discussion about the pressure on visual "others" to make art that addresses their otherness. Last year I had the privilege of listening to guest lecturer David Garneau in Edmonton and then seeing his show afterwards. He is Metis by birth, but he didn't find that out until later in life and told us that he was literally raised to be "white" and his art deals with this discovery of an identity that was alien to him.
Does being Metis by birth give Garneau permission to explore Metis-ness in his art although he has no connection to it? Would it be different from a caucasion person using Metis subject matter in their art?
He uses imagery from popular culture - advertisements and comic books to examine Metis-ness from the viewpoint of an outsider, as one who is not part of that culture (which makes sense for him). He does not pretend that he understands his culture, rather the work shows his discovery of what it means. His show entitled "Cowboys and Indians (and Metis?)" addresses how Metis-ness is always seen as being incomplete - 2 halfs, cowboy and indian, but never seen as a whole by itself. I guess he is looking for a way to situate Metis in relation to the other 2 identities.

http://uregina.ca/~garneaud/galleryP1.html


(caption)
"Our people wish to learn your religion. Send us teachers to teach us about your book of heaven."

Louis Riel was institutionalized at one point for being insane. Here he is represented Van Gogh style, making a connection between both of their mental instability. The white man, in his creative genius can be insane, just as Riel with his vision and mission for the Metis people was insane.

Keith mentioned if we were all blind, would we still be racist? This is the metis flag (sideways 8). If you are colour blind, you will not be able to see it the image. If we were colour blind, would we still be racist? Would there be "others"?

Jennifer Konanz