Alex Janvier Exhibition at Gallery@501

Strathcona County is honoured to present an exhibition entitled “The Healing Language of Alex Janvier” by world-renowned Denesuline artist, Alex Janvier, from Cold Lake First Nations, Treaty 6 Territory. The exhibition runs September 9 to November 20, 2022. 

Curated in partnership with the Janvier Gallery and Gallery@501, this exhibition features paintings, sketchbook drawings, video and audio works that reflect Janvier’s experiences within Canada’s residential school system. 

This special exhibition primarily features paintings from the Janvier family’s private collection, and this will be the first time that many of the artworks are on display to the public. At 87 years old, Alex continues to work in his studio and has included new pieces along with older artworks in this exhibition.  

Gallery visitors will learn about Alex’s residential school journey from the traumatic loss of language, culture and family, to finding a voice through his art, and a way forward on the path towards healing and reconciliation. Alex creates his visual narratives using vibrant colours, flowing lines and symbols that express subject, emotion and spirituality.  

In collaboration with Indigital Media and Gallery@501, and with funding from Canadian Heritage, Alex and the Janvier family have created powerful video and audio works to complement the exhibit. Through sharing Alex’s impactful narratives, more light will be shed onto the history of residential schools, the lasting impacts for those who experienced them and their families, and the need for calls to action, connection and understanding. 

The public is invited to a special opening reception on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at Gallery@501. This reception event is by registration only – please register at strathcona.ca/janvier. Admission to Gallery@501 is free. Gallery@501 is located at 501 Festival Avenue, Sherwood Park. 

Visitors can also re-discover Alex’s public art pieces displayed on site in the Strathcona County Library (“Indigo Children” and “One Hour in Time”) from 2011, and the staircase mural in County Hall (“Tribute to Beaver Hills”) from 1976. 

For more information, visit strathcona.ca/ArtGallery. 

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595