Kent Monkman paints a difficult history and more arts stories you might have missed
In this week's Art Post Outpost, the acclaimed Cree painter reflects on Indigenous resilience
Here at CBC Arts, you won't just find our original content — we also bring you the best art posts from across the entire CBC network.
These are the week's can't-miss stories:
Kent Monkman's art brings Indigenous resilience to the fore (q)
Cree artist Kent Monkman is known for painting Canada's difficult history. In this q segment, Monkman discusses his latest exhibition Shame and Prejudice in which he takes historical Canadian events and paints them from the perspective of Indigenous resilience. Monkman also speaks about his drag persona and alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, who is the exhibition's narrator. Looking ahead to the future, he hopes his paintings will have a lasting impact: "I want my paintings to be there in 150 years and have people stand in front of them and reflect on them."
100 best Canadian songs (CBC Music)
From Leonard Cohen and Neil Young to Metric and Drake, CBC Music curated the best 100 Canadian songs just in time for Canada Day. The best 100 songs are available to play through their playlist, including testimonials from other Canadian musicians, or you can catch all 100 songs in a sped up, four-minute compilation.
A guide to Gord Downie's Canadian tuxedo (q)
There is hardly anything more Canadian than the denim-on-denim ensemble affectionately known as the Canadian tuxedo. Gord Downie has begun sporting this classic look, accepting award after award in it. But, unlike the typical denim ensemble, Downie accessorizes with a variety of pins, feathers and mementos that mean something to him. q put together a guide of his classic Canadian tuxedo look and explains just what all those pins really mean.
Cape Bretoner illustrates mother's Alzheimer's battle (CBC Nova Scotia)
Alison Uhma, an illustrator from Cape Breton, has begun working on a very personal project. When her late mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, she moved back home — and following her mother's death, Uhma began creating a graphic novel inspired by her life. The graphic novel tells the story of her mother's battle with Alzheimer's, using both her own memories and her mother's diary. Overall, Uhma credits the experience of creating the graphic novel as therapeutic and a way to keep her memory alive: "I've drawn my mom hundreds of times in the past few months. It feels like I'm spending time with her."
Powerful young female characters are the new action heroes (CBC News)
What do Stranger Things's Eleven, Logan's Laura and Okja's Mija have in common? They're all young female action heroes. Previous decades only saw female action heroes in films or television shows geared towards females themselves. But now, these characters are taking over mainstream media. Film professor Celeste Kearney theorizes that some writers and producers may have been motivated by a wish to see more real-life female heroes. Comparing some of the most popular characters today, CBC News looks at how this change came about — and the effects it's having on young female audiences.
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