Gail Tremblay

Exposed Negative Basket Weaves

Gail Tremblay is a native american artist of the Micmac tribe, and she focuses on the traditional art of basket weaving, but using much more modern materials than those her tribe would have used originally. The Micmac were one of the first tribes to adopt a visual style outside of their own when the first American settlers arrived. They adopted shop-bought clothing, and integrated new materials into their craft sooner than most other tribes. The use of a material very uncontemporary to basket weaving here could be reflectant of this.

Gail Tremblay: "Where was it mentioned that my works are “reclaiming native history”?

"Some do, but some of my film baskets comment on images of Indians in the media, some play with and make ironic commentary on stereotyping."-Amanda Rhoads, interview with Gail Tremblay, source

I think Tremblay is trying to break away from the stereotype that the art of basket weaving, and everything else about her tribe for that matter, is not something that has to stay true to it's historical roots. It can adapt and change as time moves on, just as any other culture or craft would. I like this idea of using a less than traditional style or method to produce a traditional native american object in order to show the adaptation and assimilation of their culture.
Perhaps these baskets would carry this message even more by using particular film reels, such as those of American films in which the native american people were heavily stereotyped.