ART GALLERY OF REGINA

Beast Friends Forever gathers artists who question the boundaries we often draw between humans and other animals, and asks us to reflect on who art is for and who it serves.

 

Jeff Meldrum creates sculptures intended for wild animals, placing them in remote wilderness so that animals can encounter and interact with them on their own terms. Mackenzie Kelly-Frere uses traditional weaving techniques to make a sheep cloak that perfectly mimics the camouflage of a sheep’s fleece against the rocky Nordic landscape, merging human skill with animal adaptation. Adrian Stimson’s work highlights the deep bond between the Siksika people and bison, both in daily life (providing food and clothing) and spiritual practice. Painting a bison becomes, for Stimson, an act of remembrance for those lost and a tribute to their enduring significance.Bruce Anderson’s lovingly executed paintings of horses—animals with a deeply intertwined history alongside humans—serve as stand-ins for people, exploring themes of nurturing and care that transcend species boundaries. Meanwhile, Joanne Bristol documents the streets surrounding the Art Gallery of Regina, her sparse line drawings echoing the bleak landscape as spring arrives, revealing a diverse array of animals inhabiting human-made environments and adapting to conditions shaped by our presence.

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Together, these artists challenge conventions that place humans above all other beings. Instead, they show us that our relationships with animals are deeply connected, reciprocal, and complicated. The line between 'human' and 'animal' is not so clear. In these artworks, humans serve nonhumans, and the connections between species move in many directions, forming a web of mutual influence and care.