Barbara Meneley

Barbara Meneley is a contemporary Canadian visual artist and educator based in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Background Meneley received a BA in Communications (1994 Simon Fraser University), Visual Arts Major (1995–1999 Emily Carr University), MFA Visual Arts in Intermedia (2009 University of Regina), and PhD in Cultural Studies (2011–2015 Queen's University).

Meneley is an instructor at The University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Methodology

According to Dr. Risa Horowitz, a cohort of Canadian university-based artist-researchers, such as Barbara Meneley, employ practice-based research methodologies in which the "functions of research, creation and dissemination are complexly iterative, intertwined and reflexive", more prominently than in traditional art practice. This reflects an interest in educating through creative expression, in acknowledgment of an ideology that all people have within themselves creative capacities, which can be accessed by locating their personal means of expression.

Meneley has stated that because her process is often determined through experimental responses to a particular discourse "[she has] to be clear on what [she says] textually, and doing that contributes to clarity in [her] material work. Again, as at every stage, process of problem solving are integral, incorporating inquiry and resolving the aesthetic, conceptual, material, and practical elements."

Works Her projects have often been auto-ethnographic reflections, which analyze the discourse of colonial history, institutions, or land possession issues. A partial list follows.

I Have a Secret (2007) This project has been screened in Toronto, Calgary, Kingston and Saskatoon. The short experimental film was considered "remarkable for its linear innocence".

Luminance (2009–2010) Meneley created Luminance as the Isabel Johnson Shelter Artist in Residence in Regina, Saskatchewan. She worked with people in shelters to create a city-wide participatory display of ice lanterns. "In creating this connection we extend awareness of domestic violence issues beyond the physical confines of our shelters and suggest that everyone has a role in making all spaces safe."

The Whispering City (2010) Natural Forms: idyllic landscape and social forms in contemporary practices was a curated group exhibition held at Neutral Ground Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan. Meneley's The Whispering City examined civic planning and the "City Beautiful" movement. City plans and maps were incorporated into a mobile made of long strips of light paper; these moved and turned with the slightest movement of observers. Meneley's intent was to give viewers a sense of agency, reinforcing the idea that "Everyone makes a mark on their city, each person can change the city fabric." Meneley has emphasized the importance of integrating architecture into local environments.

Unofficial Apology (2011) Meneley's performance piece Unofficial Apology physically acted out the word "apology" in semaphore signals, using red and white maple leaf flags. It was created as a response to the Canadian government's apology to native people for the history of the residential school program in 2008. It also sought to critique the withdrawal of government funding for the First Nations University of Canada in 2010. The project looks at the history of the prairies from pre-colonial times to the present day, using tracings of previous works onto translucent paper, which are displayed in the library space. It was curated by Blair Fornwald, assistant curator at the Dunlop Art Gallery. The works, due to their fragile form, move and respond to the motion of viewers engaging with them, creating an element of intimacy between knowledge seekers and information. Due to the vast quantities of information in the collection, Meneley explored without a systematic approach, rather selecting her imagery and texts on their initial appeal. They were then traced and grouped with other findings, sometimes of a contradictory basis, encouraging conversations and thinking around overlapping histories of the area. As in past works, Meneley "describe how art is used and how to use art as a strategy for personal transformation and for social and political critique."