FEMINIST ARTISTS IN CONVERSATION WITH AMANDA BJÖRN Featuring Kali Spitzer and Tailyr Irvine
Kali Spitzer
She/Her or They/Them
Sent from the ancestral, unceded and occupied territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
www.kalispitzer.com/
How does your heritage influence your work?
My heritage, as a Kaska Dene and Jewish queer women informs all aspects of my work; what I create, who I create in collaboration with, and how I approach the process.
Historically, photography has been used as a violent colonial tool. I am working with a century old process to reclaim and rewrite our relationship to photography as queer and indigenous peoples. This process is guided by a practice of consent and trust; my work is about self representation - reclaiming our bodies. This practice has been built from who I am, where I come from and the histories of those before me.
How do you use your art to empower your community?
I make art to reflect the power I see in someone. Accurate representation of who someone is, and how they exist not only in their power but in their vulnerability is empowering. I create art to step into spaces where our power was previously excluded; institutions, galleries, even in the public sphere. To take up space, to provide a medium to share our histories, culture, connection, pain and perseverance. Being witnessed, and being able to witness is empowering.Representation creates space for people to know they are not alone in their experiences; that who they are is not only OK, but invited and celebrated; and it welcomes others to step into their truth.
Is there a type of story that is most difficult for you to document or write? Most joyful?
Every photograph carries a story, I am supporting folx in my images to amplify theirs/ours. Every story carries pain and joy as well as an array of other emotions. It is often difficult for me to separate these feelings. For example every Indigenous person I photograph is directly affected by MMIWG2S, residential schools, and the deep horrific legacy of colonization. While there is so much pain we also hold joy, resilience, spirit, strength, hope, humour and empathy. Being able to create an image that represents the intricacies of the deep emotional landscape of who we are is at the heart of my practice. The joy I feel as I watch someone react to their photograph is at the heart of my practice. To witness them being filled with emotion as they are finally being seen and accurately represented, this is why I make art. I make images for the people in them, for all of us to have space to be seen and heal.
What projects are you currently pursuing?
I am honoured to be the recipient of the 2022 Aftermath Project Grant, with their support I am currently working on expanding my ongoing project An Exploration of Resilience and Resistance. Kin, will be an extension and expansion of this project. Indigenous relationships, the creation of a chosen family, the connection to blood family, Kin, is an act of defiance pushing back against our ongoing genocide. These relationships and healing are so important as we now navigate the continued injustices and lateral violence this legacy has left us. The simple act of being able to hold our loved ones hand or embrace our kin is a human right that we were not always afforded. These connections to each other open the doors for healing and cultural preservation. An Exploration of Resilience and Resistance: Kin will represent and celebrate indigenous connection. As well as this ongoing project I am also working with my nation on a long dream of bringing the wet plate process home to document my community. This will be taking shape in the coming months as I prepare to head north for this exciting process! Lastly, a focus for me this past year has been healing my mind and body after some difficult years navigating heavy grief as well as a dramatic brain injury. I am learning new ways to be in the world and new ways to work within my practice. It is important for me to acknowledge this work that I am doing as talking about it may provide space for others to care for self as they move through this capitalist society that does not support us in our healing.
What does being a feminist mean to you?
It feels complicated to talk about feminism. I want to acknowledge all of the wonderful women that have come before me and fought so hard so that I can be in a position to critically think about feminism… What lands heavy in my heart is knowing that pre contact we would have not needed a word like feminism. Feminism has been born out of necessity to combat the affects of colonization. In the world that we currently live in, to me feminism means inclusivity. Feminism is for everyone. It’s about creating safety for all. In some ways with our current climate this feels impossible. Thinking about feminism brings to light what kind of world we want to live in, and how that differs from the world we currently live in. It is about fighting for what is rightfully ours, what colonization and the white gaze has taken from us.
Tailyr Irvine
Documentary and Editorial Photographer + Co-founder, Indigenous Photographer
W: TailyrIrvine.com | I: @TailyrIrvine
How does your heritage influence your work?
I grew up in western Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation surrounded by a very large family. The way I was raised shaped who I am and the work I do as a photojournalist. Growing up on the reservation, the media coverage from the largest newspapers failed in their coverage of the Native communities. The coverage of Native People was rare and when they did tell stories from my reservation they were misinformed and full of stereotypes. When communities are only represented as stereotypes or not at all, it shapes the world's perspective. For me, I found the best way to challenge this narrative of Native Americans in this country was to show the world the home that I know––pieces of life that until very recently the mainstream media left out. I hope the stories I photograph offer a window into authentic Native America so people can connect with us and see us as contemporary people so the world will take the issues that affect our communities seriously.
How do you use your art to empower your community?
My work is primarily documentary photography. I love photography because there is no translation needed for photographs. When you see humans interacting with other humans, you're able to quickly understand the emotion in the photos even if it is from a culture you're completely unfamiliar with. When you find ways to relate with people you think you have nothing in common with, I think that opens the door for conversations that create empathy and ultimately, a new understanding of the world.
Is there a type of story that is most difficult for you to document or write? Most joyful?
Many of the issues I write and photograph are not visual. They are stories of the past or stories about complex laws and regulations. To make images that connect people to a story that already happened or laws that influence the way Natives choose their partner is difficult but it is also where I find the most joy. Finding faces that represent these issues and photographing them in a way that brings these stories to life is the best part of the job.
What projects are you currently pursuing?
I am currently working on a project that explores the complexities of blood quantum and Native identity. The first chapter of the project, Reservation Mathematics: Navigating Love in Native America, is currently on exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in New York City until March 12, 2023.
What does being a feminist mean to you?
For me, the word feminist is complex. I know the history of the feminist movement is one I benefit from. I am so grateful for the women before me that have fought for many of the rights I have. They are incredible. My issue is obviously not with the acts of creating equality but the word itself. We, as a society, give so much power to labels and because of that the meaning of words change. When I think of feminism now, I think of exclusion. I think feminist is word that has been, unfortunately, gatekept. And because of that, I am less concerned about the label and the rules under that label and more concerned with being a good person. I don't need to label myself as an "Earth Saver'' when I recycle, I just separate my garbage every day and take it to the correct bin. The same applies to feminism, the way I live my life I believe is more important than identifying under labels that historically left out women of color and gatekeeps activism.
