May 5, 2018

May 5th marked the celebration of the Locals Only Summer Launch at AKA. As part of the launch, we featured two new projects by Jordan Schwab and Kevin Wesaquate along with a participatory text piece by Justin Langlois.

Jordan Schwab’s Somewhere Between a Chick and a T-Rex, in the artist’s words, “presents a mobile base and a pop-up project space” in the form of three carts “from which food can be sold or stories can be shared.” Though the audience encountered the carts stationary in the gallery, Jordan’s work will be activated publicly, engaging Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods on an ongoing basis throughout the summer.

Additionally, Kevin Wesaquate’s misaskwatomina moves towards a reindigenization of Riversdale’s ecology through the planting of over 200 misaskwatomina (Saskatoon berry shrubs) in the neighbourhood. For the launch, misaskwatomina embodied its message in an installation referencing a Sundance festival.

Throughout the event, we grilled up a delicious, free BBQ dinner for those in attendance, and spent the evening chatting and enjoying the good weather. Thank you to our community, patrons, and funders for your participation in making this event a success.

Top row (left to right): Michael Peterson, Jordan Schwab, Kevin Wesaquate, Cate Francis, Minister Eric Olauson, Yvonne Hanson (CHEP Good Food Inc.), MLA David Forbes, Tarin Dehod