Presence of the Past by MC Snow

Visual poetry rooted in tradition and the transmission of knowledge

Montreal, February 28, 2024 – From March 1 to August 18, 2024, the McCord Stewart Museum presents Presence of the Past by MC Snow. Presented as part of the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA), the Kanien’kehá:ka artist’s installation immerses the viewer in a space studded with objects from the Museum’s Indigenous Cultures collection as well as contemporary works. MC Snow explored the Museum’s reserves and selected forty objects from which he drew inspiration to create two original sculptures at the centre of the exhibition. Through the emotions and messages conveyed by the Kanien’kehá:ka cultural objects conserved by the Museum, the artist puts forward a contemporary interpretation of the teachings, traditions and know-how transmitted by the objects in the collection. With Presence of the Past, MC Snow wishes to emphasize the importance of researching and preserving Indigenous cultural property, essential to transmitting the knowledge and safeguarding the cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples.

Emotional objects

Some of the cultural assets featured in the exhibition date back to the 14th century. By juxtaposing these objects – mostly of Kanien’kehá:ka origin – with contemporary representations of his reflections on the past, MC Snow explores the visceral emotions he feels in contact with them, drawing attention to the ways in which they convey meaning. Presence of the Past focuses on poetic metaphors relating to truth, care, protection, transmission and memory. These metaphors probe the teachings that emanate from the creation story to form a visual poetry rooted in oral tradition.

“For me, pots have always been objects that carry something. We place things in pots to contain and protect them. The same applies to baby carriers. Just as we carry ideas, we carry our children. These are objects and knowledge that we preserve for the future, and therefore for generations to come. The Girl with the Basket (one of two works by MC Snow in the exhibition) is also a character who communicates ideas through her basket. She communicates them to the children she carries in her baby carrier,” explains MC Snow.

Object photographs

Research and knowledge preservation

The artist’s concern with emphasizing the importance of researching and preserving Indigenous cultural property is reflected in the objects selected by MC Snow and Jonathan Lainey, Curator, Indigenous Cultures at the McCord Stewart Museum. The public will be able to view some forty rarely exhibited cultural items from the Indigenous Cultures collection: pottery, baby carriers, dolls and arrows. For MC Snow, the arrows represent self-preservation and the protection of Indigenous languages and cultures. The dolls embody the stories that Kanien’kehá:ka elders tell their children to explain the world around them. Baby carriers and decorated pots are used to pass on these values and teachings to future generations. The pot fragments are preserved so that their past remains accessible. The artist insists on the importance of treating objects with dignity, because for Indigenous nations, cultural property is more than just an object; it holds the spirits of their ancestors.

“Seven years ago, I embarked on an ambitious project that teamed up the City of Montreal and the Kanien’kehá:ka territory of Kahnawake to address and valorize the theme of truth and reconciliation. I believe that every time we, as a First Nation community, engage in any kind of meaningful way with Tiohtià:ke, it furthers our way on this path of reconciliation and respect. We are, after all, very close neighbours. Through the Peel Street Project, the BACA, and now the McCord Stewart Museum, I take responsibility to accept and uphold my end of the bargain: to engage in a truthful and meaningful dialogue to promote this idea of peace and mutual respect.

If one memory or emotion is taken away from this Presence of the Past, let it be that the spirit it was done in was one of good-minded collaboration, much conversation and opinion sharing, and enthusiastic effort from both sides. This was my desire in this work, to take part in building a new vessel that could carry our hopes and stories into the future. My time with the McCord Stewart Museum has been a turning point in my own personal journey of truth and reconciliation. I hope to pass on and send people home with something good to share,” says MC Snow.

Exhibition views

“The McCord Stewart Museum’s collections contain objects of great cultural and historical significance to Indigenous communities. Granting access to these collections allows Indigenous artists to reestablish a connection with their cultural heritage, draw inspiration from the creativity of their ancestors, and breathe new life into traditional art forms. Accessible museum collections can foster dialogue and provides an opportunity for cultural exchange, sharing of knowledge, and development of new artistic expressions. By bringing different perspectives together, it can challenge stereotypes, promote cultural understanding, and facilitate a more inclusive and diverse art community.” says Michael Patten, Director General of BACA.

“The McCord Stewart Museum is delighted to begin this first collaboration with the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) with an installation by MC Snow, which brings two of his sculptures into dialogue with Indigenous historical objects from our collection. This exhibition is part of the reconciliation process to which the Museum has been committed for several years, highlighting both the ancestral knowledge and contemporary artistic practices of the First Nations. We hope the public will take advantage of this event to appreciate the vitality and creativity of North America’s Indigenous cultures.”

MC Snow

MC Snow is a multidisciplinary Kanien’kehà:ka artist living in Kahnawá:ke. MC is a graduate of the University of Ottawa fine arts department (BFA). He has been working and exhibiting in Canada and the United States since the 1990s. His mostly sculptural work combines traditional materials and techniques. While reflecting contemporary concerns, his work contributes to preserving traditional artistic value and defending Kanien’kehà:ka cultural identity.

In 2021, MC curated the exhibition Ka’shatsténhsera presented at the Contemporary Native Art Biennial. In 2023, he took part in the Biennale Internationnele Métiers d’Arts et Création in Paris, showcasing Indigenous artists and creators from Quebec. His many ongoing projects include designing street furniture by producing 10 bronze spheres for the City of Montreal’s Rue Peel project, which will officially launch in spring 2024.

Curatorship and production team

An exhibition presented by the Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) in partnership with the McCord Stewart Museum

Artist: MC Snow
Curating: Lori Beavis and Michael Patten, Director General and President, BACA
Project Management: François Vallée, McCord Stewart Museum
Conservation: Jonathan Lainey, Curator Indigenous Cultures, McCord Stewart Museum
Graphic Design: Anne-Marie Demers, McCord Stewart Musuem, and David Martin

The Contemporary Native Art Biennial (BACA) wishes to thank the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Quebec (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Fonds d’investissement pour le rayonnement de la Métropole, Secrétariat des affaires autochtones), the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, its presentation partners and its media partners.

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Press images

Object photographs
Exhibition views
Portraits of MC Snow