Meryl McMaster

Dichotomy runs through Meryl McMaster’s oeuvre. A Plains Cree member of the Siksika Nation who is also of European descent, the 27-year-old explored the topic of identity early on, along with perception, memory and myth. A day shy of her wedding, the Ontario-based interdisciplinary artist spoke to SFR about these common threads and her initiation to art in the form of a toy camera.

When did you decide photography was your medium?
Ever since I was young, I was super interested in cameras. I remember when I was around 3 or something, I had this fake, tiny camera that I would go around shooting pictures with. It wasn't until I was older when I was, like, That wasn't a real camera? That was just a fake? And my parents were, like, yeah. So I started young. Through high school, I picked it up more seriously and realized that I really loved the medium and I wanted to pursue it. I've actually always been interested in a wide range of media, so that's why my process has now evolved to combining sculpture and working with my hands, building things and integrating those into my photographs.

Talk about some of the recurring themes in your work. Issues like history, identity, lineage…
Over the last several years after graduating from university, I've been gravitating to looking at my own personal history, heritage and identity through my art. I've always been curious about my family lineage, ever since I was young, growing up with stories being told at family gatherings. My grandparents were interested in genealogy, so there was always this vested interest in knowing your past and your ancestors. From that, I've always struggled with my own identity in terms of my heritage, so I've always been curious about exploring that and understanding that within me. Self-portraiture has kind of been a natural progression in terms of the more personal side, and that's why I do it. A lot of the themes, the ideas that I speak through my work, are all things that I've either experienced or questions that I'm trying not necessarily to answer, but understand.

In keeping with that lineage vein, what is your reaction when you see companies or celebrities co-opting elements of Native American culture as their own?
It's been something that a lot of the younger generation, especially artists, have been expressing our views about. It's very tricky, because it's not a good reaction to a lot of this popular culture that's out there [flooded] with stereotypes of aboriginal people, and how it's being kind of adopted into fashion or shown in movies. We're able to escape some of these stereotypes that are still out there, even in sports teams and stuff. It's frustrating, for sure, to have people believe that that's what aboriginal culture is about. It's hard to live with, it's out there, and I think that there's a lot more youth and people speaking out about it; a lot of voices that are trying to change people's views and perspectives on what it is to be aboriginal and make sure that our culture is represented truthfully and respectfully. I think there are still a lot of conversations to be had and changes to be made.

What is your experience being a modern Native artist?
I really am speaking from my own knowledge, from my own family history, so it's coming from my heart and my head. I'm not always commenting on stereotypes in my work…I express my voice, who I am, and it may have references to aboriginal culture, some symbols, but not all the images that I do always have that. I'm really influenced by all sorts of different things, all sorts of stories and experiences that I've gone through in my life, and it all kind of comes together through these images.

Get up close and personal: McMaster's Wanderings opens Friday, Aug. 21,
at IAIA/MoCNA (108 Cathedral Place, 988-6211) and runs through Dec. 31.

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