Open House for Artist-in Residence Eli Hirtle
Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 11 AM – 2 PM

Eli Hirtle is a nêhiyaw(Cree)/British/German filmmaker, beadworker, visual artist and curator based in Victoria, BC, Canada. His practice involves documenting Indigenous cultural resurgence and revitalization, as well as investigating his nêhiyaw identity through beadwork. His current areas of research are learning how to speak his ancestral language of nêhiyawêwin, making documentary and experimental films, and mentoring Indigenous youth.

In Joshua Tree, Eli will connect with regional indigenous communities, study the local flora and night skies, and continue his exploration of artworks and tattoos based on forms of traditional beading. The results of his explorations and inspirations will be shared at the open house.

On Sunday October 13th, please join us at the Palm Springs Art Museum for a screening of Eli’s film Voices on the Rise. The film follows the artist as he travels to Indigenous communities to explore language revitalization efforts across the Canadian province of Alberta. Viewers will also witness Eli undertaking his own language journey along the path to learning the Cree language.

Eli is currently the Indigenous Curator at Open Space Arts Society. Past curatorial projects include Sacred (Victoria City Hall), Pretty Good Not Bad Festival, IndigeVision Film Showcase, and the Wapakoni Cinema on Wheels Tour.

Film projects include RESIST: The Unistoten’s Call to the Land (2013), Voices on the Rise (2016), and Lekwungen: Place to Smoke Herring (2018).

Artist website: https://elihirtle.ca/