Dan Rosenburg
The Eastern Door
Vol. 13 No. 42, November 12, 2004

The entire community of Kahnawake is invited to the launching of an art exhibition of the works of Maja Vodanovic at the Valentin Art Gallery, 1490 Sherbrooke West, suite 200 in Montreal, tomorrow from 1-5 p.m.

During the exposition, the portrait of former Kahnawake Chief and retired professional wrestler Billy Two Rivers will be featured, in homage to his battle for the environment and his commitment to improve the life condition of the people.

The exhibit comprises 12 paintings and multimedias, done with collages and superpositions. Each work is inspired by a personality politically engaged at one level or another.

In addition to Two Rivers, the artist has notably captured the images of Dr.June Irwin and Dr. Nicole Bruinsma, known for their crusades against pesticides; Rohini Lucy Peris, the motor and heart of the Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAPQuebec), and the late Quebec Premier, Rene Levesque, who defended the interest of the people and not the interest of a minority.

According to a press release prepared by the Valentin Gallery, all of the artist’s subjects “plunged into public life, confronting perversity and the corruption of the existing order.”

Vodanovic says she discovered through them that “progress toward a better world is possible. We just need to act on it. This is the reason for this exhibition.”

The Valentin Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays.