Inspired by the matriarchs who give ROSEMARY its namesake, ROSEMARY SKOOL looks to kindle moments of engagement that support our cultural values of fierce love, humility, and courage. Thinking about the homes of these matriarchs, ROSEMARY SKOOL strives towards the cultivation of spaces for gathering that are welcoming and generous to all our relations to build knowledge together. ROSEMARY SKOOL operates without cost to the public or to artists, providing an opportunity which ensures fair pay to arts workers. Its operations are Indigenous-led, through ROSEMARY Gallery. It works in critical discussion with, existing institutional models of equity and diversity initiatives to press for meaningful engagement with underrepresented communities in the arts.

Credits:
Conceived of and programmed by: Jaimie Isaac and Suzanne Morrissette
Technically and financially supported by: Sputnik Architecture + The Forks
With special thanks to: Chris Pancoe, Dave Pancoe, Peter Hargraeves, Lexis Nizio, Benita, Tom Kroeker, and Bobby
Programs supported by: The Forks, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and proceeds from the ROSEMARY SKOOL art brick fundraiser

photo by New Copper Photography

When designing the structure that would become ROSEMARY SKOOL, we began with the idea of a birch bark basket as a container for knowledge and gifts.

At the same time, we drew inspiration from the clay and silt that cradles the rivers, which appears parched and cracked when exposed to the air, and that is sticky when wet.

We imagined how ROSEMARY SKOOL could help to build space and capacity for artists. To support this idea we built bricks using silt and clay materials from the river, alongside prairie grasses, cattails, and medicines.

Meanwhile, we worked alongside Sputnik Architecture and Anvil Tree to design and plan for our structure to be built from snow. The design marries the conceptual use of the basket and brick forms with our programmatic needs for artist presentations and community gatherings. It was sited and looked out onto the Assiniboine and Red Rivers.

We built the structure in one week in late January 2025 using the help of snow blowers, wooden form-work, and custom hand-sculpting tools for working with snow and ice.

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THE PROGRAM

ROSEMARY SKOOL events included a screening of

River Poetics by Chukwudubem Ukaigwe

January 24, 2025

Pinch Pot Workshop with KC Adams

January 24, 2025

Community Feast

January 24, 2025

Everything is Connected: a Screening and Panel with Just Waters and The Decolonizing Lens

February 13, 2025

Thank you to ROSEMARY SKOOL funders and partners!