OMAH celebrates traditional and new Indigenous art

Indigenous contemporary quillwork showing at Orillia Museum of Art & History.

Dillon Bickell is a quillwork artist and a proud member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

Bickell is showing his work at the Orillia Museum of Art & History.

Bickell said he first experimented with quillwork at a community crafting circle in October 2021. The familiarity, ease, and blood memory connection were undeniable, he said. Knowing his late grandmother, Lila Ingersoll, had been a talented quill worker further inspired Bickell to pursue this art form.

Bickell has honed his skills, developing his own distinct quillwork style. He values both traditional Indigenous crafting techniques and modern designs, seeking to incorporate both into his work.

Tanya Cunnington, OMAH’s arts programming coordinator, said what attracted her to Bickell’s work was his ability to use a historic art form and create contemporary art with it.

“By incorporating elements of popular culture—such as Grogu from the Star Wars franchise—he bridges the past and present, honoring tradition while making it relatable today,” Cunnington said. “The Tattoo Style Snake and the Grogu (Baby Yoda) quilled pieces are perfect examples of how such a traditional art form can be modern, playful, and relevant.”

Each piece of Bickell’s quillwork is handmade using natural materials including birch bark, porcupine quills, and animal hides and skins, which he harvests locally within the traditional territories of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

“Using bold colours and recognizable designs, I chose to feature familiar pop culture imagery for these fun pieces. I hope they evoke a sense of wonder, as well as renew interest in quillwork and Indigenous artwork,” said Bickell.

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Having his work acquired by OMAH is a wonderful experience, said Bickell.

“As an Indigenous artist, having pieces of my quillwork added to the permanent collection at the Orillia Museum of Art & History is incredibly meaningful,” he said.

“I recognize how important and impactful it is to have Indigenous representation in these spaces—where, historically, Indigenous voices were never featured or celebrated. “The path to meaningful Truth and Reconciliation starts with education, and it’s small steps like this that help foster deeper connection and understanding between our Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities,” Bickell said.

It was at this year’s Sir Sam’s Society art exchange event, that OMAH’s latest acquisitions: Tattoo Style Snake and Grogu (Baby Yoda) by Bickell were initially shown.

The OMAH recently hosted its annual Sir Sam’s Society membership event showcasing the museum’s commitment to collecting significant works of art.

The Sir Sam’s Society membership, valued at $400 annually, offers members unique benefits, including a $325 charitable tax receipt and invitations to special events throughout the year.

Members can either borrow an original artwork for one year or allocate their donation to the Sir Sam’s Society Acquisition Fund, which supports the expansion of OMAH’s collection.

As part of its ongoing commitment to collecting works connected to Orillia and its surrounding area, OMAH places a special emphasis on acquiring pieces by artists with deep ties to the community or those who have contributed to the region or Canada.