The staff of Woodland Cultural Centre are mourning the loss of our Curator, Patricia Deadman, who passed away on November 29, 2024. Our Executive Director writes:

There is never enough time.

Patricia taught us all so much, but I wish that we had more time just to sit and listen to her stories. She knew everyone; she had worked with and exhibited alongside every major Indigenous artist. She braved the gallery and museum industry at a time when women, especially Indigenous women, were facing a less-than-friendly environment.

We would talk about how Indigenous art was any art made by Indigenous people, regardless of the subject or medium, and it frustrated her (in her kind, soft way) that we were still having this conversation over 30 years later. Do you remember her sighs? Patricia could say a lot without saying anything. But when we did have time to chat, her understanding of Indigenous art was so broad and deep, and she had such a passion for the ways in which art, especially photography, could convey so much without any words.

She always said she knew whose desk she sat behind—referencing her predecessor Tom Hill—and like Tom, she was always willing to share her knowledge. She was patient and kind, and she could always see the potential in our staff and in Woodland as an organization.

Patricia’s understanding of land and her process-oriented approach was grounded in her awareness of herself, the environment, and her relationships with people. In her own words, Patricia said:

“The landscape represents a sense of place where physical, spiritual, or psychological connections to the land may become apparent. As resources are consumed for profit, the consequences of these actions inevitably affect the individual. The photographic image becomes a representation of what we take for granted as our memory becomes forgetful of what is real.”

She lamented not having the time, energy, or health to be out on the trails. I have thought of her in every tree canopy and every ray of sunshine since she passed. She was planning to go back to Banff and return to her art practice. Like all artists who end up curating, her first passion, her love, was the art itself, and for Pat, this especially meant the process—she never worked in digital because she loved the process as much as the final piece.

Patricia was a celebrated artist, independent curator, and writer, and she leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the world of Indigenous art. Born in Ohsweken, in the heart of the Six Nations of the Grand River, she was pivotal in the preservation and evolution of Indigenous artistic expressions. With a Fine Arts Diploma from Fanshawe College and a BFA from the University of Windsor, she brought over twenty years of curatorial experience from esteemed institutions, including the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Museum London, and the MacKenzie Art Gallery, to her work with us at Woodland. Her dedication to her craft was recognized through her selection for the Aboriginal Curators Delegation to prestigious events such as the Sydney Biennale and the Venice Biennale, making a lasting impact on the art community.

In all of this, though, one thing stands out most to me: there is just never enough time, so make the time for the process, for the long and deep conversations, to admire the slow and steady processes of the natural world, and to share a meal. Make the time for what and whom you love—because there truly is never enough time.

Heather George, Executive Director, Woodland Cultural Centre.