Golden State Today

Amanda Strong, an Indigenous stop-motion animator and founder of Spotted Fawn Productions, has been named the fall artist-in-residence at UC Berkeley’s Arts Research Center. Strong will present screenings of her films on October 30 and participate in an artist talk on November 1 at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA).

Strong, a Michif/Red River Métis member of the Manitoba Mètis Federation in Canada, is known for creating immersive films that challenge colonial narratives about Indigenous peoples. Her work often takes years to produce and features characters navigating modern life with guidance from spirits and shapeshifters.

During her residency, Strong will screen several works, including her first film "Indigo," which tells the story of a woman reliving memories with help from Grandmother Spider. Attendees will also get a preview of her latest film "Inkwo for When the Starving Return," adapted from a short story by Tlicho Dene storyteller Richard Van Camp. Following the screening, she will engage in a discussion with the audience.

On November 1, Strong will join Bracken Hanuse Corlett, an interdisciplinary artist from the Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations, for an artist talk. Both events are open to the public.

In a Q&A with UC Berkeley News, Strong discussed her approach to portraying emotion in stop-motion animation and emphasized the importance of centering Indigenous practices in her work. She explained that each project begins with an idea or collaboration with an Indigenous author or writer. The development process includes scripting, storyboarding, and pitching for funding.

Strong highlighted the challenges and rewards of creating stop-motion projects within an Indigenous studio context. "Creating stop motion projects can take years," she said. "It’s a long and challenging process... But it’s so rewarding when everything comes together."

Her films explore themes such as language revitalization, gender diversity, connection to ceremony, and colonial impacts on land and water. Many stories feature younger Indigenous individuals guided by shapeshifters and spirits as they navigate modern complexities.

She noted that finding artists who resonate with each story is important to her process: "Capturing the essence of emotion... within characters... plays a crucial role in building our teams."

Strong believes that stop-motion animation uniquely combines handmade artistry with digital technology to create compelling worlds: "This art form brings together various artistic disciplines... to collaboratively build a universe from words from a page."

Tickets for both events can be purchased through the Arts Research Center's website.