Cultivating Territories and Historicity: The Digital Art of Skawennati

Skawennati Tricia Fragnito is a digital artist whose work emerged in the 1990s and continues to involve themes of colonialism through Internet communities and narrative.This study examines the artist's Internet artworks, first looking at CyberPowWow (1996-2004) and Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (2008-) as virtual gathering places to discuss possibilities of using the Internet as an alternative place for First Nations and Native Americans to show artwork.In her Webworks, such as the TimeTraveller™ (2007-) series and Imagining Indians in the 25 th Century (2000-2001), Skawennati reworks historical notions of the past to expose colonialism from the perspective of a Native character.The most recent body of work, 80 Minutes, 80 Movies, 80s Music, is a series of freely-distributed music video project hosted on the video sharing Website Vimeo that was founded in 2004, that explores the historic colonization of network television and music in the 1980s by undermining notions of nostalgia and broadens perspective onto current electronic colonialism.Skawennati's work keenly exemplifies digital art's participating and expansive possibilities for understanding territory, distribution and sharing of "space."Acknowledgments Writing this study would have been shallow without Skawennati's generous assistance and communication with me.Having the opportunity to work with her in her Montreal Studio and correspond with her provided me with necessary first-hand information concerning her personal goals and desires, as well as the technical processes she used to create her digital art.I am extremely grateful and delighted that I had the chance to work with her on this study.Her contributions, especially of showing me what she has reworked that exists now in TimeTraveller™ and outmoded versions of work such as CyberPowWow that is no longer available on the Internet.Experiencing the CyberPowWow chat space was invaluable, because without her providing me with access to this once-interactive chat site, I would not have been able to fully comprehend the dialogue and viewing procedures.The possibility of visiting her studio was realized through funds provided through the Graduate Student Governance Association Research Fellowship, without which I would not have had the finances to support my visit to Montreal.This fellowship gave me the opportunity to supplement my research and to strengthen my understanding of the artist's media and how her use of technology has led to multiple versions of works.It also facilitated our in-depth conversations about her work that continues electronically.My committee members supported me through this process, contributing their expertise on contemporary art and conceptual guidance to strengthen my writing.My thesis chair, Kimberly Paice, has been an especially valuable member to my committee because of her patience and intellectual insights.Her availability and willingness to discuss my writing and revisions helped to make this procedure a positive and fruitful experience.Because of her, this thesis is a sliver of the education I experienced during this process; she allowed me to explore multiple ideas while forming this piece of writing.She encouraged and guided my creativity in my research and writing.Jordan Tate was diligent in contributing to my education of the Internet and Internet art, and challenged me to draw deeper connections to other artists that strengthened my understanding of the medium.Morgan Thomas was also a valuable asset in encouraging my analysis of post-colonialism and work by Native people.Finally, I would like to thank my family members and friends who have supported me through this process by providing much-needed moral support.Without their love and assurance these last few months would have been entirely overwhelming and seemingly impossible.I am especially grateful to my mother, Ellen Guerrettaz, who, despite fighting cancer during the last few months of my thesis writing, continued to give objective guidance, direction, and encouragement.Thanks, Mom. Table of ContentsIntroduction………………………………………………………………………………………..

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