Artist Jake Kimble's new exhibition, "My Bones Are Funny, Sometimes They Ache," opens at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. The mixed-media installation features self-portraits, Indigenous beadwork, nude photographs, and images printed onto paper towels, all inspired by Kimble's grandmother and their Chipewyan heritage. The title came from a conversation about the word for "funny bone" in Chipewyan, when Kimble's grandmother remarked, "My bones are funny and sometimes they ache."
The exhibition matters because it showcases a contemporary Indigenous artist's vulnerable exploration of growing up, grief, and identity, using unconventional materials like paper towels to reflect the resourcefulness of artists from remote communities without access to traditional art facilities. Curator Emma Hassencahl-Perley highlighted how Kimble's work resonates with audiences navigating similar adult experiences, making the show a poignant example of how personal and cultural narratives can intersect in visual art.