Dylan Robinson is a ( Stó:lō/Skwah) artist, curator and writer. He is an Associate Professor at the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...

's School of Music. His "research focuses on the sensory politics of Indigenous activism and the arts, and questions how Indigenous rights and settler colonialism are embodied and spatialized in public space." Robinson was the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Arts and the co-chair of the Indigenous Advisory Council for the

Canadian Music Centre The Canadian Music Centre was founded in 1959 by a group of Canadian composers who saw a need to create a repository for Canadian music. It now holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music, and works to promote the music of its As ...

Education

Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts from

Simon Fraser University Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a Public university, public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It maintains three campuses in Greater Vancouver, respectively located in Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, British Columbia, Surrey, and ...

, a Masters of Arts from the

University of Victoria The University of Victoria (UVic) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay, British Columbia, Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1903 as Victoria College, British Columbia, Victoria Col ...

and in 2009, received his PhD from the

University of Sussex The University of Sussex is a public university, public research university, research university located in Falmer, East Sussex, England. It lies mostly within the city boundaries of Brighton and Hove. Its large campus site is surrounded by the ...

's Centre for Research in Opera & Music Theatre.

Career and research interests

Robinson's research considers how Indigenous songs live and how they are recorded and presented in museums. Before his appointment as associate professor in the UBC School of Music, Robinson was an assistant professor at Queen's University. Robinson is learning

Halq'eméylem Halkomelem (; in the Upriver dialect, in the Island dialect, and in the Downriver dialect) is a language of various First Nations peoples of the British Columbia Coast. It is spoken in what is now British Columbia, ranging from southeastern ...

, the Stó:lō people's language.

Writing

His recent writings include "To All Who Should Be Concerned" for ''Intersections: Canadian Journal of Music'' (2021) and ''Promoting and Protecting the Arts and Expressions of Indigenous Peoples: A Compendium of Experiences and Actions'', which was co-edited with Heather Igloliorte and Tony Belcourt and published by the

Department of Canadian Heritage The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage (), is the department of the Government of Canada that has roles and responsibilities related to initiatives that promote and support "Canadian identity and values, cultural develo ...

in 2021. ''Promoting and Protecting the Arts and Expressions of Indigenous Peoples'' is a publication that gathers lived experiences and views on how Indigenous artistic practices and cultural expressions can be protected and promoted in addition to articulations of experiences and difficulties when facing "misappropriation of arts, cultural expressions, and artistic practices". Of Robinson's earlier works, ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies'' (2020) which explores Indigenous and settler colonial practices of listening, received the Best First Book award by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association as well as the Best Book award from the Canadian Theatre Research and Performance Association in 2021. In 2020, ''Music and Modernity among First Peoples of North America'', which Robinson co-edited with Victoria Lindsay Levine, received the

American Musicological Society The American Musicological Society (AMS) is a musicological organization which researches, promotes and produces publications on music. Founded in 1934, the AMS was begun by leading American musicologists of the time, and was crucial in legiti ...

's Ruth Solie Award and the Society for Ethnomusicology's Ellen Koskoff Prize.

Artistic practice

In addition to his research on Indigenous art, Robinson's artistic practice brings together music performance, dialogic art, and installation. In ''nuyamł-ił kulhulmx (singing the earth)'' which occurred from 2013 to 2019'','' a music installation encompassing text, installation, video, audio interviews, photography and erasure poetry, was co-created by Anna Höstman and Dylan Robinson, as well as Kwagiulth mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, Patrick Nickleson, people from the Bella Coola Valley, and Toronto's Continuum Ensemble''.'' It was "an artistic response to the people, environment and spirit of the

Bella Coola Valley The Bella Coola Valley is a relatively small but distinct region located in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, comprising the valley of the Bella Coola River and its tributaries. The region is served by BC Hwy 20, which runs ...

of coastal British Columbia."'''' Drawing from "historical and contemporary sources in four languages (

Nuxalk The Nuxalk people (Nuxalk language, Nuxalk: ''Nuxalkmc''; pronounced )'','' also referred to as the Bella Coola, Bellacoola or Bilchula, are an Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Indigenous First Nations in Canada, First Nation ...

, Norwegian, English and Japanese) to create 11 short pieces about an isolated and beautiful place." It was exhibited at the

Victoria Symphony Orchestra The Victoria Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in Victoria, British Columbia. It is considered Vancouver Island's largest and best-known performing arts organization. Currently conducted by Danish conductor Christian Kluxen, the orchestra used ...

in March 2019, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra February in 2017 and the Continuum Contemporary Music, Wychwood Theatre in Toronto in December 2013''.''

Artistic projects

A select list of artistic projects by Robinson. * ''nuyamł-ił kulhulmx'' (s''inging the earth) (2013-19).'' Music Installation, by Anna Höstman & Dylan Robinson''.'' Created with Kwagiulth mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, Patrick Nickleson, people from the

, and Toronto's Continuum Ensemble''.'' Victoria Symphony Orchestra March 2019, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra February 2017, Continuum Contemporary Music, Wychwood Theatre, Toronto December 2013. * Soft/SOFT (2008). Collaborative creation by Dylan Robinson (director/writer), Heather Roche (Bass Clarinet), Ben Oliver (composition), and Karen Schaller. Mandela Hall, University of Sussex. * ''Never Swim Alone'' (2001–02). Play by Daniel McIvor. Directed by Heather Lindsay. Featuring actors Billy Marchenski, Angela Bespflug, Tricia Collins, Tyler McClendon, Dylan Robinson. Burrard Aquatic Centre "Kiddies Pool", Vancouver September 2002. SFU Theatre Burnaby, BC September 2002. Havana Theatre, Vancouver August 2001.

Curatorial projects

A select list of curation projects by Robinson. * ''Soundings: An Exhibition in Five Parts'' (2019–2025), curated by

Candice Hopkins Candice Hopkins (born 1977) is a Carcross/Tagish First Nation independent curator, writer, and researcher who predominantly explores areas of art by Indigenous peoples. She is the executive director and chief curator at the Forge Project in New Yo ...

and Dylan Robinson, and featured newly commissioned scores, performances, videos, sculptures and sound by Indigenous and other artists who respond to this question. Organized by

Agnes Etherington Art Centre The Agnes Etherington Art Centre is located in Kingston, Ontario, on the campus of Queen's University. The gallery has received a number of awards for its exhibitions from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries ...

, Queen's University,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. The traveling exhibition is organized by

Independent Curators International Independent Curators International (ICI) is a non-profit headquartered in New York City that has produced exhibitions, events, publications, and training opportunities since 1975. History Independent Curators International (ICI) was founded in 197 ...

(ICI). * ''Decolonial Imaginings (June to October 2020),'' curated by Dylan Robinson and Mitch Renaud''.'' Co-produced with the

in BC, and supported by the

Canada Council for the Arts The Canada Council for the Arts (), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It is Canada's public arts funder, with a mandate to foster and promote the study a ...

. * ''Ka'tarohkwi Festival of Indigenous Arts (Winter, 2019), curated by'' Dylan Robinson at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.

Public presentations

A select list of public presentations featuring Robinson. * Continuum: A conversation on historical musics & Indigenous resurgence. Produced by Early Music Vancouver's 2021 summer artist-in-residence, Jonathon Adams, Panelists include Dylan Robinson, Marion Newman and Reneltta Arluk. Recorded June 14, 2021, published Jun 15, 2021. * Send + Receive: A Conversation with Dylan Robinson. Presented by

McNally Robinson McNally Robinson Booksellers is a family-operated chain of Canadian independent bookstores founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1981. It is managed by new owners Chris Hall and Lori Baker, formerly managed by Holly and Paul McNally. As of 2019 it h ...

and with Collective Broadcast Co. May 6, 2021. * Decolonial Imaginings - Curator Introduction. Presented by of-the-now. 2021. * Hungry Listening: A conversation between Aruna D'Souza and Dylan Robinson. Presented by Independent Curators INTL. 2021. * Curators Talk: Candice Hopkins & Dylan Robinson. Moderated by KWAG Senior Curator Crystal Mowry. Presented by the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. July 20, 2020.

Publications

Books

* Robinson, Dylan; Igloliorte, Heather; Belcourt, Tony (2021). ''Promoting and Protecting the Arts and Expressions of Indigenous Peoples: A Compendium of Experiences and Actions''.

. * Robinson, Dylan (2020). ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies''. University of Minnesota Press. . * Robinson, Dylan; Levine, Victoria Lindsay, eds (2018). ''Music and Modernity among First Peoples of North America''. Wesleyan University Press. . * Robinson, Dylan; Martin, Keavy, eds (2016). Arts of Engagement: Taking Aesthetic Action In and Beyond the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. . * Robsinon, Dylan; Karantonis, Pamela, eds (2011). ''Opera Indigene: Re/presenting First Nations and Indigenous Cultures''. Interdisciplinary Studies in Opera Series, Ashgate Press. .

Book chapters

* Robinson, Dylan; Martin, Keavy (2020). "The Body is a Resonant Chamber" in ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies''. 1-20. * Robinson, Dylan (2020). "Intergenerational Sense, Intergenerational Responsibility" in ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies''. 43–66. * Robinson, Dylan (2020). "Acts of Defiance in Indigenous Theatre: A Conversation with Lisa C. Ravenbergen" in ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies''. 181–192. * Robinson, Dylan (2020). "Imagining New Platforms for Public Engagement: A Conversation with Bracken Corlett" in ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies''. 305–320. * Robinson, Dylan (2019). "Speaking to Water, Singing to Stone: Peter Morin, Rebecca Belmore and the Ontologies of Indigenous Modernity" in ''Music and Modernity among First Peoples of North America''. 220–239. * Robinson, Dylan (2014). "Feeling Reconciliation, Remaining Settled." In ''Theatres of Affect'' edited Erin Hurley. Playwrights Canada Press. * Robinson, Dylan (2012). Listening to the Politics of Aesthetics: Contemporary Encounters between First Nations/Inuit and Early Music Traditions in ''Aboriginal Music in Contemporary Canada'' edited by Anna Hoefnagels and Beverley Diamond. 222–248.

Articles

* Robinson, Dylan. "To All Who Should Be Concerned." In ''Intersections: Canadian Journal of Music''. Vol. 39, 1. pp. 137–44. 2021. * Robinson, Dylan; Hill, Kanonhsyonne Janice C., Ruffo, Armand Garnet; Couture, Selena; Ravensbergen, Lisa Cooke. "Rethinking the Practice and Performance of Indigenous Land Acknowledgement." In ''

Canadian Theatre Review The ''Canadian Theatre Review'' is a quarterly magazine publishing critical analysis and coverage of current theatre developments, expanding the practice of criticism in Canadian theatre. It is published by the University of Toronto Press and is a ...

.'' Vol, 177 (Winter 2019): 20–30. * Robinson, Dylan. "Public Writing, Sovereign Reading: Indigenous Language Art in Public Space." In ''Art Journal''. Vol. 76, No. 2 (Summer 2017): 85–99. * Robinson, Dylan. "Intercultural Art Music and The Sensory Veracity of Reconciliation: Brent Michael Davids' Powwow Symphony on the Dakota Music Tour." In ''MUSICultures: Journal of The Canadian Society for Traditional Music''. In Special Issue, Indigenous Modernities. 39, 1 (2012): 111–128. * Robinson, Dylan. "Distracting Music." In ''Musicological Explorations''. Vol. 9 (Spring 2008).

Awards

* 2021, ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies'', 'Best First Book' award by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association. * 2021, ''Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies'', 'Best Book' award from the Canadian Theatre Research and Performance Association. * 2020, ''Music and Modernity among First Peoples of North America'',

's Ruth Solie Award. * 2020, ''Music and Modernity among First Peoples of North America'', Society for Ethnomusicology]'s Ellen Koskoff Prize.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Dylan Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Academic staff of the University of British Columbia Simon Fraser University alumni University of Victoria alumni Academic staff of Queen's University at Kingston 21st-century First Nations musicians Canadian curators Canadian installation artists 21st-century First Nations artists Sto:lo people