Artist Jay Odjick has created two large-scale outdoor animation projections, titled Odāwā Yesterday: Odāwā Chìnàgo and Odāwā Tomorrow: Odāwā Wàbang, animating the facades of the Ottawa Art Gallery and the National Arts Centre.
Where to see them
Odāwā Yesterday: Odāwā Chìnàgo is projected onto the Ottawa Art Gallery's white Cube facade near the Mackenzie King Bridge, while Odāwā Tomorrow: Odāwā Wàbang lights up the National Arts Centre's Kipnes Lantern.
A story older than 200 years
Odjick, a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, said his understanding is that Ottawa has always been a gathering and meeting place because of the waterways that lead to the area. That idea runs through both pieces, framing the city's history as something that long predates its formal founding.
OAG Director and CEO Alexandra Badzak said Odjick's commission reminds people that the story of the place extends far beyond 200 years, while inviting reflection on how the community moves forward together. NAC President and CEO Annabelle Cloutier said the Kipnes Lantern was created to share art with everyone who passes through the heart of the city, and that Odjick's work embodies that vision, calling the installation a place of reflection that reinforces the NAC's commitment to elevating Indigenous artists and creating meaningful connections through the arts.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Ottawa Tourism President and CEO Michael Crockatt said the installation gives visitors a compelling reason to explore downtown Ottawa, noting that people are looking for authentic experiences that tell them something meaningful about a destination. For a city marking its 200th anniversary, having a Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg artist reframe that milestone against a much older history adds a layer that a straightforward celebration wouldn't.
The projections sit at two of downtown's most visible cultural landmarks, the OAG's Cube near the Mackenzie King Bridge and the NAC's Kipnes Lantern, both spots plenty of Ottawa residents and visitors pass on foot most days.
Sources: Apartment613, National Arts Centre (official)
