Queer Newfoundland Hockey League

Lucas Morneau

Exhibition Dates: May 11, 2024 - July 6, 2024

Reception & Artist Talk: May 11, 2024 6:00 pm - 9 pm

The Saskatchewan Craft Council is proud to present Queer Newfoundland Hockey League, a solo exhibition by Lucas Morneau (they/he), a Sobey Art Award (2024) longlisted artist. Queer Newfoundland Hockey League(QNHL) is a fictional hockey league made up of 14 teams, presented through crocheted and rug hooked hockey jerseys, queered hockey cards, and crocheted goalie masks.

QNHL team names all use pejoratives used against theLGBT2QIA+ community to reclaim the words often used against queer individuals both on and off the ice. Each jersey is created using craft practices often deemed “women’s work” and make references to the history of rug hooking in Newfoundland and the use of stockings from women around rural communities in the province.

The jerseys are paired with 10 crochet goalie masks, stylized as doilies. These goalie doilies reference the introduction of the goalie mask and its first full-time NHL user, Jacques Plante, who was ridiculed and mocked for wearing a mask after sustaining serious injuries during a game.

QNHL aims to deconstruct homophobia in sports culture and to create a new, positive, and accepting brand of masculinity for sports enthusiasts.

The artist would like to acknowledge ArtsNL and Canada Council for their support of this project.

Lucas Morneau (they/he) is an interdisciplinary artist and curator living in the Sikniktregion of Mi’kma’ki/Sackville, New Brunswick. Born and raised on the island of Ktaqamtuk/Newfoundland, Morneau completed their Bachelor of Fine Arts at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Grenfell Campus in 2016 and completed their Master of Fine Arts at the University of Saskatchewan in 2018. Morneau’s work has exhibited across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Exhibition Dates: May 11 – July 6, 2024
Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm