Waterloo Region, ON – Schneider Haus is pleased to open Matrilineal Hauntings, a new installation of sculptures by Toronto-based artist and art historian Kathy Kranias. Drawing on her family history in her matrilineal line, the exhibition explores intimate partner violence, the effects felt intergenerationally, and the “tension between quiet violence and injustice” that parallels our current times.

Matrilineal Hauntings features five ceramic vessels and photographs of Kranias’s body in juxtaposition with the pieces. The exhibit displays the female body in various forms, highlighting themes of confronting violence, female agency, and gestures of protection.

“Installations like Matrilineal Hauntings educate community about the reality of domestic violence,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. “Domestic violence impacts residents across Waterloo Region and we all have a role to play in ending it. In September of 2023, Regional Council joined more than 45 Ontario municipalities in passing a motion that declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. We’ve seen a steady increase over the last decade of intimate partner violence with racialized women and Indigenous women experiencing disproportionately high rates. This exhibit provides a safe space for community to explore this important topic and access supports.” 

Kranias originally displayed the installation in the 19th century Toronto home of her matrilineal ancestors, however installing it in Schneider Haus provides an opportunity to spark a conversation about women’s experiences overcoming violence in Waterloo Region.

“For me, the importance of this exhibit is to share an immersive experience of hope in the face of violence,” explains Kranias. “I hope the community feels a sense of relief and freedom in the expressive gestures of my allegorical sculptures.”

Complementing Matrilineal Hauntings, seasons of “She Is Your Neighbour”, a podcast and prevention series, will be featured on the second floor of the house alongside headshots of guests. The podcast is a prevention project and storytelling series created by Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. The project explores the realities and complexities of domestic violence by sharing stories from people of all walks of life. 

Matrilineal Hauntings is now openat Schneider Haus National Historic Site.
Site Hours: Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more, visit regionofwaterloomuseums.ca/matrilinealhauntings/.

Join us June 15 for an artist talk from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration required. Register on Eventbrite