The Gathering: Online
Visual Representation:
The Problematic Nature of the Gaze for IBPOC Visual Artists
September 24, 2020 | 1-4pm via Zoom
The importance of visual representation of IBPOC artists and organizations has been amplified by the recent events occurring in our world. Articles have surfaced about the problematic of a Euro-centric gaze and interpretation of visual Arts for IBPOC identified persons.
What are some of these experiences? How do we begin to shift perspectives, invite multiplicity of approaches and representation into Visual Arts? How can the invitation and representation of the works of IBPOC artists also be amplified in gallery settings in Canada?
We hope you can join us. It is our intent to offer further a space for networking with artists and organizations, asking the same questions about IBPOC visibility, inclusion and their intersections with artistic/organizational practices while speaking to many perspectives in the arts and the changing demographics of audiences and participation within the Arts sector.
Panelists:
- Karen Carter
- Diane Montreuil
- Julius Poncelet Manapul
- Akshata Naik
- Michael Chambers
- Vero Diaz
Moderated by: Alana Traficante
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-gathering-online-tickets-105192573820
Bios:
Karen Carter is a cultural sector executive who enjoys working in creative and educational environments. She has over 20 years of experience working and volunteering in a range of arts, culture and heritage settings in Toronto. Karen is the former Executive Director of Heritage Toronto, a City of Toronto agency responsible for the education and promotion of Toronto’s heritage. She is the founding Executive Director of Myseum of Toronto and co-founder and Director of Black Artists' Network and Dialogue (BAND), the organization is dedicated to the promotion of Black artists in Canada and abroad. Karen’s most recent project CArt is a Caribbean Art Fair to that launched January 2020 in Mandeville Jamaica. CArt is a contemporary art fair connecting artists from the Caribbean region to the international art world. https://www.bandgallery.com/
Diane Montreuil was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She studied Interior Design at Old Montreal College where some of her projects were published in numerous design magazines. She now lives in Toronto. Diane grew up in a creative and entrepreneurial family. At a young age her parents enrolled her to “Les Beaux Arts” for young kids. Enmeshed in her world of creation she became a self-taught artist over the years. Captivated by the Arts in all its shapes and forms & her love for Landscapes, scenes seemed to magically come together. In later time Diane discovered and understood why her life came together after discovering that she was a Métis (Algonquin) on both sides of her family. Being Métis (Algonquin), she was designated to the position of Education resource person at the MNOC - Métis Nation of Canada where she sits on the Board of Directors since 2016. Website: www.dianeart13.wordpress.com Shopify store: dianeart13.com
Julius Poncelet Manapul. Born in Manila, Philippines in 1980, Julius is a migrant Filipinx artist from the Ilocano tribe, with Spanish heritage and a descendant of Maria Josefa Gabriela Carino de Silang, known as an anti-colonial fighter during the 18th century Spanish rule over the Philippines—the first female leader of a Filipino movement for independence from Spain. This background informs Julius’ research and artistic practice, as they excavate the experience of immigration and assimilation through cultural erasure. Immigrated to Canada in 1990, attained a BFA at OCAD U in 2009, Professional Art Studio certificate from TSA in 2011, Masters of Visual Studies at UofT in 2013, Sexual Diversity Studies certificate at UofT in 2013. www.juliusponceletmanapul.com
Akshata Naik is an internationally recognized, talented contemporary visual artist, arts educator, and administrator. She works as the Program and Gallery Manager at Arts Etobicoke and is very invested in community arts through her job and art practice. She was an Assistant Professor at Parul University in Gujarat, where she taught drawing and painting in India before moving to Canada. She is a newcomer to Canada and soon after she arrived in 2017, she became active in the arts scene, widely showing her interactive art with several communities across Toronto. Most recently, she exhibited ‘Bloody Boats 2.0’ at the Gladstone Hotel for Nuit Blanche 2019 and was also invited as the guest artist by the town of Collingwood to lead an experiential public art project. Her piece, 'Frozen Voyage' was installed at the council chambers, townhall of Collingwood. She is also an accomplished speaker, presenting at THE MUSEUM, the Gathering 1.0 organized by Cultural Pluralism in the Art Movement Ontario (CPAMO), Emergence Symposium organized by Neighbourhood Arts Network. https://akshatanaik.com/
Michael Chambers. Photographic Artist and Curator Michael Chambers has been published and exhibited internationally and locally at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Royal Ontario Museum to name a few. As a speaker Chambers has mentored and inspired art enthusiasts world wide. Chambers has been credited in award winning films and television shows, he was also the subject of Anton Wagner’s biographical documentary for CBC, The Photographer - An Artist's Journey and more recently a PBS special Through A Lens Darkly, which received the prestigious NAACP award in 2016. Agraduate of Toronto’s York University, Chambers was the Former photo editor and creative director of WORD Magazine, a 2010 recipient of the Harry Jerome Award for art and entertainment. Michael Chambers has created iconic images for African awareness, Black History and casting light on the resilience of the human spirit. The exhibition SHADOWS to SILVER showcased a 25 year retrospective which toured four cities including Thames Art Gallery in Chatham, Toronto’s BAND Gallery, O’Connor Gallery in Thousand Islands and Montreal’s Never Apart Gallery. This exhibition was commemorated by the launch of Michael Chambers coffee table book of the same name. R.M. Vaughan of The Globe and Mail referred to Chambers as “a social hurricane”, CBC, NOW, Toronto life and C Magazine have called his work “iconic” https://mchambers.smugmug.com/
Vero Diaz is a professional artist, as well as a Self-Mastery Coach and Medicine Keeper. She was born and raised in Mexico. Her artistic process and vision is tied to her indigenous ancestral legacy to activate all the seeds that were buried for this prophetic time. She leads visionary creative processes that include ritual, healing, and sacred traditions.
Currently, her photography and watercolour paintings act as Codices (Codex); as living texts and mnemonic devices for Indigenous Futurisms. Her art acts as living images suspended in time for any one to witness and activate. Her desire is to co-create moments of empowerment, activation, and surrender that are both timeless and time full.
She has exhibited and performed in Toronto in Gallery 44, Artscape, Toronto Public Library, Aluna Theatre, Aki Studio, York University, Waterloo University; Quindio, Colombia; and led long term artistic processes in Costa Rica and Mexico. http://verodiaz.com/photographyportfolio
Alana Traficante is a writer and curator and is currently the Executive Director at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography. As an arts leader, she works through feminist, collaborative methodologies to build community-oriented, inclusive programming and governance models. Alana is a graduate of the Criticism and Curatorial Practice MFA program at OCAD University (2016), and has been working in the non-profit arts sector since 2008. https://www.gallery44.org/
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CPAMO is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, English Testing Canada, Barrett and Welsh, and LeSageArts Management.
