The ROM will be jumping tonight at the kick off of From the Soul, a Scotiabank Caribana art exhibit that lays claim to the title of Canada’s largest ever juried display of works by African Canadian artists. Graphic and colourful, the 170 works by 50 artists were pulled together by curator Joan Butterfield (above with work by Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, top, and Rachel Natalie Rawlins), a festival director and chair of the Association of African-Canadian Artists.
Piped-in soca and calypso music set the appropriate tone as Joan walked me through the show earlier today. All of the work on display is new and has been created expressly for this exhibition. “I usually compose a short poem that defines the theme but this year I wanted to let the artists just do their own thing, I wanted them to paint from the soul,” she explains.
Butterfield selected the work from about 200 submissions. “The artists paint on canvas, whereas this whole room is MY canvas. I’m painting the room with the artworks,” she says.
And what a room it is! Big and bright, the 7,000 square foot space lets the art really sing. “This is the fourth year for the show,” informs Butterfield. “The first year was at the Distillery District, then three years ago we struck gold when we formed a marriage with the ROM.”
As we tour the exhibit Butterfield provides commentary about the various pieces and individual artists. We pause in front of Jason O’Brien’s When My Soul Dreams, below, a triptych in oils (or is it acrylics?) that has become a mixed media work since the addition of appliqués covering the central figure’s breasts.
I’m aghast that a contemporary artist would be required to mar his canvas like this but Butterfield notes that she is obligated to ensure that works in the show do not “offend.”
“If a mother comes in with her child,” says Joan, “. . . no, I can already hear the complaints. As a curator I agree to certain conditions regarding what I can and cannot exhibit and it would be a shame not to show this beautiful piece. Jason can pull those things off when the show is finished.”
See it for yourself until August 13 at the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen’s Park); free with admission ($16 – $24).
Photos by Christopher Jones
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this exhibit looks amazing, I’ll certainly check it out. Thanks for the article and pics
amazing exhibit! was a pleasure to see the works of friends and artists Jason Obrien and Kwame Delfish displayed in the ROM, truly inspiring!
Then all the Greek classical sculptures should be dressed in bathing suits not to offend the sensibilities of the parents? Why should a child be offended by breasts?
Censured art is not art;
an artist who censures herself/himself is not being true; managing sensitivities is not educating the public; I myself paint breasts and penis- we are sexual beings- and nudes have been painted forever…..Is Ontario still suffering from “prudism”?? (being prude). Please give art inspired by Caribbean culture all its power!! Thanks.