SUMMARY:
Decolonizing street art: Anti-colonial street artists convergence will take place at the end of August 2014. This project fosters the idea of bringing together street artists of indigenous and settler origins and build an artistic community of shared anticolonial values. The convergence will promote a type of street art that advocates the decolonization of Turtle Island and will remind the Montrealers of the city’s colonial history. The artists, living across Canada and the USA, already focus part of their work on issues related to indigenous resistance such as environmental struggles against pipelines and mining and justice for missing and murdered native women.
Decolonizing street art : Anti-colonial street artists convergence will organize its activities around two different axes. The first artistic axe will bring together the street artists to create art pieces in the streets of Montreal. The works will differ in medium, subject and relationship to the public sphere. The second community axe will foster the idea of creating spaces to discuss political issues related to colonialism between the participants and organisms devoted to the urban native community of Montreal. There should also be activities specifically designed to involve the indigenous youth.
EVENTS:
Throughout the Anti-Colonial Street Artists Convergence, visiting and local artists will be creating art pieces on the streets of Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) between August 22 until September 3. Some of these collaborations will be open to the public. Other confirmed events include:
Meet & Greet with the artists of the Anti-Colonial Street Artists Convergence
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 6pm-8pm
at QPIRG Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204 (métro Guy-Concordia; wheelchair accessible)
An opportunity to meet many of the artists participating in the Convergence. Event to include projections. Participating artists include: Bandit (Los Angeles) * Camille (Tiohtià:ke) * lmnopi (Brooklyn, BC) * Nigit’stil Norbert (Yellowknife, NWT) * Chris Bose (Kamloops, BC)* Jessica Sabogal (San Francisco) * Erin Marie Konsmo (Edmonton) * Mitra Fakhrashrafi (Toronto) * Swarm (Toronto & Tiohtià:ke) * Zola (Tiohtià:ke) * and more!
Re-appropriating Indigenous Identity (with Clifton Nicholas)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2-4pm
at QPIRG Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204 (métro Guy-Concordia; wheelchair accessible)
This presentation looks critically at the uses and misuses of Indigenous imagery, from contact to today. Using a slideshow combined with an oral presentation, topics include negative stereotyping of native people, government and media propaganda against natives, the anti-Indigenous lobby, land rights, and the commodification of Indigenous identity. This workshop debunks past and present cultural appropriation of Indigenous culture and people. Presented by Clifton Nicholas, a filmmaker from Kanehsatake.
Working Group on Cultural Appropriations in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2-4pm
at QPIRG Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204 (métro Guy-Concordia; wheelchair accessible)
This workshop is intended to be a follow-up to the August 28th session. During this event, participants will share ideas on how to take action against appropriative imagery found in Tiohtià:ke street art & more general hipster visual culture. The will be some art materials available on site for direct action.
More events to be confirmed shortly. Check Facebook for updates.
HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THE CONVERGENCE:
Donate Money
The Decolonizing Street Art: Anti-colonial Street Artists Convergence is a completely grassroots effort, with absolutely no state or corporate funding. We rely on donations to meet our expenses, which is predominantly travel and art materials. We encourage your donations, whether $5, $50 or $500. You can donate by cheque, cash or online via paypal. You can also visit our online shop and contribute by buying our artwork.
http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/donate
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DStreetArt
Donate Materials
Please consider making in-kind donations. Some of our needs include: paint, spraypaint, brushes and scaffolding. To make a donation, e-mail us at decolonizingstreetart@gm
Share your Ideas & Volunteer
A small, modest, grassroots collective is pulling together the Convergence, but we need your ideas and support. Please share any ideas you might have about the participating of artists during the Convergence (eg: street art locations in Montreal). Also, please consider helping as a volunteer. Volunteer efforts range from helping with logistics to helping us wheatpaste the streets of Tiohtià:ke with the anti-colonial creations of the Convergence. Finally, this is a first-time effort, but we’re hoping to learn from this experience and organize another Convergence some time in the future, perhaps with your active support. Get in touch to share ideas, volunteer and offer support via decolonizingstreetart@g
CONNECT WITH THE CONVERGENCE:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/decolonizingstreetart
Facebook Event Page – https://www.facebook.com/events/277146189158636/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpRgU3yBtToM-Wodq-bxOzA
Posted with permission from Camille, DSA Team
