On Saturday, March 25 at 6pm PST, join Massy Arts Society, and secwe̓pemc & mixed settler interdisciplinary artist jaz whitford for the opening reception of a genocide laid bare, a new show that juxtaposes visual artworks with ekphrastic poetry, installed at the gallery as an invitation to discuss heritage, systemic aggressions, and Indigenous history between mediums.
At the event, the artist will address the show’s concept, a hybrid of whitford’s work with poems by Indigenous poets, created to explore the themes of genocide, decolonization, identity, land, and resurgence.
Manuel Axel Strain, featured in the window space with original installations, and poets Louise Bernice Halfe / Sky Dancer (Cree poet, appointed as Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2021), Jónína Kirton (Red River Métis/Icelandic poet, author, and facilitator), and Karmella Benedito De Barros (Mistawasis Nêhiyaw/Afro-Brazilian Poet, Artist, and Indigenous Brilliance Community Engagement Mentor within Room Magazine) will also be present at the event.
This project is supported by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver + First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the Government of Canada.