Negotiating Culture at 44 Gaukel, Kitchener, ON

Artists featured: Michael ManChoi Chow, Andrea Filiatrault, Elizabeth Forrest, Wen Li, Nancy Peng, Barry Smylie

As the child of immigrant Chinese parents from Hong Kong, I was born there, grew up in Canada and now living here for over 60 years. As an adolescent, I was ‘negotiating culture’ without the intellectual understanding of what it was. Only much later, studying theology and social sciences did I learn the term that described my life experience.

‘Teacups of Belonging’

‘Sarcophagus’

“In a multicultural society such as Canada, many people live in-between cultures and inevitably participate in cultural translation.”

Soheila Esfahani, juror and curator

“This curatorial project asks artists to reflect on how they define culture and what it means to live in the third space and negotiate cultural variance. If artists are cultural producers, how do they represent culture in their work? What are some of the ways we connect to other cultures and possibly live in liminal or in-between spaces?”

Soheila Esfahani, juror and curator

Upon reflection, even now, I’m unsure I fully grasp the significance of learning to ‘negotiate culture’; it was survival, yearning for a sense of ‘belonging’. Being in the liminal space between familiar and uncharted territory can provoke fear of the unknown.Or it may lead to new possibilities otherwise overlooked.Being face to face with our inner fears about who we are, our strengths and vulnerabilities, even survival,can cause us to question the core of our identities, and doubt life’s meaning and purpose. Engaging with liminality is the launchpad to cross thresholds that lead to life beyond what is familiar.

I believe being in liminal spaces is a universal human experience, essential to adapting to change and experiencing growth, individual and communal. Art can draw us in, mirror life experiences to facilitate becoming more cognizant of and make choices for how we want to live. In this exhibition I have chosen pieces of my art to focus on the intrapsychic and spiritual dimensions of negotiating culture.

ManChoi

“Furthermore, cultural translation destabilizes the notion of an originating culture and opens up the space of negotiation called the third space.”

Soheila Esfahani, juror and curator

Negotiating Culture (a juried exhibition)

Honoured to be among 6 artists in this thought provoking, personally and socially relevant exhibition, exploring the liminal spaces where one lives, “translating” and “negotiating” cultures.

“This curatorial project asks artists to reflect on how they define culture and what it means to live in thethird spaceand negotiate cultural variance. If artists are cultural producers, how do they represent culture in their work? What are some of the ways we connect to other cultures and possibly live in liminal or in-between spaces?”

Soheila Esfahani, juror and professor of art, University of Western Ontario

Sneak peak of Belonging: Home, Homelessness, Unpacking the suitcase

Here’s a sneak peak of the exhibition at Martin Luther University College, Keffer Chapel. Now till November 29, 2024

Belonging: Home, Homelessness, Unpacking your suitcase

Opening reception: Wednesday, Sept 25, 2024, 5 pm

Refreshments will be served - Free parking available

Martin Luther University College, Bricker & Albert Streets, Waterloo

Belonging: Home, Homelessness, Unpacking the suitcase

Where: Martin Luther University College, Bricker & Albert Streets, Waterloo

When: Sept 9 - Nov 29, 2024

Artists: Michael ManChoi Chow, Kerry L Ross

Featuring interviews by Carol Pinnock with new Canadians and returning Canadians about what they take with them that remind them of ‘Home’ and what does the sense of belonging mean for them

Sils and Lorha brought to Canada from Guyana

Chez Nous at GRACe, 144 Gaukel St, Kitchener - May 3 to 31, 2024 (Copy)

A Group Collaboration on the theme of HOME

ManChoi Chow | Arlene McCarthy | Tom Samolczyk | Val Thomson | Anne Williamson | Roger Young

Opening Reception Friday, May 3, 4-8 pm

Thursdays May 9, 16, 23, 30 — 3 to 6 pm

Saturdays May 4, 11, 18, 25 — 11 am to 2 pm

Victoria Day, May 20 — 11 am to 2 pm

‘Chez Nous’

I collaborated with 5 other retired professionals from education, finance and health care to created this exhibit over the past 18 months. Using various media (acrylics, water-colour and photography) accompanied by prose and poetry, we have created an interesting mixed media exhibit. Each artist explores the theme of HOME drawing upon our own life and professional experiences to reveal what HOME may mean to us and to others. Revealing that HOME is more than four walls and a roof, but a living and dynamic process.

Homeless

I began with ideas of “my home”, and then considered what home means to those who don’t have a place to call “home”, as the crisis of homelessness has exploded all around us.

Like many others, I have been disturbed by the crisis of adequate affordable housing in just about every community in Canada, and definitely “at home” in Kitchener. As an artist, I want to use this exhibit as a means to engage with this social challenge.

a.b.t.c

“Home is where you love and where you are loved,” said Father Toby when I spoke to him about A Better Tent City, part of the response to many residents in Waterloo Region who are precariously housed.

Father Toby Collins, CR, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kitchener, guided me through A Better Tent City (ABTC) in December. ABTC is home to a community of residents who are underhoused. There are supervised facilities on site for food, shelter and support.

“unforgiven”

Brad, who is site supervisor at A Better Tent City, spoke about how many chose to return after experiencing isolation, living in alternate housing because they miss the community at A Better Tent City where they feel safe and cared for and experience forgiveness not judgement.

Home for all

This further led me to reflect on the common home for all who share the planet.

Again, I am reminded that we are inter-connected and inter-dependent, no matter human, animal, bird, aquatic, insect, vegetation, or microbial.

inter-dependence

We thrive or we perish, together!

A hard lesson, to be sure, that we can no longer ignore. While looking for solutions to homelessness is daunting, I am emboldened that crisis is both danger and opportunity.