TWASblog – All Eyes on Culture!

Event Review:

Voices of the Diaspora:  An Intergenerational Conversation – Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Thursday March 21, 2024
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

by Lise Watson

It was my first visit to the Gardiner Museum.  Established in 1984, I’ve passed it hundreds of times, but until the installation of Magdalene Odundo:  A Dialogue with Objects, and the presentation of Voices of the Diaspora, I had never crossed the threshold of the acclaimed museum.   

Dame Magdalene Odundo is a renowned Kenyan born British artist, and this is her first Canadian exhibition and her largest in North America.  Her work is extraordinary in every sense, unmistakeable sculptured vessels with exquisite shapes and surfaces.  Odundo incorporates trans-cultural practices and influences which in turn break down colonial barriers and invite us in to her marvelous world.  As part of the exhibit, the Gardiner has programmed a number of special events which encourage a deeper experience for the visitor.  Voices of the Diaspora is part of this series.

The evening opened with a panel discussion with Enas Satir, Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison, Kwanza Msingwana and Tura Cousin Wilson, and moderated by Collette (Coco) Murray of Coco Collective.  Each artist reflected on how Odundo’s work inspires them and their unique creative processes.  Like Odundo, these are all multi-disciplinary creatives whose artistic visions know no bounds. 

The panel was followed by a powerful performance by Coco Collective (Kwanza Msingwana, Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison, Sherwin Charles, Kimberely Charles, Nicole Powlette and Christian Powlette) Blowing a whistle, Coco led the audience and performers through Odundo’s exhibit in a conga line.  We danced, swayed, and moved to the shape of the objects.  Refreshed and excited, we returned to the main space and were treated to the debut performance of Calabash, a new Odundo-inspired drum and dance performance.   Kwanza Msingwana was majestic in his opening oration and the brilliant music, created with a variety of African instruments, was punctuated with Collette’s stunning dance moves. This was a museum experience like no other.

We often hear talk of integration, inclusivity, and both physical and cultural accessibility, but seldom do we see this borne out in cultural exhibits at well-established institutions in Canada.  The colonial structure of our arts community is slowly being challenged and reconfigured.  Those of us of African descent/origin or who have been drawn in and embraced various African and diasporic African arts, however, are familiar with the way these particular art forms lend themselves to holistic presentation.  Collette (Coco) Murray, a dedicated Toronto-based arts and dance educator and mentor, practitioner, and doctoral scholar, is masterful in creating inclusive, thoughtful and vibrant artistic spaces, and conversations for all to enjoy.  Congratulations to Collette Murray, guest artists, Coco Collective and the Gardiner for showing us how it’s done!

Magdalene Odundo:  A Dialogue with Objects October 19, 2023 – April 21, 2024 Gardiner Museum

Magdalene Odundo Photo: from Gardiner website

Next Event:  Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Soulful Vessels:  Spoken Word and Ceramic Art6pm – 7pm PWYC, Gardiner Museum

Collette (Coco) Murray Photo: Henry Chan

Coco Collective Photo: Henry Chan

Collette (Coco) Murray, Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison, Enas Satir, Tura Cousin Wilson, Kwanza Msingwana Photo: Lise Watson

Kwanza Msingwana Photo: Lise Watson