She spent 10 years in the Vancouver art scene, and moved back to be near her roots on Secwépemc territory near Chase, B.C.
The history of slavery for Blacks and dispossession for Indigenous people pushed their voices to the margins. They are now being heard in ways never imagined before as police department budgets are cut, and anti-racist action plans are coming out of public and private sectors.
“I would argue we are just being heard in a concentrated way at the present moment but that our words and our struggle have always been there for those who are paying attention,” said Willard.
“I think it is affecting Indigenous artists now in that we are starting to glimpse another world,” said Willard. “We are seeing this promise again, this glimpse of another world being possible that I think is exciting to artists of all backgrounds.”
Crystal Mowry, KWAG’s senior curator, originally scheduled Willard’s work to be in Kitchener at the same time as CAFKA+ and the Open Ears Festival. Both festivals are held every two years, and both were cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Black Lives Matter movement has had expected and interesting impacts on the exhibit.
“I think in the work we are doing at KWAG for several years now, we have been trying to recentre voices that have been otherwise marginalized in discussions around what art is, and how art contributes to a community’s well-being and enlightenment,” said Mowry.
While the gallery has worked to increase the diversity of the artists exhibiting there, she added, it wants to do more.
“It’s not enough to rest on perceived laurels,” said Mowry.
The “Soundings” exhibit is scheduled to run until Aug. 9.
As the economy moves to Stage 3 reopening, the gallery expects to have between 25 and 50 people in the room for the Alysha Brilla performance. Mowry is not sure of the room’s capacity with physical distancing among the audience, so she urges everyone interested to call the gallery and register in advance.
“We sought out a number of performers in the community whose voices and outlooks would be a welcome addition to this conversation,” said Mowry.
Brilla accepted the invitation right away.
Terry Pender is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on arts and entertainment for The Record. Reach him via email: [email protected]
