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Acclaimed author Esi Edugyan to deliver 2021 Massey Lectures on art and race – CBC.ca

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Bestselling and acclaimed Canadian author Esi Edugyan will deliver this year’s CBC Massey Lectures, exploring the relationship between art and race.

Through the lens of visual art, literature, film, as well as Edugyan’s own lived experience, her upcoming lecture series, which will also be published as a book, will examine the depiction of Black histories in works of the imagination, while challenging accepted versions of the Black experience with new perspectives.

“This year has seen incredible upheaval and unrest, and a widespread conversation about race, which has been long overdue,” Edugyan said. “This is a book about where we find ourselves in the moment, but it’s also about who we’ve been and hope to be.”

Edugyan’s 2021 CBC Massey Lectures, Out of the Sun: On Art, Race, and the Future, will be broadcast later this fall on CBC Radio One’s IDEAS, and will be available online through CBC Listen. The book will be published in September 2021 by House of Anansi Press.

The cover of Out of the Sun features a painting called Yoked by Colorado-based artist Ron Hicks. He is among a number of contemporary Black artists Edugyan will highlight in her lectures.

Born in Calgary, Edugyan is a two-time Scotiabank Giller Prize winner. First, for her 2011 novel, Half-Blood Blues, which centres on the disappearance of a young Black German jazz musician at the hands of the Nazis in occupied France. 

She won again in 2018 for Washington Black, an epic work of historical fiction, which examines race and identity. Both books were also finalists for the Booker Prize.

The author on how she relates to the 11-year-old protagonist, who escapes life as a field slave in the cane fields of Barbados. 1:16

The CBC Massey Lectures is a partnership between CBC, House of Anansi Press and Massey College at the University of Toronto. For the last six decades, it has provided a forum where contemporary thinkers can explore important issues of the time, including modern capitalism, the Indigenous experience and imagination, and the impact of debt on human societies. 

Previous Massey lecturers include Martin Luther King, Jr., Noam Chomsky, Tanya Talaga and Margaret Atwood.


For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone – BBC.com

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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone  BBC.com



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Somerset House Fire: Courtauld Gallery Reopens, Rest of Landmark Closed

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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”

On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”

The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.

Blaze in the West Wing

The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.

About Somerset House

Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.

Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.

Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.

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Sudbury art, music festival celebrating milestone

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Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.

The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.

Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”

With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.

The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.

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