Art
Art is integral to Black Lives Matter: a conversation with Dr. Kristin Moriah – Queen's Journal
While social media activism is surging in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, art can be more crucial to the Black Lives Matter movement than Instagram stories.
Floyd was publicly lynched on a street in Minneapolis by the police on May 25. The scene became a horrific tableau for the reality of systemic racism against Black people: a white officer kneeling on the neck of an innocent Black man.
Floyd’s murder was caught on video and viewed across the world, provoking powerful feelings of anger and sadness, and inspiring some to create art to express those feelings.
On the topic of art and its role as a catalyst for social change, The Journal spoke to Queen’s English professor Dr. Kristin Moriah, who teaches African American literature.
“Art has played a particularly important role in the development of Black Lives Matter – Toronto (BLMTO), maybe more so than in other places,” Moriah said.
“Several of BLMTO’s founding members are arts practitioners, and one of the BLMTO actions which first drew public attention was the 2016 demonstration at the Toronto Pride Parade in which they momentarily stopped the parade in front of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s float.”
Moriah is referring to an event in which members of BLMTO halted the Toronto Pride Parade for about 30 minutes and asked Pride’s Executive Director Mathieu Chantelois to sign a list of action items including disallowing the police to join subsequent parades with the intention of making Pride a safe space for Black and Indigenous people.
“It was an unforgettable act,” Moriah added. “I remember the frenzy of news coverage then—imagine that just four years ago it was controversial to suggest that police brutality was a Canadian issue.”
Moriah pointed out what the news coverage at the time missed, which was that stopping the parade was also a “choreographed piece of performance art.”
Rodney Diverlus, a co-founder of BLMTO, was one of the creative minds behind the act, according to Moriah. “He has written about that protest from a theoretical perspective for the academic journal Canadian Theatre Review in “Black Lives Matter Toronto: Urgency as Choreographic Necessity,” which can be accessed through Queen’s online library.”
Moriah said founding BLMTO members Syrus Marcus Ware and Sandy Hudson have written more extensively about the BLMTO movement in their recent edited collection Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (2020), which is also available online.
“Contributors to that collection include several established and up-and-coming poets and artists, [including] Leanne Betasamosake Simpson; Anique Jordan, Naila Keleta Mae, Rayvn Wyngz, and El Jones who was actually a visitor at Queen’s last semester and came to speak to my class,” she said.
In 2016, some met BLMTO’s Pride demonstration with apathy and disdain, but after Floyd’s death and the explosion of attention to issues of systemic racism, some people are finally listening and learning. Paying attention to what these Black artists have produced is an important step on the path to change.
“Speaking to this particular moment, in some ways it feels like suddenly, just a few weeks ago, white Canadians began caring about anti-Blackness in Canada and what Black people had written about it,” Moriah said.
“Lists were made to determine just what was said and what needed to be known. The lists began circulating at the end of May and, by mid-June, reached a fever pitch shortly after. So many books flew off shelves.”
Moriah also said art and literature add deeper dimensions to our lives.
“They are some of the most important ways of understanding the human condition and rallying people towards political action.”
Where tragic public events like Floyd’s death spark anger and sadness, Moriah emphasized that engaging with Black art provides a way for those who don’t know the lived experience of a Black person to deepen their awareness, empathy, and understanding.
“Black artists and activists have long understood this, from the authors of nineteenth-century slave narratives to the poets and playwrights of the Black Arts Movement like Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez,” she said. “And while we live in very difficult times, I know that this moment will push Canadian art and literature in new directions, too. We are ready for change.”
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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.
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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