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The Chorus is Speaking : Experiencing Identities Of Blackness In Canada

Curated by: Michelle Jacques & Jenelle M. Pasiechnik
June 11 to August 20, 2022

Ojo Agi – Christina Battle – Charles Campbell – Chantal Gibson – Dana Inkster – Karin Jones – Jan Wade – Syrus Marcus Ware; 8 artists of incredible insight and inventiveness brought together in an exploration of facets of the Black experience on Turtle Island through sculpture, drawing and painting, installation, film, and poetry.

The varied perspectives in the exhibition speak to activist positions, seeking a balance between carrying the weight of difficult histories and finding joy, the beauty of Blackness, cultivating boundaries through a resistance to the gaze, thinking through the creative process with curiosity, love of experimentation, and the pursuit of knowledge. This exhibition is an opening, a start to a necessary conversation and a welcoming for new dialogues and voices to be heard on Ligwiłda’xw territory. The exhibition is created in service of the Black community of Campbell River and North Vancouver Island. At the same time, we acknowledge the complexities of speaking to experiences and perspectives that come from five hundred years of complicated history on this land. 

The title The Chorus is Speaking refers to a group of artists in dialogue about their experiences, the state of culture in Canada, and often untold (his)stories. In classical Greek theatre the chorus was a source of wisdom that would provide commentary on actions and events, thus creating a deeper and more meaningful connection between the characters, the audience, the story, and moral sentiment. This group functions in a similar way, by offering an overarching perspective filled with wisdom and insight. They have a wealth of experience as educators, artists, advocates, activists, and scholars thinking through their own lives and creative processes, offering us the opportunity to learn from and witness that knowledge. 

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Upcoming Events

• Campbell River Farmers Market and Artisan Faire
  Sun Aug 21 2022
  Shoppers Row
• The Art of with/holding: An Artist Talk with Poet Chantal Gibson
  Sat Jul 9 2022, 04:00pm PDT
  Main Gallery
• Sunday Screening Chorus is Speaking Edition: Session 1 – A Night Regarding Beauty and Self-Perception
• Swing Dance Live in Spirit Square
  Thu Jul 21 2022, 09:00pm PDT
  Spirit Square

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The Campbell River Art Gallery and Gallery Shop are open to the public. Our hours of operation are:

HOURS
Wednesday- Saturday : 10AM-5PM
Sunday: 10AM – 2PM

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COVID-19 Safety

Protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. These include:

• Enhanced cleaning
• Staff and visitor self-screening prior to entering
• Hand sanitizing stations

If you have travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days, have been identified by Public Health as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, have been told to isolate by Public Health, or display any new or worsening COVID-19 like symptoms, please stay home and schedule your visit for a later date.

We appreciate your patience and collaboration as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and do our part to keep our community healthy.

Accessibility Information

The Campbell River Art Gallery is wheelchair accessible and is accessed by a two main doors to the Centennial Building, with an accessible parking space at the rear of the building. There is one gender inclusive washroom located by the West entrance (near Shoppers Row) If you have any other questions or concerns about accessibility, please contact office 250-287-2261 or admin@crartgallery.ca.