RECENTRE
a discursive program curated by Su-Ying Lee and presented by Trinity Square Video

RECENTRE addresses structural racism by identifying bias and discrimination in modes of representation, like the language and imagery applied to people who are Black, Indigenous and of colour (BIPOC). RECENTRE offers decoding and interpretation tools to cultural producers through a series of 1) structural racism workshops for cultural producers, 2) an imagining of the future by art writers and 3) artist-led programs focused on visual and media-art literacy.

RECENTRE answers the call of artists and art workers who are responding to an urgency to make meaningful their discussions about structural oppression and wishing to enfold solutions and strategies into their work.

PROGRAMMED EVENTS of RECENTRE:

The Dynamics of Rowing Your Own Boat: Cultural Competency Today
with Janet Rogers

18 October 2018, 6:30PM – 9PM
401 Richmond Street West
Spots available: 25

Through visual presentation and group discussion, this workshop will focus on concepts and practices of what defines culture and that which currently exists which is not culture in relationship to region and territory. Poet, media and sound artist Janet Rogers brings her Haudenosaunee cultural elements into most everything she produces with the intention to invite all other cultural producers to work from their own places of cultural grounding.

Registration fee options:
– Select the option that best suits your budget.
– Select any amount between $10-40.
– A meal is included with all payment options.
– All programs offered for individuals as part of RECENTRE, an anti-oppression program for cultural producers, have been free. Payments are returned to the organization’s program budget to continue to offer innovative programming that seeks to fill gaps.

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Writing for what is absent
with Elwood Jimmy

09 October 2018, 6:30PM – 9PM
Trinity Square Video
Spots Available: 9

Participants will be led through individual, and collective space-holding exercises before being asked to respond to provocations relating to bodies – the human and non-human, the visible and invisible – in relation to their own practices, communities, sensibilities and ways of being. The workshop is exploratory and designed for personal and collective inquiry and reflection.

Registration fee options:
– Select the option that best suits your budget.
– Select any amount between $10-40.
– A meal is included with all payment options.
– All programs offered for individuals as part of RECENTRE, an anti-oppression program for cultural producers, have been free. Payments are returned to the organization’s program budget to continue to offer innovative programming that seeks to fill gaps.

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Territorial Acknowledgement Workshops
with Amy Desjarlais

Session One: Available to Arts Organization
28 May 2018, 7:00-9:00PM
Regent Park CSI, 585 Dundas Street E.
Spots Available: 25
Registration: $50 and a written, audio or video description about why you are interested in this workshop and your own experience with territorial acknowledgements. This will help Amy gear the workshop to the group’s interests.

Session Two: Available for Individuals Working in Arts and Culture
04 June 2018, 7:00PM-9:00PM
Regent Park CSI, 585 Dundas Street E.
Spots Available: 25
Registration: $7 and a written, audio or video description about why you are interested in this workshop and your own experience with territorial acknowledgements. This will help Amy gear the workshop to the group’s interests.

Topics will include:
– Understand the reason for making territorial acknowledgements.
– Are the current acknowledgements effective?
– Learn best practices for drafting a territorial acknowledgement.
– Find out how to engage community, and learn what resources are available, how to create a network.
– Understand what organizations can do to contribute to the efficacy of acknowledgements and to align themselves.

Registration is limited to 25 attendees so register early to ensure a spot!
– Via email to emily@trinitysquarevideo.com
– Telephone registration 416 593 1332

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Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Workshops for Cultural Producers
by Rania El Mugammar

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Session
19 September 2017, 6:30-9:00PM
Artscape Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street E.
Spots Available: 50
FREE or by optional donation that would be used to offset the costs for a 3rd session if there is a demand. Food and refreshments provided.

Open Session
21 September 2017, 6:30-9:00PM
Artscape Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street E.
Spots Available: 50
FREE or by optional donation that would be used to offset the costs for a 3rd session if there is a demand. Food and refreshments provided.

This workshop for artists/cultural producers explores the language, theories and practices of anti-oppression in depth. Institutional, community based and organizational strategies for building equity and unlearning oppression are central to the content and objectives of the workshop. Creative, technical and collaborative models for building equity and liberation will be explored. Group activities, case studies and discussion are critical tools to apply the learnings of this workshop. Artists will examine the power dynamics that shape access, inclusion and opportunities in Canada’s arts and cultural landscape. The anti-oppression framework will be used to critique institutional dynamics as well as personal artistic practices.  Participants will have access to a plethora of digital and print resources to continue their learning journey beyond the scope of the session.
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The Imposition of Order
by Jeff Thomas

23 September 2017, 11am-3pm
Trinity Square Video, 401 Richmond Street W.
Spots available: 10 (FREE)

In this workshop Jeff Thomas will share the skills he has developed as a photo-based image-maker, while meeting the challenge to become the author of his own form of Indianness.

The Two Row Wampum is one of the oldest treaty relationships between the Onkwehonweh (original people) of Turtle Island (North America) and European settlers (1613). According to the Wampum, neither will make compulsory laws nor interfere in the internal affairs of the other. Neither will try to steer the other’s vessel.

More information https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/a-short-introduction-to-the-two-row-wampum

Grounded on the question of how to achieve the Two Row Wampum’s message of peaceful co-existence in the contemporary world, Thomas will work with participants to consider the place of conversation, the sharing of stories, and negotiating that discussion through art gallery experiences. Participants will be reflecting on the demarcation space. In particular, the significance assigned to cultural spaces and how they are regarded and engaged with.

Come prepared with: a phone with the ability to take photos and make recordings
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Representations in Gaming
by Gabriela Aveiro-Ojeda

07 October 2017, 11am-2pm
401 Richmond Street W., Studio 303
Spots available: 20 (FREE)

This workshop will feature a talk and hands-on design prototype session on methods that can be used for better expressions of race in games. Topics to be covered will include, but are not limited to: ways to avoid racist portrayals, how to design stories and characters for a game format, challenges involved with portraying race, accountability, consultation, diversity in video games, and more.

Participants do not need to have a background in games to attend the workshop, and all experience levels are welcome.

Come prepared with: Something to record your prototype ideas on i.e. note book, laptop, pad etc.
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Lost and Found: Using Found Footage in the Art of Revolution
by Syrus Marcus Ware

14 October, 11:30am-2:30pm
Scadding Court Community Centre, Room 2
707 Dundas Street West
Spots available: 20 (FREE)

Join Syrus Marcus Ware for a participatory workshop exploring the use of found footage and audio from protests and activism around the movement for black lives and other historic activisms. Participants will engage in discussion about the ethics of re-approporiation and ways of working with found footage from a history of white supremacy. Using 2D collage participants will create a new collaborative work that speaks to the zeitgeist.

Come prepared with: One image (either in your minds or an actual copy) that stands out from the past 60 years of activism here in the Tkaronto area or in the northern part of turtle island/Canada.
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BUSH Gallery
with Tania Willard

28 October, 11am-1pm
Scadding Court Community Centre, Room 2
707 Dundas Street West
Spots available: 15 (FREE)

Using concepts of Indigenous epistemology, land rights and creative acts, curator and artist Tania Willard will discuss her approach to her work with BUSH Gallery. Centering methods of acknowledging territory and developing relationship with site, and contrasting notions of in situ, Site/ation acknowledges the deep artfulness and Indigenous land rights holders of all sites in “Canada.” The workshop will feature sun-printing techniques practiced at BUSH gallery rez-idencies that act as an archive of conversation, action and engagement.

Preceding the workshop on Saturday, Tania Willard will be giving a talk the evening of Friday, October 27^th presented by C Magazine at Art Toronto titled “Site/ation”.

Come prepared with: Small objects for sun printing. Some objects may also be scavenged from outdoors where the workshop will take place.

TO ENROLL or for questions:
Contact Emily Fitzpatrick at emily@trinitysquarevideo.com
In the subject line of your email: “Name of the Program” and the program date
Include the following information:
– Communicate your interest in participating via a few sentences about why you are interested in the programme either written or recorded on audio or video
– Whether you have any dietary restrictions
– Accessibility accommodations for us to provide you with. Trinity Square Video is committed to ensuring as accessible an environment as possible for all our programming. Personal attendants are admitted free.

*image credit: Jeff Thomas, Bear Portraits, (Toronto, Ontario, Dundas Street Car), 1990.

CONTRIBUTORS BIOGRAPHIES

Su-Ying Lee is an independent curator living in Toronto, Canada. Her projects have taken place across Canada and in Hong Kong. She has also worked in institutions as Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), Curator in Residence at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, and Assistant Curator at the Art Gallery of Mississauga. Her practice often employs unconventional platforms and expands ridged boundaries around curatorial practice. Lee is interested in employing the role of curator as a co-conspirator, accomplice and active agent. She received a Masters of Visual Studies, Curatorial degree from the University of Toronto.

Gabriela Aveiro-Ojeda is an artist, speaker, and game designer. She is currently working on her spooky, witchy game, DON’T WAKE THE NIGHT, while also creating art based around expressions of latinx identity and ancestral traditions. She tweets over at @babbygoth.

Amy Desjarlais

Waabishka Kakaki Zhaawshko shkeezhgokwe n’dizhnikaaz
(White Raven Woman with Turquoise eyes is my name)
Wasauksing N’doonjibaa
(I am from Wasauksing First Nation)
Ojibway/Bodwewotomi Anishinaabekwe n’daaw
(Ojibway/Potowottomi of the Anishinaabe Nation )

Amy currently works at Ryerson University as the First Nations Technical Coordinator (FNTI) at the Bachelor of Social Work program, offered in partnership with First Nations Technical Institute. She works with York University as knowledge keeper. Amy has an MA in Culture & History; her thesis, Emptying the Cup: Healing Fragmented Identity, explores an Anishinawbekwe (female) perspective on historical trauma and culturally appropriate consultation and is published by the Centre for World Indigenous Studies’ Fourth World Journal. She is founder of EarthTALKER, a magazine focused on women and families, 2008 the recipient of the FNTI/Ryerson University Practicum Award for Theory of Interconnectedness – An Indigenous perspective on political decision-making, author of non-fiction full-length book, Starblanket – A mother’s gift to her son (2014). When she is not writing, Amy facilitates cultural workshops and drum circles. Amy is also a hand drummer and singer.

Rania El Mugammar is a Sudanese Canadian NPO Director, Artist, Arts Educator, Equity and Anti-oppression Educator & Consultant performer, speaker and published writer. Rania is an experienced anti-oppression, equity, inclusion and anti-oppression educator and consultant who is unflinchingly committed to decolonization and liberation as the ultimate goals of her work. She has worked extensively with contemporary arts institutions, STEM based enterprises, media organization, educational institutions and community/grassroots spaces.

Elwood Jimmy is a learner, collaborator, writer, artist, cultural translator & facilitator, and    gardener. He is originally from the Thunderchild First Nation, a Nêhiyaw community in the global north. For almost 20 years, he has played a leadership role in several art projects, collectives, and organizations nationally and abroad. In his practices, he has employed photography, film, video, storytelling, language, text, textiles, natural materials, performance, and personal & community narratives as the foundation for a number of collaborative projects.

Janet Rogers is a Mohawk/Tuscarora writer from Six Nations. She was born in Vancouver British Columbia, lived in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Toronto Ontario and is currently of no fixed address as she is awarded residency after residency throughout 2018-2019. Janet works in the genres of poetry, spoken word performance poetry, video poetry and recorded poetry with music. Janet is also a radio broadcaster, documentary producer, media and sound artist. Her literary titles include; “Splitting the Heart” (Ekstasis Editions 2007), “Red Erotic” (Ojistah Publishing 2010), “Unearthed” (Leaf Press 2011), “Peace in Duress” (Talonbooks 2014),  “Totem Poles and Railroads” (ARP Books 2016), and a forthcoming title “Between Spirit and Emotion” (Bookland Press fall 2018). She produced and hosted Native Waves Radioon CFUV-FM from 2007-2017. Her music column “Tribal Clefs” was part of CBC Victoria’s programming from 2008-2016. Her radio documentaries “Bring Your Drum: 50 years of Indigenous Protest Music” and “Resonating Reconciliation” won Best Radio at the imagaineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival 2011 and 2013.

Jeff Thomas is an urban-based Iroquois, self-taught photo-based artist, writer, pubic speaker and curator, living in Ottawa, Ontario, and has works in major collections in Canada, the United States and Europe. Jeff’s most recent solo shows were The Dancing Grounds, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, A Necessary Fiction: My Conversation with Nicholas de Grandmaison, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta, Ontario, and Resistance Is NOT Futile, Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, Ontario.

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Scholar, a visual artist, community activist, researcher, youth-advocate and educator. For 12 years, he was the Coordinator of the Art Gallery of Ontario Youth Program. Syrus is currently a facilitator/designer for the Cultural Leaders Lab (Toronto Arts Council & The Banff Centre). He is the inaugural artist-in-residence for Daniels Spectrum (2016/2017). Syrus is also a core-team member of Black Lives Matter Toronto. As a visual artist, Syrus works within the mediums of painting, installation and performance to challenge systemic oppression.

Tania Willard, Secwepemc Nation, works within shifting ideas of the contemporary and the traditional as they relate to art and cultural production. Working with bodies of knowledge and skills that intersect between Aboriginal and other cultures, Willard’s art/curatorial/life projects include BUSH gallery, a conceptual space for land based art and action led by Indigenous artists.