ARTIST STATEMENT
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Artist Statement -




My art work interprets images of the elements, land , animal and human presence in the context of Afro-centric value system . Spirituality becomes central to the imagery ; respect for the elements guides human passage . Connections are established between different levels of existence through symbols in line and colour giving my work a ritualistic quality . As a person of many cultural heritage's - African , Maroon , Arawak , Spanish and Scottish ancestries I bring to my work , a spirituality which manifests itself through a syncretism of African-based religions and through deeply personal experiences . These blended elements have provided the focus of my personal spiritual exploration. Central to my art practices are seven principle deities of West African-based religions called "Orishas". They form a pantheon of godlike forces which express themselves on earth through specific elements and human attributes, creating human behaviour and so-called "happenstance" in the circumstances of life. To identify with an Orisha is to merge with nature and the elements .
I choose to intensify my work using spirituality as a metaphorical cross-roads to a new higher awareness and consciousness for humankind as expressed through Seven African Powers or Orishas . I have as one of my objectives the narration of the different facets of the histories of peoples of African and Arawak descent . By establishing an interrelation of political, spiritual and social concern I present a Black female imagery that is informed by my sense of location and belonging

Artist Exhibitions



2018 Solo Show “ I Rise” Art Gallery of Ontario , Toronto , ON., Canada

2018 Group show “ Spiders Fear Fascination “ Royal Ontario Museum , Toronto , ON,. Canada

2016 Group Show Toronto Tributes + Tributaries , 1971 - 1989 Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto , ON., Canada

2009 Group Exhibition Women In Art NICH Institute of Mexico , Mexican Embassy Gallery , Central America

2007 Solo Exhibition “I Am the Alchemist”, Image Factory Gallery, Belize,
Central America
2006 Group Exhibition “ African Influence in Art” National Institute of Culture History, Belize

2004 Group Exhibition, The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman,

2003 Solo Exhibition “Sign of Spirit” ASpace Gallery, Toronto

2003 Solo Exhibition “Iconography of Divination” Windows of ASPACE Gallery, Toronto

2003 Solo Exhibition “For My Mother A Visual Prayer Feast “WARC Gallery, Toronto

2000 Solo Exhibition �River of Life� Thames Art Gallery,Chatham , ON

2000 Site Specific with Reinhaed Reitzenstein, June Clark, etc.
Rodman Hall Arts Centre,St.Catharines,ON.

2000 KINDRED SPIRIT opening at NCAAA,Boston and travelling through the United States until the end of 2004, New York City, Atlanta, etc

1999 IN THE SPIRIT White Water Gallery, North Bay , ON.

1998 WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS WARC ,Toronto Canada , Wifredo Lam Center, Havana, Cuba

1998 PAINTING UP A STORM ASpace gallery ,Toronto, ON

1997 A SPIRITUAL DIALOGUE Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Canada

1996 THIS IS NOT A POEM, THIS IS A SUMMER QUILT Group Show with Faith Ringgold, Barbara Brown etc. - Textile Museum, Toronto Canada

1995 Solo Show - Gallery Connexion, Fredericton N.B.

1993 Solo Exhibition THIS AINT VOGUEHEADS ABOVE THE WATERS SAW gallery,Ottawa Ontario

1993 Solo Show MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATION YYZ Gallery, Toronto Ontario

1992 Exhibitor Demonstrator National Black Arts Festival - Atlanta Georgia USA

1992 International Group show RITES OF PASSAGE- POLITICS ICONS REPRESENTATION A Space Gallery, Toronto Ontario

1989Group show - BLACK WIMMIN, WHEN WHERE WE ENTER - Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, Montreal Halifax

1988 Group show - DOMINATION, RESISTANCE, LIBERATION Queens University,Kingston Ontario

1988 Group show - WEAPONS OF CULTURE A Space Gallery, Toronto Ontario

1986 Exhibitor Demonstrator, Texas Bicentennial Celebrations, Dallas Texas

1986 Group Show , Folklife Pavillion,EXPO 1986, Vancouver, B.C.

VIDEOGRAPHY

2000 YEMAYA ASESU VHS, Colour, Sound, 3 32 min.

1998 � OYA � VHS, Colour, Sound, 342min

SCREENINGS

1998 OYAArt Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
1999 OYATeds Wrecking Yard, Toronto
1999 OYAZen Film and Video Festival, Toronto
1999 OYA broadcast WTN, Womens Television Network.
1999 OYA Herland feminist Film and Video Festival, Calgary
2000 YEMAYA ASESU Launch V-tape ,Toronto
2000 �YEMAYA ASESU� Boston Museum of African American Art, USA

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Artist Publications




PUBLICATIONS / BIBLIOGRAPHY

2000 Kindred Spirits Kayiga & Winsom: Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists. Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
ISBN 0-878446-454-9

2000 DRAW IT BLACK : Artist's Collective, Toronto, ISBN 0-9685480-1-6

2000 River of Life : Thames Art Gallery ,ISBN 1-894651-00-6

1998 Oh La La - City TV 14,15, Febuary 1998

1997 A Spiritual art exhibit -Share August 28

1997 Matriart , Volume 7 Number 1& 2

1997 CBC Radio - Metro Morning , 15 August

1997 CBC - Arts and Entertainment, Feb. 14, 1997

1995 Matriart, Volume 5 Number 4

1993 Video "ALL EYES ON AFRICA" Clem Marshall , The Black Secretariat -Toronto, Ontario

1989 Canadian Art, Vol.6 No.2

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Artist Collections



Numerous private, corporate, museum, gallery and government collections detailed information coming soon.

Artist Favorites