Women’s Words Give ‘Voice’ to International Women’s Day Art Exhibition
The exhibit is a collaboration of two groups of artists exploring women’s issues in theme with the International Women’s Day (held annually in March).
The Opening Night Party on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 from 7-11pm at Steam Whistle Gallery will feature spoken word poetry readings from Literature for Life program participants AND a screening of “Women with Words” a documentary by Anna Piszczkiewicz about charity Literature for Life, and the unique reading circles they facilitate with teenage mothers in the GTA, empowering them to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Literature for Life’s exhibit entitled, “Voices” explores the complicated journey towards women finding their voice in modern times. In this exhibit, women have found a means of expressing their voices, their unique identities, and the many challenging and exciting moments that surround them.
The mixed media presentation is a fusion of art, photography and poetry, speaking to the journey of women, as they move from uncertain and questioning tones of voice, to a war cry in the fight for justice; and all of the voices in between.
The poetry is from an anthology entitled “Holla!’ created by the young mothers who participate in Literature for Life’s Women’s Words Reading Circle groups. The photos and artwork are contributed by many women who are connected with Literature for Life as volunteers, supporters and program participants.
The exhibition entitled Exposed: The Female Perspective highlights female artists of this generation, who are representative of the art movement today. This work shares a common focus by commenting on contemporary art as whole through the female perspective while, emphasizing the significance of process. Putting their most intimate selves on display this group of female artists explore their inner most thoughts, feelings and desires while creating a statement on societal expectations in an unedited and paradoxical movement. The audience is invited to define their own interpretation of these works. (more…)
“There is something other worldly about what books do to us”: Guest Post by LFL Facilitator Teneile Warren
We have all seen that moment in the cartoon where Wiley Coyote is going full speed ahead across the mountain because he has somewhere to be. On the first day of my LFL journey I was Wiley Coyote. Or so I thought. In the cartoon, Wiley’s speed is in his legs, a completely self-sufficient, super fast coyote. My speed of movement is dependent on the efficiency of the TTC. Sigh! My speedy feet were now hoping to at least be equated with ‘the little engine that could’. But where there is determination and perseverance, there is success. I arrive at Women Moving Forward with five minutes to spare.
There is a room bursting at the seams with energy, active voices and infectious anticipation. This helps to immediately cut the nerves one carries with them into a first time meeting. There are few moments in life as unsettling as making a first impression. However, the beautiful impression that was made on me washed away my fears and opened the door for calm and collected communication. As a keen observer, my eyes move through the room, tracing the faces, the movements, trying to see the thoughts ruminating in their minds. I witness trepidation, excitement, neutrality and uncertainty.
After completing the paperwork we dive right in to the experience of reading The Coldest Winter ever by Sister Souljah. It takes little to no time to get them involved and soon they are chomping at the bit to read. As we go through the first chapter, we laugh, we relate and we question each others interpretations of the story being told to us. There is something other worldly about what books do to us. They give us the confidence to be free with our thoughts. Books are our escape route or entry way; they are anything we want them to be. Over the next four months we will travel together on a literary journey. Sister Souljah is the pilot, I am the first captain but this group of engaging women called the Red Spotted Purples decide the final destination. Let’s go!
Teneile Warren is a Jamaica-born writer, director, poet, and all around artist. She has been writing, directing and performing in monologues and plays for almost ten years. Warren has also contributed significantly to Jamaica’s radio, television and film industries as a writer, producer and director. If she’s not writing, she’s cooking or thinking of something to write or cook and if she’s not doing either of those, she’s learning. She is a recipient of the National Honour of a Jamaica Creative Writing Award and just completed the commissioned piece Look Ahead: A Musical as a part Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence celebrations.