With gratitude, we acknowledge that this presentation lives and breathes on the land of our First Nations, specifically the Anishinaabe, the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Currently known as Tkaronto, this territory remains under The Dish With One Spoon treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that binds them to share and protect the land. May we all do our part to care for and protect this land in solidarity.
Nostalgia Interrupted is a hybrid online and in-person exhibition presented in partnership with Aegis Design Inc. and Doris McCarthy Gallery. It is a core presentation of the 2022 Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
Aegis Design Inc. | Aegis is a design practice grounded in a deeper ability to interpret culture.
www.aegisbrand.com
Thank you for taking the time to explore the online experience ofNostalgia Interrupted. This exhibition is the most challenging and unexpectedly rewarding project I have ever done. What began as a two-year exploration of a complex topic became a five-year rollercoaster of brilliant highs, crushing lows, and breakneck troubleshooting – capped off by a pandemic. Thankfully, I believe in the saying: “all things happen for a reason.” When the dust settled, this exhibition found the right partners at the right time and became more than I could have initially imagined.
To the eight artists, Alyssa, Caroline, Chantal, Dima, Howardena, Janice, Joi and Shellie, my “ride or dies,” some of whom have been with me through this entire five-year journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This presentation exists because of your patience, dedication and friendship. I cherish the relationships developed with all of you and wish you nothing but the best as you move on to new adventures.
To my digital partner, Aegis Design Inc., thank you, Sabrina, Greg, Alex and Andres, for taking my brief and working tirelessly alongside me to make it a beautifully designed and dynamic digital exhibition experience. I am grateful to you all for your enthusiasm, support of the subject matter, and dedication to telling our stories with care and grace.
To my gallery partner, Doris McCarthy Gallery: a huge and hearty thank you to Alexander, Sandy, Erin, Hannah and Carly for making a curator of colour feel welcome and seen in your space. It was a joy to work with an institution that understands the value of true partnership and how impactful that can be to the delivery of an exhibition. I am grateful for the experience of working with you.
To my festival partner, the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival and Tara Smith, thank you for your patience and support through this journey.
Special thanks to An Paenhuysen for assisting me with the daunting task of telling the story of this show and Zhe Ghu and the Ontario Arts Council for supporting this digital platform. And to Kevin Sakolinsky at the Indigenous Art Centre in Ottawa, Leah Taylor at Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan Art Collection, and Rachel Garbade at Garth Greenan Gallery, NYC; thank you for your assistance and generosity.
To the colleagues who came through with suggestions and compassion in times of crisis, thank you, I hold you in high regard. To my family and friends, thank you for your love, words of wisdom and support as I navigated uncharted waters again and again; you all mean the world to me.
Lastly, this exhibition offers two intriguingly different experiences for your enjoyment. I hope you will have the opportunity to spend time with works featured in the in-person presentation at the Doris McCarthy Gallery.
