ROM Launches Beyond the Rhythm: Caribana Art Exhibit

On display during Scotiabank Caribana, July 23 to August 3, 2009

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to unveil Beyond the Rhythm: Caribana Art Exhibit, launched as part of Scotiabank Caribana 2009, North America’s largest outdoor event celebrating Caribbean and African-Canadian heritage. The juried exhibition features a captivating collection of 50 canvases created by 25 artists of African-Canadian heritage and builds on the ROM’s commitment of presenting art inspired by cultures from around the world. Produced by the Association of African Canadian Artists and curated by renowned African-Canadian artist and activist Joan Butterfield, the installation will be on display in the Museum’s 3rd floor Centre Block from Thursday, July 23rd to Monday, August 3, 2009.

“The Caribana Festival is an important showcase and celebration of culture. The ROM is very pleased to be able to present Beyond the Rhythm, providing festival-goers and all Torontonians the opportunity to experience a unique and powerful art exhibition in the context of Caribana. We received an enthusiastic response to the Museum’s Caribana exhibition last year and it forms a vital part of the ROM’s Engage the World mandate,” said William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM.

As a collective response to a poem written by Ms. Butterfield entitled Beyond to Rhythm, the exhibition serves as a celebration of survival and accomplishments beyond the bounds of hardship and sorrow, as depicted by a talented array of African-Canadian artists.

“Over half of the artists were born outside of Canada and bring their differences, their histories, their traditions and their struggles to their canvases,” explains Ms. Butterfield. “The range of approach truly communicates each artist’s cultural identity and is a true testament to their unique abilities.”

Highlights

Beyond the Rhythm: Caribana Art Exhibit is a travelling art exhibit produced by the Association of African-Canadian Artists. The exhibit features a final selection of works by the following artists (complete list of artists is below):

Jamaican-born Canadian, Nicole Peña is an award-winning artist who has exhibited in several solo and group shows in Toronto, New York City, Port of Spain, and Hamilton, Bermuda over the past ten years. Many of her paintings depict everyday people entranced and seduced into spiritual and psychic reverie. She says of her works for this exhibition, “rhythm liberates the body and frees the spirit.” Influenced and inspired by music, Charmaine Lurch’s canvases are a narrative on cultural histories, while Izzy Ohiro’s work focuses on inner beauty, festivity and celebration by creating layers of simple colours, shapes and exciting movement.

Toronto born and raised, artist Joy Andre works with acrylic paints, text as an art form, and explores texture on canvas to symbolically represent the strength, struggle and spirit of people of the African Diaspora. Sonia Farquharson’s paintings are visual representations of everyday people and historical figures from around the world that have inspired her and that she hopes will inspire others to fight for racial equality. Born in London, England, Angela Haynes’ composition is influenced by the inspirational essence of the body, mind and spirit. She uses texture and vibrant shades to portray the body as a site of expressive movement, emotion and strength.

Beyond the Rhythm Artists:

Joy Andre

Donnet Maria

Philemon Campbell

Anna-Maria Dickinson

Ken Daley

Kathy Moscou

Kwame Delfish

Jason O’Brien

Sonia Farquharson

Izzy Ohiro

Dion Fitzgerald

Ingrid Pascal

Donna Guerra (iam mai)

Nicole Peña

Wayne Hanson

Cheryl Rock

Reginald Harmon

Asha Aditi Ruparelia

Angela Haynes

Stephen Taylor

Deniece James

David Vasquez

Charmaine Lurch

Leslie Williams

Janet Manning

The ROM is pleased to be involved in Scotiabank Caribana 2009 as it forms an important part of the Museum’s programming. Visitors to Beyond the Rhythm: Caribana Art Exhibit can also enjoy themed menu items in the ROM’s Food Studio restaurant.

Scotiabank Caribana 2009 Toronto:

Derived from Canada’s 1967 Centennial Celebrations, in addition to Canada's embracement of its Caribbean community, the world famous festival Caribana attracts over one million participants and spectators from around the world to Toronto each year. It has become one of the largest annual events held in North America. This year’s Scotiabank Caribana festivities, now in its 42nd year, runs from Tuesday, July 14, 2009 to Monday, August 3rd, 2009. For more information, visit www.caribanafestival.com. For more information on Scotiabank Caribana, please contact: Stephen Weir, 416-489-5868.