The recently targeted billboard at Hamilton Artists Inc. will be left up as a symbol of resilience
On Sept. 29, 2024, Hamilton Artists Inc. shared on Instagram that their billboard at the corner of Cannon St. W and James St. N had been targeted by vandalism. “This graffiti began with a transphobic meme taped onto our billboard, moving to transphobic comments written in sharpie, until finally ripping the billboard all the way across,” reads the statement.
Hamilton Artists Inc. reported the vandalism as a hate incident via the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre's online form.
Hamilton Artists Inc is a not-for-profit, artist-run organization which facilitates arts programing such as workshops, lectures, and gallery exhibitions. The “Trans Lives are Sacred” billboard was created as part of a billboard exchange with The New Gallery in Calgary in response to an increase in anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ legislation in Alberta. Non-binary illustrator Ris Wong was commissioned to create the art piece, which was installed this past summer.
Wong shared with the Silhouette that they were excited about having their artwork displayed in Hamilton. “I think because I move around and stuff, understanding the idea of space and trans folks needing to create that community space ourselves and [connect] with each other ... It was really cool to know across the country that there [are] these artist spaces, there’s these spaces that folks are trying to create and that my piece could be so simultaneously far away from where I’m physically located but also be able to be displayed somewhere else where there’s other community members living,” said Wong.
It was really cool to know across the country that there [are] these artist spaces, there’s these spaces that folks are trying to create and that my piece could be so simultaneously far away from where I’m physically located but also be able to be displayed somewhere else where there’s other community members living.
Ris Wong, artist
The illustration for the billboard was inspired by a piece Wong created for Kait Hatch’s “Sacred Love/Sacred Lives” project. Wong, along with other artists who are trans, queer, or disabled, have contributed digital artwork featuring phrases such as “Trans Love is Sacred” and “Disabled Lives are Sacred” for Hatch to embroider.
The illustration depicts vines with thorns and flowers and the words “Trans Lives are Sacred” and “Trans Joy is Sacred.” “Thorns are very resilient. Plants grow thorns because they want to protect themselves. It’s a natural way of evolving to be a defensive measure ... it fit really well together with the imagery,” said Wong.
Wong is currently located in Vancouver and said they heard about the vandalism over email.
“I think it’s quite common for murals and things that are in public spaces to have people write on it. I expect a sort of interaction with things like this,” said Wong. “It was both unsurprising but also kind of shocking [that] someone was so angry or felt so wronged by something that probably didn’t really affect them.”
It was both unsurprising but also kind of shocking [that] someone was so angry or felt so wronged by something that probably didn’t really affect them.
Ris Wong, artist
“It feels like the more visibility that queer and trans folks have gotten, the more of a target we’ve become. We want to fight for that visibility of being out there and knowing that we exist. But also now that we’re so visible, now we can be these very very prominent targets of policy, backlash and hate," said Wong.
After discussing the matter with Wong, Hamilton Artists Inc. decided to leave the billboard on display and add further to the artwork. “I don’t think that removing it or hiding that this happened is a way of showing resilience. I actually really love the idea that it doesn’t really matter. I expressed in the work that vines grow back. Things stay, they’re resilient, they resist being removed,” said Wong.
“It’s a good thing having the billboard stay there with [the] damage and having other community members work around it or over it. There’s this statement that you can try to remove us and you can damage and enact this kind of violence but we’re still here, we still exist and you can’t do anything about it. Our community stands together in spite of it,” said Wong.
There’s this statement that you can try to remove us and you can damage and enact this kind of violence but we’re still here, we still exist and you can’t do anything about it. Our community stands together in spite of it.
Ris Wong, artist
Wong noted that there are plans to invite a local artist or an arts collective to work around or over the damage. The billboard is currently on display at Hamilton Artists Inc. located at 155 James Street North.
Header image: Hamilton Artists Inc. executive director Derek Jenkins.
Experience the bold artistry of The Clichettes in their first-ever retrospective, showcasing a vibrant collection that challenges and inspires
The Clichettes, a retired trio of Canadian artists, combine comedy and feminist satire to explore political themes through performance art. The trio was featured in their first retrospective, The Clichettes: Lips, Wigs, and Politics, at the McMaster Museum of Art. This exhibition, curated by Ivana Dizdar, is dedicated to the group's career between 1978 and 1993.
The Clichettes consisted of three women: Louise Garfield, Janice Hladki and Johanna Householder. The group performed shows in theatres and venues across Toronto and internationally. Through a unique blend of humour and political critique, they tackled significant societal issues, using their artistry to advocate for a better future.
On Sept. 19, 2024, the opening reception and publication launch was held at the museum. The opening reception showcased the exhibition which features the many works of The Clichettes including over 150 of their costumes, props, videos, photographs, drawings, scripts and archival materials.
The museum is also featuring a new publication of the same name as the exhibition, an incredibly detailed catalogue that was published in succession with The Clichettes' first retrospective.
The catalogue was edited by Ivana Dizdar and designed by Rob Gray. It includes multiple collaborations between the Clichettes and other artists, directors, designers and writers. These include essays by Ivana Dizdar, Marni Jackson, John Greyson, Alexandra Schwartz, Mark Kingwell, rl Goldberg, Lillian Allen and Wanda Nanibush.
Ivana Dizdar, an art historian and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, carefully curated the exhibition for over three to four years. “It takes that long for a major exhibition at every museum. Usually for exhibitions, curators start working about four or five years in advance. Sometimes more depending on the scale and depending how much money and resources they have,” explained Dizdar.
Dizdar’s journey with The Clichettes began over a decade ago in a performance art seminar, where she was immediately captivated by their blend of political commentary and humour. “I realized that an artist could use humour in such a profound way,” she said. This early fascination ultimately led to her role as curator, where she closely collaborated with the artists throughout the process.
Dizdar expressed that her journey curating the exhibit was both enjoyable and chaotic as she worked alongside the trio, all of whom are now in their seventies. “It was really wacky. We brainstormed the title together and made decisions about what to include in the exhibition. Their involvement was crucial, as it’s their first retrospective, and I wanted to ensure they were happy with how their work was presented,” she said.
Their involvement was crucial, as it’s their first retrospective, and I wanted to ensure they were happy with how their work was presented.
Ivana Dizdar, Curator
The Clichettes' exhibition
The exhibition honours The Clichettes’ past while aiming to inspire future generations of artists. Their distinctive combination of humour and political critique continues to resonate today, inviting audiences to reflect on societal issues.
Visitors of this retrospective will encounter an array of materials that exemplify The Clichettes' artistic journey. From humorous performances that challenge patriarchal norms to thought-provoking installations, the exhibition serves as a celebration of their innovative spirit.
"The mark of a good exhibition is that you don’t notice the hard work behind it. You simply enjoy the experience," said Dizdar. This retrospective, with its seamless design and engaging content, invites attendees to engage with The Clichettes’ vision for a better world.
The mark of a good exhibition is that you don’t notice the hard work behind it. You simply enjoy the experience.
Ivana Dizdar, Curator
The Clichettes' exhibition
The Clichettes: Lips, Wigs, and Politics not only showcases their unique contributions to performance art but also highlights the ongoing relevance of their work. Check out the exhibit conveniently located for students at the McMaster Museum of Art. You can also buy a copy of the elaborate publication at the MMA to receive an in-depth catalogue of their works.
The McMaster Museum of Art is hosting a workshop to teach the basics of mini zine making and trading art
For this year's Thrive Week, the McMaster Museum of Art is hosting a mini zine-making workshop. The workshop will be hosted on January 23 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Thrive Week is being held from January 22 to 26, and it is being managed by the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health and Mental Well-being. Its purpose is to bring the university community together to discuss mental health and find ways to support each other. Different areas of campus will be holding events throughout the week for students, alumni, staff and faculty.
Past Thrive Week events have included a therapy dog visit, a guided forest walk, a farm visit and a kind thoughts box.
The event will cover the basics of making mini zines while allowing participants to practice their own unique artistic style. You can also learn about trading your creations and the artistic process of zines in general. The workshop will also have a tour of the museum's exhibition Chasm.
The workshop is free to attend and includes free access to zine-making materials. To attend, you have to register online. Spots are limited!
Students should check out the upcoming event if they are interested in creating art or zines, learning more about different artistic forms or taking a break from studies to do something fun. Students should also keep an eye out for other Thrive Week events, especially if they are looking for ways to prioritize their mental health during the busy start to the semester. The full listing of Thrive Week events can be found here.
Explore beyond the McMaster campus and visit these art displays throughout the city this semester!
As midterm season is upon us, take a break and visit these art displays throughout the city!
Bead Maze – West Harbour GO Station, 353 James St North
This piece was designed by Laura Marotta, a local artist who explores the intersection between geometry, architecture and modular construction, involves producing standardized components of a structure in an off-site and assemble them on-site. Bead Maze was commissioned by Metrolinx and the City of Hamilton in 2016. It is an enlarged bead maze meant to portray the freedom and mobility provided by public transit. Each colour represents a specific component: green represents the Metrolink trains maneuvering through the city’s infrastructure, which is grey, while benefiting the environment, represented by blue. The structure represents a moving network, moving and stopping, like the trains.
Carter Park Mural – 32 Stinson St
This mural was painted by Bryce Huffman, a local tattoo artist, and was commissioned by the Stinson Community Association and the City of Hamilton. The mural fuses portrayals of animals and sports, creating a playful and youthful vibe. For instance, it includes a blue bird wearing a baseball cap sitting on a baseball bat branch with a nest of baseballs. Through this image and others, it highlights historical and environmental attributes of the area.
Be:longings – 85 Oak Knoll Dr
Gary Barwin, Simon Frank and Tor Lukasik-Foss collaborated to create Be:longings. They are all local artists. It was installed this year in July to honour the memory of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat in Nazi-occupied Hungary who oversaw a mission that saved nearly 100,000 Jews. It is composed of ten bronze suitcases situated in different parts of the new Churchill Park pathway to represent the themes of travel, escape, refugees, emigration and human rights.
Growing Together – 27 Hwy 5
Growing Together is a wall mural and five banners created by artist Andrés Correa. It explores the themes of landscape and family, as well as the importance of having a sense of community by representing the diversity in the city and the residents of Flamborough. This was commissioned by the City of Hamilton and installed in 2013. Correa captures a sense of community by integrating groups of people of all ages playing sports together in a rural landscape, showing that they are growing together as one community.
Enjoy checking these out!
