The sound of an iconic, emotional song filled the Dalhousie Art Gallery, weaving through the space and wrapping around the exhibitions, creating an experience that is as much felt as it is seen.
For the first time, the gallery is hosting three concurrent exhibitions called “Down Home: Portraits of Resilience,” “Oluseye: By Faith and Grit” and “Theaster Gates: Billy Sings Amazing Grace” in honour of African Heritage Month, each celebrating the rich history, culture and resilience of African and African-descended communities.
“Each show is about the celebration of our place and where we come from,” says Pamela Edmonds, director and curator of the Dalhousie Art Gallery.
From vivid portraits to intricate sculptures and thought-provoking installations, the exhibitions tell stories of survival, pride and the enduring ties that bind generations.
“Unifying space with a celebration of Black unity through Pan-Africanism, through African recognition,” Edmonds says.
Among the featured artists is Nigerian-Canadian Oluseye, whose work reflects stories rooted in Nova Scotia.
“It borrows from the greeting that you see when you first arrive in North Preston, which goes, ‘I’ve made it this far by faith,’” says Oluseye. “A show that’s a tribute to the Indigenous Black communities of the Maritimes.”
Oluseye’s pieces reflect the strength and perseverance carried through generations in the face of oppression and injustice.
“There’s a sports theme running throughout the work,” he explains. “I infuse hockey sticks with antique farm tools as a way to address the ratio of Black athletes but also looking at the history of Black Loyalists.”
The gallery opened its doors to the public Thursday, inviting the community to experience these powerful stories up close.
“It’s about remembering the legacies over 400 years of Black folk in Canada,” Edmonds says. “You know, it’s sometimes a contentious relationship with the country given our colonial history.”
The exhibitions will be on display until April 27.
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