Art binds people together.
Growing Pains connects four artist’s perspectives on family, cultural identity, and community through various mediums of visual storytelling. Sumera Khan, Shamara Peart, MA ’23, Shanique Peart, and Alicia Udvari, BFA ’23, showcase and curate their works at the Union Gallery from Jan. 14 to Feb. 15 as well as the Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre from Jan. 18 to March 22. The exhibitions celebrate months of hard work during the artists’ time in the Twofold Residency 2024 for Emerging Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) Artists, beginning in 2024.
Since July, the artists have collaborated on their artistic endeavours with the of one another and the Twofold Residency 2024 Co -Directors, Berlin Reed and Jill Glatt. The residency, hosted by Union Gallery and Modern Fuel, helps establish a safe space for the artists to explore their creative breadth and learn new skills through workshops.
READ MORE: Four emerging BIPOC Artists challenge traditional boundaries during Twofold Residency
Forming community is a crucial part of the residency. “[Being a mom] I had no access to artists other than having friends online. Wonderful virtual artist friends on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, but never a sense of community, of fellow artists, especially BIPOC artists,” Khan said in an interview with The Journal.
After working alongside one another during the Twofold Residency 2024, the artists closed their journey by collaborating once more on Growing Pains. Shamara Peart discussed the way in which both galleries allowed the artists to work together in harmony, frequently checking in and providing throughout the process of installation.
The four artists use various mediums that uniquely contribute to the show in meaningful ways. Udvari discussed the “process-based” nature of their work and how their inspiration led them to build a puppet from affordable and recycled materials. The puppet’s ergonomic form then compelled Udvari to create prints and include the figure in their other pieces.
The artists share similar themes of movement and transformation within their works. “I do a lot of dance and photography, and a lot of my photography combines art and nature,” Shanique Peart said. “For almost the whole two months, I directed, produced, and choreographed my first dance film which was really cool.”
Khan paints familiar spaces or objects in oil on canvas to demonstrate how the human experience is both exclusive and relatable. “All of my subjects are inspired by real-life stories. As one of our Co-Directors, Jill, said, ‘It’s almost like a Polaroid from your life. And I love that,’” Khan shared.
Each artist explores themes of growth and community, connecting through visual storytelling that invites the audience into their various perspectives and history. Shamara Peart spoke on how storytelling can take various forms, expressing her hope that people recognize this idea through the show.
“The webs were an entirely new idea, I was trying a new theme because I wanted to see how I could flirt with the idea of horror or afro horror, elements of a Black experience that could be perceived as weird or intimidating,” Shamara Peart said.
Shamara Peart uses crocheted webs, collages, and poetry to demonstrate themes of transformation and the force of change, speaking on whether one embraces novelty, or fears its inevitable occurrence. In particular, her spider webs made out of yarn and Afro springy hair—a kind of synthetic hair that’s used for braids or twists—aim to exude a sense of discomfort, reminding viewers change is uncomfortable and can even be scary.
Entering unfamiliar spaces and striving for what one wants and deserves takes courage, but that is where growth happens. These artists urge viewers to embrace discomfort and navigate transformation with resilience and curiosity.
“As a BIPOC person, you face so many unnecessary challenges and obstacles being in rooms you’re not sure you should be part of, even though you work 10 times harder than everybody else. It was so beautiful to be in a room with people who get it, you don’t have to be wearing a mask. You could just be, and let it all out,” Shanique shared.
The artists discussed the importance of funding inclusive spaces and extending opportunities to BIPOC individuals. “Our art, our identity—when and if those things interact—sometimes it’s not the main focus, and sometimes it is. Just having the space to talk about that with people who can understand each other a bit better,” Alicia said.
Whether it be seeking creative advice or an opinion, ing one another throughout the installation process, or just going on walks, the artists fostered a safe space to develop their talent and grow as individuals.
“These people are just amazing to work with. It was a dream team. They really pulled their weights and mine too. And I needed it,” Khan shared.
The artists discussed what they hope attendees will take away from the show. “Hopefully, connecting with people but really just giving people a space to slow down and appreciate something nice; a piece of art,” Udvari said.
Growing Pains bridges perspectives through a diverse range of artistic expression, connecting individuals through a conversation about the collective experience of existing in today’s world. But it’s okay if this visual dialogue goes over your head. That’s the thing about art. You can connect to it in whatever way you like.
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