Amplifying Harriet Miller’s Voice - Limited Screening & Artist's Panel, Artist-in-Residence

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About

Join HAUI, 2024 City of Guelph Artist-in-Residence, at a limited screening and artist panel for “Amplifying Harriet Miller’s Voice: A Celebration of Femininity, Blackness, and Healing” Thursday, October 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. This evening will showcase the multi-media project, co-produced by b current, that explores the true story of "Aunt" Harriet Miller, who lived in the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Hospital for almost a decade.

At the time of her passing in 1932, Harriet had lost her memory and immediate family, leaving many details about her life unknown. Through collaborative research* and an interpretive exploration, HAUI uses spoken word and surrealism to evoke the experience of memory loss, while illuminating understandings of Harriet’s life and creating a connection between past and present. Health data referenced was not obtained from medical records. It is based on historical registry information obtained from public census records.

The opening reception panel will feature a chance to learn from HAUI, collaborator Ahdri Zhina Mandiela, Denise Francis, and Audrey Devitt about Harriet's story, memory loss, the creative process, and the experiences held and had throughout the residency.

The exhibition is open to all to drop in, experience, and reflect on, October 4-5 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and October 6 (11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Throughout the residency, HAUI delved into the Guelph Museums archives, the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph’s archives, and nourished other community collaborations including with b current, Stratford Perth Museum, Guelph Black Heritage Society, and more. Each of these partnerships contributed to HAUI’s project which celebrates Black resilience, femininity and the power of voice while transforming a public space into an immersive creative experience.

*Research contributed by scholars Dr. Jade Ferguson and Deirdre McCorkindale.

Special thanks to:

Jill Brejak, Mae Cruz, Audrey Devitt, Melissa Kovar, Lindsay Ogilvie, Sandra Ramelli, Taylor Timmins, Sarah Tracz

Meet the Panel:

HAUI is an award-winning mixed-media artist, who directs, devises and designs cross-disciplinary works for stage, screen and visual mediums. Known for rejecting categorizations, HAUI amplifies overlooked themes, myths, histories and perspectives through an unconventional, diverse lens.  

ahdri zhina mandiela is the founder & past artistic director of Toronto-based b current Performing Arts, and is a revered poet/performer and stage director, who introduced the ever-evolving dub theatre form with her seminal performance work: dark diaspora… in dub in 1991. Since the late 70’s her work has influenced scores of artists, emerging and established; especially as the visionary and driving force behind the highly-buzzed rock.paper.sistahz festival and rAiz’n the Sun training. With three published books, this fiercely independent and award-winning artist has creations in dance, theatre, cd, film, and video; and continues to inspire younger artists writing and performing on theatre stages all over Canada. Current ventures include her new media project: my world.a village, fresh writings, and bringing initiates into the fray with black.stage.canada!

Links

• Visit the Artist-in-Residence website for more details about the program and event. guelph.ca

Organizer

City of Guelph Museums & Culture

Museums and Culture at the City of Guelph exists to:

- Collect and protect artifacts, artworks and stories that reflect our community

- Share the collections and stories − locally, nationally and internationally − through exhibition, interpretation,

and online access

- Provide inclusive, accessible, interactive, and enlightening experiences

- Nurture interest and engagement in history, art and culture

- Cultivate a connection to place, with focus on the tangible and intangible cultural landscape unique to Guelph

Museums and Culture at the City of Guelph is partnering with St. Joseph's Health Centre Guelph for venue and event support. The artistic project is co-produced by b current.

About St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph:

Serving with compassion, care and courage St. Joseph’s Health Centre is Guelph’s leading, fully-accredited, not-for-profit provider of resident long term care, complex medical, and rehabilitation services. The Centre also offers excellent community support services for people who live in their own homes but need a little assistance in their day-to-day lives.

About b current:

Currently led by Marcel Stewart b current was founded by ahdri zhina mandiela, to create and provide space for Black artists (later expanding to brown and intersectional artists) to train, challenge mainstream notions of theatre, and engage with the community. Since its inception, b current has developed scores of internationally celebrated artists and their works.

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