CHAINS & CROWNS
Chains & Crowns, is a photo-based series of artworks inspired and dedicated to the artist’s mother. This large-scale print depicts the history, politics, science and psychology of Black Hairstyles. The typological series displayed in a grid format encourages the viewer to cross-reference hairstyles and allows the Black and broader communities the opportunity to draw from their personal experiences, whether that be through their own stories or through their community members. The work also comes with information on styles that derive from an array of time periods, cultures and movements ranging from Ancient Egypt (2700 BC – 343 BC) to The Natural Hair Movement (1960 – present). This gives way for the audience to further solidify their understanding through historical text and to question the multi-faceted ways these styles have been utilized and evolved in impact over time.
Stéphane Alexis is an artist based in Ottawa, Canada. His work stems from personal experiences, research, community collaborations and visual expression, all fostering a strong desire to bring a level of understanding to the often overlooked communities. Stéphane’s work seeks to give insight into these communities in which he belongs to.
Artist website: stephanealexis.com
Keywords: Activism | Community | Depression | Resilience | Trauma
#RWMFest #MoreThanRebellion
This year, the exhibition in the Rendezvous With Madness Festival will be presented in-person throughout the festival from October 27 to November 6.
VENUE:
The exhibition is held at Workman Arts Offsite Gallery, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street, Unit 302, Toronto.
DATES:
October 27 to November 6, 12 – 6 PM.
EXHIBITION OPENING & ARTISTS TALK
October 29, 1-4 PM, Talk at 2:30 PM
After the opening reception, engage with the artists of kind renderings as they delve into their work and practice.
TOURS
Please join us for a guided tour on Thursday, November 3 at 5 PM
ACCESSIBILITY
If in-person access is a barrier, please contact Raine Laurent-Eugene at raine_lauenteguene@workmanarts.com.
Visit the Accessibility page for further festival information and wayfinding.
Image Design: Dorothy Ogda Laxton “Trigger Warning”
In person screening — Sunday, October 30th at 5pm
Camh Auditorium
1025 Queen Street West, Toronto
Streaming across Canada October 27th to November 6th
UPON, REFLECTION: RECENT SHORT FILMS BY WORKMAN ARTS AND SATELLITE MEMBERS
W.I PISTOLARY | Conilyn Herrera | Canada | 2022 | 4 minutes
EXPRESS YOURSELF | Sirene Qureshi & Luis Estores | Canada | 2018 | 4 minutes
THE HALLWAY | Zan Redcrow | Canada | 2022 | 3 minutes
HYPOTHETICALLY FEBRUARY 15 | Jasmine Vanstone | Canada | 2022 | 4 minutes
TORONTO INTERLUDE | Christine Waloszczyk | Canada | 2022 | 5 minutes
TRIGGER WARNING | Dorothy Ogda Laxton | Canada | 2022 | 36 minutes
October 30th at Rendezvous With Madness enjoy an in person screening of recent short films by Workman Arts and Satellite members. Post-film screening talk with filmmakers moderated by James Buffin
Upon, Reflection is an anthology of recent short films by Workman Arts members and Satellite program artists. Filmmaking is a medium that allows us to tell stories and reflect on our own personal journeys. Each film presented in this series speaks to the vastness of storytelling and how it can transform us to make lasting and meaningful connections.
For accessibility Upon, Reflection: Recent Short Films By Workman Arts And Satellite Members is also available online via Workman Arts & Cinesend from October 27th to November 6th 2022
For accessibility Mis Dos Voces / My Two Voices and Under the Full Moon are also available online via Workman Arts & Cinesend from October 27th to November 6th, 2022
Keywords: Artists | Experimentation | Healing | Resilience
Genre: Shorts
#RWMFEST #MoreThanRebellion
Films from Workman Arts’ Satellite program were made possible thanks to generous support from The Slaight Family Foundation.
In person screening — Saturday, October 29th at 7 PM
Camh Auditorium
1025 Queen Street West, Toronto
Streaming across Canada October 27th to November 6th
MIS DOS VOCES / MY TWO VOICES
Lina Rodriguez | 2022 | Canada | 68 minutes | Spanish with English subtitles
On October 27th at Rendezvous With Madness enjoy an in person screening of the film Mis Dos Voces / My Two Voices directed by Colombian/Canadian filmmaker Lina Rodriguez. Post-film talk moderated by Tamara Toledo
In My Two Voices, Canadian director Lina Rodriguez paints a lyrical and truly unique portrait of what it means to be an immigrant and how this can affect one’s sense of self. Shot with luminous 16mm film, the documentary introduces audiences to three Latina women who gradually reveal their individual migration stories, discuss the inherent challenges in starting afresh in a new country and explore how those difficult experiences have shaped their lives. Though their origins differ greatly, all three have faced similar struggles with language and belonging as they attempt to balance their present with complicated memories of the past. Rodriguez allows the identities of these women to remain concealed throughout and, instead, useså their voices to shift perspectives and reframe their emotional journeys of self-discovery and understanding. My Two Voices is a thoughtfully constructed cinematic ode to resilience in the face of trauma and perseverance in the face of seismic upheaval.
Tamara Toledo is a Chilean-born Toronto-based curator, scholar, writer, and artist. For over a decade, Toledo has curated numerous exhibitions offering spaces, platforms and opportunities to Latin American and diasporic artists.
Screening with Under The Full Moon | Lynn Dana Wilton | 2022 | Canada | 1 minute | silent
When anxiety affects g your ability to sleep it can be difficult to tell what is real and what is a dream. A short film animated with vine charcoal.
For accessibility Mis Dos Voces / My Two Voices and Under the Full Moon are also available online via Workman Arts & Cinesend from October 27th to November 6th, 2022
Keywords: Resilience | Immigration | Women’s Issues
Genre: Documentary (Feature) Animation (short)
#RWMFEST #MoreThanRebellion
PROCESSING DURATION: RECENT SHORT FILMS BY WORKMAN ARTS MEMBERS
Various artists / 2018-2021 / Canada / 60 Mins+
Processing Duration is an anthology of recent short films by Workman Arts member artists that contemplate subjects of service, restriction, healing and embodied time. Through movement, ritual,
montage and song, these short films highlight nuance and storytelling. Ice On The Window Like A
Thousand Small Bees, Troubled Amplitude and Ice Into Fire experiment with urban and natural environments as a way to work through layered feelings. Looking inwards, the films Therapy Fragments Body Language, Fuck, Romberg’s Sign and The Space Without use self-documentation to explore vulnerability, growth, and resilience. While, the films Disability Video, The Beats, and Melody prove
the power of nature, music and narrative.
BODY LANGUAGE (Tara Clews | 2019 | 2 min)
DISABILITY VIDEO (Sirene Koser Qureshi | 2021 | 2 min)
FUCK (Emily Schooley | 2021 | 3 min)
ICE INTO FIRE (Anja Sagan | 2020 | 12 min)
ICE ON THE WINDOW LIKE A THOUSAND SMALL BEES (Catherine Jones | 2020 | 3 min)
MELODY (John Perera | 2021 | 3 min)
ROMBERG’S SIGN (Laura Shintani | 2021 | 2 min)
THE BEAST (Amy Ness | 2021 | 10 min)
THERAPY FRAGMENTS (Blanca Lopez | 2021 | 13 min)
THE SPACE WITHOUT (Emily Sweet | 2019 | 3 min)
TROUBLED AMPLITUDE (Jan Swinburne | 2018 | 9 min)
Keywords: Artists | Experimentation | Healing | Music | Resilience
COMMUNITY PARTNER
CO-PRESENTERS
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
FILMMAKERS Q&A
Join the filmmakers for an in-person and virtual Q&A ; moderated by filmmaker James Buffin