A Small Media Victory + Ancient Forest Futures

I was just complaining yesterday that no media had taken up my press release regarding the mural. I had really hoped that the concept would be shared more widely in the mainstream press: “The characters are from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, says Diamant: “But instead of taking place in an idyllic forest glade, the distressed fairies are in a clearcut. The sky is fiery red and the ass sergeant looks on indifferently. A midsummer nightmare.”

But Victoria News came later that day! Here’s a link to the article. https://www.vicnews.com/entertainment/victorias-blue-bridge-theatre-spruced-up-with-new-mural/?fbclid=IwAR1dsR_tEIT8ZuW7QE92-MzpstqQ6slRqCdKPDptEYbIomrEobqUTQp0p-w

Capital Daily did not share the concept but did share a photo of the mural.

Still Standing: Ancient Forest Futures

I want to put in a good word for Still Standing: Ancient Forest Futures curated by Jessie Demers at the UVic Legacy Art Gallery downtown (hours Wed-Sat 10-4). Go see it before it’s gone on Sept. 17.

I know a lot of us in indigenous sovereignty/environmental/social justice movements are artists and I’m guessing many, like me, are sick of the gate-keepy art world. Walking into the gallery did give me that, “ugh, precious” feeling I get in most galleries. It’s all clean and hushed. The title of the show does not do justice to the losses. But there’s the voice of Elder Bill Jones in a really strong video interview. And the works all deserve engagement. There is much to contemplate and remember.

What I appreciated the most is imagining a tourist or fancy person or elected official coming in and maybe getting a hit of “Beautiful British Columbia”-NOT. And I appreciated the main statement as one enters that minces few words (unlike our political “leaders”).

And I also appreciated my feelings of irritation with the insufficiency of the (beautiful, well-curated) show vs. the desperation of ongoing genocide, ecocide, and loss of ancients. It reminded me of my (our) impossible but maybe beautiful daily battles of living in this insane reality while trying to function and make change and be ethical and manage challenging interpersonal relationships in a culture and system that is broken. Thanks to Jessie Demers and all the artists, Kyle Scheurmann, Connie Morey, Jeremy Herndl, Rande Cook, Carey Newman, Paul Walde, Donna Mueller, Gord Hill, and others.