John Akomfrah, Wayne Dunkley, Philip Mallory Jones,
Carmin Karasic, Roshini Kempadoo, Camille Turner.
Curated by Sheila Petty
October 14 – November 20, 2004
Reception: Saturday October 16, 8:00 pm
It is with much enthusiasm that Soil Digital Media Suite presents this thoughtful and provocative new media exhibition curated by Dr. Sheila Petty which marks the culmination of several years of planning and building and which also establishes a benchmark in the partnership between Soil Digital Media Suite and the New Media Studio Lab at the University of Regina. In keeping with the formative principles for the emergence of Soil Digital Media Suite launched in 1997 at Neutral Ground, we trust that this exhibition will serve as the basis for continuing to think critically about race and placement in digital space. Questions surrounding the issues of representation, access, cultural profiling, and geography are paramount for the Regina community and we welcome the opportunity to connect with the viewpoints and activism engaged by these artists and their curator. We extend our thanks to Sheila Petty for her collaboration and generosity, the many partners and sponsors she has brought into our program and with special thanks to Ingrid Jenkner, Director, Mount Saint Vincent Gallery in Halifax who responsible for coordinating the co-publication for the catalogue which accompanies this exhibition.
Brenda Cleniuk – Director
John Akomfrah is a London-based digital media artist whose project, “Digitopia” explores the relationship between African diasporic identities and analog and digital worlds.
Wayne Dunkley is a Montreal-based digital and installation artist whose project, “The Degradation and Removal of A/The Black Male” deals with issues of surveillance, black masculinity and identity in Canadian society.
Philip Mallory Jones is a United States-based digital video artist whose projects, “Paradigm Shift” and “Footprints” focus on explicating black identity through the use of images rather than words.
Carmin Karasic is a Boston-based digital media artist whose project, “With Liberty and Justice For All” explores the US Pledge of Allegiance from a position of black alienation.
Roshini Kempadoo is a London-based digital media artist whose interactive installation, “Ghosting” documents how Caribbean and African historical moments such as slavery, colonization and migration are re-visited and re-articulated.
Camille Turner is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary/performance artist whose project, “Miss Canadiana” (part of a larger program of research entitled, “Red, White and Beautiful”) explores racial myths encountered by a young African-Canadian woman.
