During the height of the Spanish flu pandemic, afflicted Norwegian artist Edvard Munch painted a pair of self-portraits. In the first, he sits alone in a chair beside his rumpled bed, bundled in a robe, blankets covering his legs. His face is drained of color and his mouth hangs open, as if gasping for breath. In the second, painted after his recovery, he lists, seemingly exhausted, toward the viewer.
Embracing diversity through artistic exchange: From Toronto to Valparaíso, Chile
Embracing diversity through artistic exchange: From Toronto to Valparaíso, Chile
Through street art, Chileans and Canadians are celebrating creativity and diversity.
Art has the power to tell stories, instil pride and even foster inclusion.
That’s exactly what a recent cultural exchange between Chile and Canada accomplished.
Like Canada, Chile is a country that is home to different cultures, religions and ethnicities. As is true in Canada, there is still more work to do in Chile to ensure that all segments of society are included and have equal opportunities. Alongside local partners, the Embassy of Canada in Chile is showing that communities are stronger when we work together, respect our differences and give everyone the chance to participate.
The Embassy supported the “Creative Cities” exchange project, sending Canadian artists Jarus and Kreecha to the port city of Valparaíso to paint two public murals.
The project was a collaborative effort of Creativo Arts, a Canadian organization directed by Toronto-based Canadian-Chilean cultural promoter Rodrigo Ardiles, local art organization Valparaíso en Colores, and the Valparaíso regional office of Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, under their ‘Emerge Valparaíso’ program.
This was the second phase in the “Creative Cities” exchange between Toronto and Valparaíso, as fostered by Creativo Arts and with support from the City of Toronto and other Canadian organizations. In phase one, two Chilean artists traveled to Toronto and painted murals in the Dundas West neighbourhood. These public art works reflect the diversity and rich cultures of Canada’s largest city and are now part of the Dundas West Open Air Museum, which was launched in June 2019.
“Murals make neighbourhoods feel more welcoming and walkable. They encourage citizens to be creative and foster a sense of identity, belonging and openness. They can also boost economic development and tourism in the neighbourhood”, said Rodrigo Ardiles.
More events:
Street art is having a moment. Is it a pivotal one?
Create HOPE – Collective Mural Initiative
In the context of the current state of isolation, recommended by public health officials across the globe due to COVID19, a new initiative has been launched through an alliance between local Canadian arts and health advocates, to create an arts-based health promotion initiative in response to the high demand for mental health support for families to cope during this difficult period that we face.
Créer l’espoir – une murale virtuelle pancanadienne se dessine à l’horizon
Malgré les distances qui séparent les Canadiens en ces temps de confinement, des initiatives pour les réunir virtuellement surgissent partout au pays. L’une d’entre elles est le projet de murale virtuelle numérique Create Hope | Créer l’espoir.
L’initiative consiste à compiler des interprétations visuelles du concept d’espoir. Elle s’adresse en premier lieu aux enfants qui, comme le reste du monde, sont en quarantaine pour une période indéterminée.
Le projet repose sur deux initiatives lancées par Rodrigo et Paola Ardiles Gamboa, frère et sœur, soit le Dundas West Public Museum de Toronto (géré principalement par l’ONG Creativo Arts) et la coopérative de promotion de la santé Bridge for Health basée à Vancouver. Le mot-clé avec lequel ils veulent faire résonner le projet au pays est #createhopemural.
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