Mississauga The News mother of all shows
By Julia Le Mississauga News
Friday, November 6, 2009
A unique new show that that explores the relationship between people who take different paths in life and their mothers opened last night at the Art Gallery of Mississauga at City Hall.
Where Were The Mothers? presents the life stories of people who have run afoul of the law, lived or worked on the street, dealt with addictions or belonged to street gangs. Professional musicians have translated those tales into music.
“We are deluged by reports of violent acts and seemingly senseless criminal activities, and we often look for someone to blame,” said visual and media artist Linda Duvall, who completed the exhibit last week after working on it for the last three years in Toronto and Saskatoon.
In creating the exhibit, the artist was initially attempting to answer questions about her own life.
“My son had been jailed, he’d been addicted and actually done nearly everything that the participants had done, and I knew that I wanted to talk to people who had been through similar experiences,” Duvall said during an informal discussion that followed the exhibit’s opening reception. “So I just did.”
Over three years, the project evolved beyond Duvall’s expectations.
Videos depicting the musicians working with the subjects are featured along with the songs in the exhibit. They include interviews with mothers whose children have strayed off the straight and narrow path of life.
Music producer Christian Hurst and Leroy Sinclair, whose life is examined in the exhibit, said the experience has taught them about human nature.
Sinclair talks about being abused as a child, dealing with racism and fending for himself on the streets. At first, he said, he didn’t want to rehash old memories, but now feels he can be a role model to children in similar situations.
“I feel stronger about going out and helping kids,” said Sinclair, 46, adding that it was cathartic to share his story. “I feel the more things that are out there for kids who are struggling, the more changes they will have (to live a better life).”
For Hurst, translating Sinclair’s story into a song was a rewarding experience.
The song runs for seven minutes and is a mix of hip hop, church music and reggae.
It is included in a compilation CD, which is available for purchase at the AGM.
Also opening at the AGM last night was a multimedia exhibit that examines capitalism, fair trade and the social implications of consumerism.
Made In India by Harrell Fletcher and Wendy Red Star tells the tale of the two American artists who buy a rug, but receive two by mistake. Rather than returning the extra rug, they sell it and set out to find the factory worker who made it so they can give him the $1,500 they made on the deal.
Both exhibits run until Dec. 24.
Julia Le is a former reporter with the Oakville Beaver.