Women Carrying Baby in a Rope Sack (Free Daycare), Initiation and Trance
CreateSpace Public Art Forum 2022
An artistic response to the 2022 CreateSpace Public Art Forum, a national forum virtually convening participants who identify as Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), racialized, rural and/or youth with disabilities and between the ages of 18-25. Participants were presented with online talks themed around public art practices, studio tours by artist facilitators, a Keynote Event by artist Lori Blondeau, and opportunities to engage with fellow peers to inspire their final creations.
Project at a Glance
45
CreateSpace participants
10
artist facilitators
1
keynote speaker
Women Carrying Baby in a Rope Sack (Free Daycare)
In this piece, Ehiko highlights the contemporary way in which indigenous women from Papua New Guinea carry their babies in handmade Bilum bags.
Free daycare explores the notion of having more accessible ways for parents, not only mothers can connect with their children.
Initiation
Trance
About the Artist
Ehiko Odeh
Ehiko is a multidisciplinary artist born in Lagos, Nigeria and living in Toronto, Ontario. The principal subject matter explored in her work is Decolonization, Health and Wellness, Unravelling Spirituality linked to traditional Afrakan masks, Sexual Violence, and the Representation of Melanated Hair.
An OCAD University graduate, whose shown work in Lagos and Toronto, Ehiko experiments on and manipulates raw canvas due to its flexibility. Her artistic style is characterized through an expressive pallet. Through the use of a variety of textiles she emulates the traditional Nigerian practice of craftsmanship through large scale multi-medium paintings, performances, drawings, and installations.
CreateSpace Public Art Forum
STEPS Public Art believes public art has the ability to challenge the systemic inequities that exist in public space. In support of this important work, we facilitate artist capacity building programs that foster inclusive public art practices, build the capacity of underrepresented artists, and demonstrate how public art can help reimagine equitably designed cities.
CreateSpace Public Art Forum is a digital forum that virtually convenes participants who identify as Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), racialized, rural and/or youth with disabilities and between the ages of 18-25. This forum fosters connections, builds understanding across geographies and cultures, as well as provide emerging equity-seeking artists with the skills, relationships and support needed to develop public art practices. Visit the online gallery to view all artistic responses by the 2022 forum participants.
CreateSpace Public Art Forum is supported by Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts and CIBC.
