Firewalk
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
Artist Statement
Burnt etches map out new routes on old wood. Through pyrography, I reflect on the intergenerational paths of place and space-making that my ancestors and descendants journey. The medium used to sand, stain and burn the wood include turmeric, coffee, vinegar, rose petals and fire which endure as important, culturally relevant materials to us.
About the Artist
Maneesa Veera
Interdisciplinary artist and educator with over a decade of experience in arts creation, facilitation and anti-oppressive work. Maneesa is a mad, queer, Tamil, gender fluid, chronically ill survivor settled on the stolen, traditional and ancestral lands of the Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinabewaki territories. Their artwork reflects intergenerational wits, wounds and wisdoms as it pertains to land, body and the notion of home. Art has always been their way of accessing truth, grounding and alignment. Maneesa values transformative justice, radical transparency and collaborative care through arts and craft.
@maneesa.v | maneesaveeravel.com
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.
