Chuck D is both a living ancestor and an inspirer for this festival. In autumn 2008, he came to Vancouver promoting Byron Hurt's film Beyond Beats and Rhymes. The film examines masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in hip-hop culture. At the Q&A, Chuck D addressed the absence of support for women in hiphop. Within this absence, Sistahood Celebration emerged. It was borne of neccessity to be self-defined. Sistahood is rooted in hiphop and flowers across genres. Since 2000 we've honed a unique space for contemporary female artists to showcase their creative excellence in an inclusive, critically astute and playful celebration.
Throughout the year I spearhead a dialogue with artists and our community around issues and solutions. I listen to our community and shape the annual theme with these conversations in mind. In 2008, our theme was Re:Birth and Co-Creation. Exploring this theme we deepened our understanding of how crucial our relationship to time is, gestation if you will. We talked of our ancestors and sought to be cognizant of their wisdom and foibles. And then we considered our own. We welcome this response ability as Future Ancestors. And so this year's festival theme manifested.
In exploring this theme we were further inspired by the ideas of Brian Eno's, Clock Of The Long Now. The project he says, "hopes to provide counterpoint to today's "faster/cheaper" mind set and promote "slower/better" thinking. We hope to creatively foster responsibility in the framework of the next 10,000 years". With this long vision of 'now', I suggest that the women's movement is still 'now' and that civil rights liberation movement is still 'now'. Rather than viewing the work/achievements/struggles of our predecessors as a time in the past, 'now' can be a living continuum for which we are collectively accountable. Inevitably, what we do will be the living legacy of the 'future' now.
The concept of Future Ancestors has inspired an outstanding repertoire of new work from artists we are thrilled and honoured to present. Let me tell you about a few of them. Playwright and poet d'bi.young premieres 3:56 Pressure, a compelling observation on the institutionalisation of child-birth. Grand Mama's: A Herstory Cabaret features an intimate look into the lives of women. Our film showcase, XX Rated Crimes examines current and historical representations of women and crime. Looking to the future, I suspect audiences will not have the chance to see 2009 Juno-award nominee Zaki Ibrahim in such an intimate settings as the Biltmore again.
An aspect of our legacy will be what we invite the future to feed upon. The crisis and opportunity of transforming food production and its pathways to the table has inspired two signature events at the festival, our marketplace and our collaborative finale. The Remedy is a delicious marketplace that highlights the integrity of locally produced food and culture. Featuring regional fare, gardening heritage and a barn-dance to boot! This family friendly event includes an all-ages square dance with Victoria's unbelievably fun, The Haints Old Time String Band. While Myrtle Silverspot:Kitchen Confidential, takes a phantasmagorical look at biodiversity. Devised by writer/performer Nadia Chaney and co-created by a multi-disciplinary group of artists, the collaboration will be our closing night performance.
And now for a promotional break. This year we're offering charming souvenirs with a personal touch. With a stylish eye on minimising consider a low-closet-impact solution. Bring any item of clothing and we'll silkscreen the Sistahood insignia on it - on the spot at all our events!
Finally, in programming this year's Sistahood Celebration, I've taken great joy in building a festival around an encompassing theme that moves good ideas forward. Especially when in the gifted hands of this year's participating artists and cultural workers. Legendary video artist Sara Diamond, a former Vancouverite and current President of the Ontario College of Art and Design, gets it right when she encourages us, "To imagine beyond constraint, and then to render as real—artists and designers transform the stuff of mind to stuff that matters".
Welcome to Sistahood Celebration 2009: Future Ancestors!
In service,
Anna Hilliar
Festival Director
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