News from the Centre
Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia to celebrate
"Up Home"
in partnership with The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia!
The Black Cultural Centre will celebrate the exhibition "Up Home" Friday, October 9 at 7:30 pm. This celebration event will include a viewing of the original paintings for the book, an opportunity to meet the artists and a poetry presentation by students from Nelson Whynder Elementary School as well as special music by an emerging young vocalist from North Preston, Ms. Maureen (Reeny) Smith. The exhibition of work for "Up Home" will remain on view until December. The artists, Ms Shauntay Grant, poet and Ms Susan Tooke, illustrator as well as Art Gallery of Nova Scotia personnel will be present.
Susan Tooke and Shauntay Grant have been involved with ArtsSmarts programs throughout Nova Scotia and have most recently worked with students from Nelson Whynder Elementary School in preparation for the Up Home celebration on April 30th. Students presented their own "Up Home" interpretations through words and art work.
The publication "Up Home" has won awards at the 2009 Atlantic Book Awards, which were presented at a gala celebration in April. The book won both the Best Atlantic Published Book Award and the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration.
Ms Shauntay Grant The book's author is a broadcaster, spoken word artist, and musician and was also recently named the Mayor*s Poet Laureate 2009/10.
Ms Susan Tooke She is an award-winning artist who has illustrated many books for children and paints murals, landscapes, and portraits, and creates digital montages. "Up Home" is also short-listed for the 2010 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Awards.
Exhibition Backgrounder ----------------------------------------------
North Preston is one of our country's largest and most important African Canadian communities. Writer, Shauntay Grant has written a rich and celebratory poem about North Preston and her memories of growing Up Home. The book is beautifully illustrated by artist Susan Tooke who modeled Shauntay's characters from people she met in the community. The original paintings are acrylic on Arches watercolour paper 140 lb. cold press.
For more information please contact : Dr. Henry V. Bishop - 434 -6223 or 1-800-465-0767