Cultural Convergences II: Alliances

The Ethnocultural Art Histories Research Group (EAHR) proudly presents the second annual academic conference Cultural Convergences II: Alliances, on Friday September 26 and Saturday September 27, 2014 at Concordia University, York Auditorium, EV-1.605, with keynote speaker, equity studies scholar Charles Smith (University of Toronto Scarborough).

The theme of the conference, Alliances is directed toward an exploration of the term “alliances” and its implied ideology, along with how our current understanding of the concept affects art, culture, and community. This conference features academics, artists, graduate and undergraduate students speaking to issues of cultural diversity in the visual arts in Canada. Three panel discussion and two performances address issues including representation, cross-cultural exchange and collaboration that are critical to deeper understandings of the notion of alliance today.

The two-day event kicks off on FRIDAY, September 26, 5-9pm, with two exciting performances by Toronto-based artist Alvis Parsley and Montreal-based artist Kama La Mackerel, followed by a discussion by the local Montreal Qouleur Qollective, discussing the work of building communities that centralize the experiences of self-identified Two-Spirited and LGBTQ Indigenous people and people of colour.

The second day, Saturday September 27th, is a full day of thought-provoking panel discussions featuring emerging scholars from different Montreal universities from 9:30am to 4:30pm. This will be followed by the conference keynote address by Charles Smith, Lecturer in Cultural Pluralism in the Arts, University of Toronto Scarborough who will be presenting a lecture entitled “Black Heterogeneity: Moving Beyond Transactions into a New Space.”

The closing reception is jointly hosted by EAHR and the Art History Graduate Student Association (AHGSA) and will take place on the 11th floor lounge of the EV building at Concordia University from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Faculty and graduate students affiliated with the Department of Art History programs will also be in attendance.

Cultural Convergences II: Alliances is made possible with the support of The Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art, The Concordia University Small Grants Program, and the Department of Art History at Concordia University. EAHR also gratefully acknowledges its sponsors, volunteers and faculty advisor, Dr. Alice Ming Wai Jim.