TLC Series: Uncovering Identities

Following Black History Month, it will be our profound pleasure to welcome national artist, HAUI™ to share their journey of unveiling the forgotten and concealed stories of Black communities through a myriad of platforms and mediums.

“My artistic practice has long been rooted in uncovering Black stories relegated to the peripheries of history. From the defiant resistance of Marie-Joseph Angélique in Montreal to the bravery of Chloe Cooley in Niagara, I have sought to illuminate narratives that challenge erasure and demand a reckoning with Canada’s racialized past. My recent works include the poignant story of Private Flowers, an LGBTQ+ history explored through collaboration with the Toronto History Museums and the National Ballet, and Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White, which celebrates Canada’s first international Black classical singer.

As the first Black director at the Canadian Opera Company, I have had the privilege—and the burden—of navigating the pressures of being a “first.” This position has deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers that often accompany trailblazing roles and the weight of representation in spaces historically inaccessible to Black artists. My most recent work, Aunt Harriet, commissioned through the City of Guelph’s Artist-in-Residence program, continues this thread, exploring the complex layers of identity, legacy, and erasure tied to Black history in Canada.”        -HAUI™

Date: March 8 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Stratford Perth Museum Indoor Theatre
Cost: $10.00 plus tax 
Light Refreshments and time for discussion with directed Q&A will be provided.

Speaker Bio

HAUI™ is an award-winning mixed media artist directing, devising, and designing cross-disciplinary work for stage and screen. Notable achievements include the feature-film MixedUp (OUTtv), the immersive Private Flowers (Toronto History Museums), and directing his libretto Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White, praised as “a rare world premiere from the Canadian Opera Company marking a new entry in the country’s essential operatic canon” (Globe & Mail). Published by Playwrights Canada Press, HAUI™ served as the 2024 artist-in-residence for the City of Guelph, creating the audiovisual piece Aunt Harriet. He looks forward to continuing development on his upcoming projects in New York at Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center and through a Chalmers Fellowship Grant to Cuba and Jamaica. As a producer, HAUI™ is part of OYA OBAC’s Producers Incubator.     -HAUI™

To Learn More Visit https://www.howardjdavis.com/