HAUI and Tracey-Mae Chambers were the 2024 City of Guelph Artists-in-Residence. Both artists invited community into their creative practices over the summer months and throughout Culture Days, which took place September 20 to October 13, 2024.
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HAUI
HAUI is a Stratford-based award-winning mixed-media artist, who directs, devises and designs cross-disciplinary works for stage, screen and visual mediums. Known for rejecting categorizations, HAUI amplifies overlooked themes, myths, histories and perspectives through an unconventional, diverse lens.
HAUI explored the true story of “Aunt” Harriet Miller, who lived in the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Hospital for almost a decade in her senior years. At the time of her passing in 1932, Harriet had lost her memory and immediate family, leaving many details about her life unknown. Through collaborative research and interpretive exploration, HAUI used spoken word and surrealism to evoke the experience of memory loss, while illuminating understandings of Harriet’s life and creating a connection between the past and present.Research contributed by scholars Dr. Jade Ferguson and Deirdre McCorkindale, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and Guelph Museums. The health data referenced in this work was not obtained from medical records. It is based on historical registry information obtained from public census records.
Image ID: Guelph Museums, 1968.123.4
HAUI collaborated with spoken word poet, artist and musician Ahdri Zhina Mandiela to amplify Harriet’s voice and celebrate the power of Black healing. Harriet’s story was shared through a multi-media installation and discussion panel at the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph (formerly St. Joseph’s Hospital) during Culture Days. The panel featured HAUI and Ahdri Zhina Mandiela as well as Denise Francis of the Guelph Black Heritage Society, and Audrey Devitt of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph.
Image courtesy of the artist.
Discussion panel, left to right: HAUI, ahdri zhina mandiela, Denise Francis, Audrey Devitt
Special thanks to the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph team who collaborated on this project:
- Jill Brejak – Clinical Lead, Alzheimer’s Day Program
- Mae Cruz – Corporate Communications Specialist
- Audrey Devitt – Behavioural Supports Ontario Strategic Lead
- Melissa Kovar – Health Information Management Supervisor, Privacy Officer
- Lindsay Ogilvie – Information Specialist
- Sandra Ramelli – Integrated Vice President, People & Strategy
- Taylor Timmins – Executive Assistant
- Sarah Tracz – Manager, Organizational Development
Tracey-Mae Chambers
Tracey-Mae Chambers is a Toronto-based artist and proud citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, creating site-specific installations. Deeply influenced by her personal history, Chambers’ installations invite audiences to contemplate identity, belonging, decolonization and reconciliation. Since discovering her Métis heritage in adulthood, Chambers has embarked on a quest for harmony with the natural world, where she found solace in the vessel as a metaphor for individual journeys, continually filling and refilling one’s narrative.
Tracey-Mae Chambers, installing a work on the Civic Museum patio.
Tracey-Mae Chambers brought her #HopeAndHealingCanada project back to Guelph for this residency. Since 2021, Chambers has created #HopeAndHealingCanada installations across the country. For the Artist-in-Residence program, she engaged the Guelph community in conversations centered in truth, reconciliation, identity, and decolonization through community weaving workshops and pop-up textile installations at over ten locations and events. Locations included Royal City Park, Rockwood Conservation Area, Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph Public Libraries (West End Branch and Westminster Square Branch), Art Gallery of Guelph, Hillside Festival, and Riverside Park as part of Cinema in the City and the Multicultural Festival.
Community members of all ages participated in weaving 4” round, and larger loom weaving workshops and drop-ins.
Tracey-Mae Chambers presented an artist talk and single-day exhibition of the community weavings created throughout her residency during Culture Days. Attendees were able to learn about her artistic journey and upcoming projects, as well as understand more about the residency project while viewing the pieces on display.
Special thanks to the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, Shelldale Center, and the Somali Community of Guelph for the event and venue support.
Two people looking at community weavings at the artist talk and exhibition.
Tracey-Mae Chambers presenting artist talk at Shelldale Community Centre.