BRAMPTON: The Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (PAMA) is celebrating Black History Month virtually this February with online exhibitions and the PAMA Talks series.
Though PAMA facilities remain closed due to COVID-19, PAMA said it was striving to create an accessible, safe space for the diverse communities of Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga and beyond to come together and celebrate arts and culture.
PAMA’s mandate is to be a place where Peel communities see themselves reflected and actively contribute to building a ‘Community for Life”.
Virtual Exhibitions
When Night Stirred at Sea: Contemporary Caribbean Art- On now until Feb. 21
This exhibition brings together works by several English Caribbean artists working at home (Trinidad and Jamaica) and in the diaspora (Canada, USA and the UK) to reflect on the breadth of contemporary aesthetic practices within the broader Caribbean community. The grouping of works explores a variety of urgent and common themes of identity, colonization as well as social activism and justice that connect all of humanity in our current global condition.
Our Voice, Our Journeys: Black Communities in Peel – On now
This exhibition is a celebration of one of many Black communities in the region of Peel. It highlights the personal journeys of leaders and mentors from the North Peel Community Church congregation. Their photos and objects illustrate stories of immigration, resilience, and family life, and how they established a community of faith in Caledon.
Online Events
PAMA Talks: Our Voices, Our Journeys Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.
Celebrate Black History Month and the resilience shared by one of the many Black communities of Peel in a group discussion about our newest online exhibition: Our Voices, Our Journeys. Join a panel of community members as they discuss the growth of their vibrant community around the North Peel Community Church, projects they have been working on to celebrate Black History on a wider scale and ways the community has stayed connected during COVID-19. Reserve your spot now.
Caribbean Connections: The Black Atlantic Thursday, Feb 25, 7 p.m.
Join special guests from the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre Cynthia Dorrington, Site Manager and Graham Nickerson, Board Member. Learn stories linking Canada to the Caribbean and the Caribbean to the World. Reserve your spot now.
Karen Carter and Greg Manuel, Guest Curators, said: “The exhibition provides a window into the complex beauty and inherent tensions of Caribbean cultural identity that connect this region and the larger Caribbean diaspora to the world. It is our hope that the exhibition can shape and help viewers explore a wholistic narrative for the entire region which is also comprised of French and Dutch islands.
“We hope to highlight a distinct yet ultimately connected Caribbean aesthetic, alongside the already celebrated Latin American voices. In exploring this region, we bring attention to a too often ignored area and to the ways in which we are all ultimately connected.”
PAMA is a place to explore and learn about Peel Region’s culture and heritage, as well as use conversation, questions and stories to help make new and fascinating connections to the surrounding community. Throughout the year, PAMA offers a variety of workshops and programs for all ages, families and adults. With so many different programs to choose from, PAMA has something for everyone. Operated by the Region of Peel, PAMA is located at 9 Wellington Street, East in Brampton. Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more