SOLD
16” x 20”
Beads, lace, acrylic, spray paint on wood board
2024
Inspired by the words and voice of Kris Noakes, an Indigenous woman who wrote a poem about her experience living with ALS called Behind This Smile. This mixed media expression communicates the fragility of life and the future; (as seen through the use of delicate lacework) and how sometimes, not knowing what the future holds is a privilege.
In her poem, Behind This Smile, Kris Noakes addresses how one day she may lose her ability to move, to emote, and even to speak as someone who lives with ALS. Discovering this reality made this collaboration even more meaningful to the artist as she saw an opportunity to immortalize Noake’s voice through the capturing of her audio narration, but also by commemorating every single word that she read aloud from her poetry to honour the value behind her voice that may one day be lost, along with her ability to participate fully in Indigenous oral storytelling traditions.
The artist used lettered beads strung across a wooden frame to highlight every word from Kris Noake’s poetry in proper succession as a reference to the beadwork that is prevalent in Indigenous art and culture. The words are spaced awkwardly and unnaturally to recreate the tension and discomfort the artist experienced when reflecting on Noake’s potential loss of the use of her body and voice in the future.
A bold, bright red border highlights the frame, symbolic of Kris Noake’s resilience and on-going battle to advocate for herself and others who live with ALS.
Watch Kris Noakes narrate her poem, Behind This Smile, here.
**sales from this piece will be donated to ALS Canada in support of funding ongoing research towards finding a cure so that Kris Noakes and everyone else with ALS can live a brighter future full of smiles*
The VOICES (That’s What She Said) collection is a celebration of the way women have used their words and voices to empower themselves and others. This collection was exhibited as an audio-visual immersive experience at the McMaster research-based performance LIVELab theater in Hamilton, Ontario during Hamilton Arts Week in which the theater was converted into a gallery space where original works of art were displayed in tandem with streaming audio featuring the recorded voice of the original woman speaker.
The chatter of all the voices over the speakers at once created a sense of chaos and confusion, prompting attendees to ask themselves the questions: Whose voices are you giving your attention to? Whose voices deserve more or less attention? How do you discern who you’re listening to when confronted with an overwhelming amount of noise? In a time when social media and mainstream media has the potential to distract from the important messages that women are eager to share with the public, the VOICES (That’s What She Said) audio-visual immersive exhibition acts as a physical reenactment of the media platforms in which women’s voices are either being elevated or dismissed, depending on the audience.
At the risk of overpowering the valuable and impactful messages behind each woman’s monologue, speech or poetry, the artist has decided to depart from her usual format of accompanying her original pieces with poetry of her own, and instead is focusing on communicating the intention behind each work as it was inspired by the words of another woman.
The artist highly encourages the viewer to listen to the original speaker’s voice as she delivers the words she is speaking to a public audience, and where possible, links to purchase the original speaker’s work are provided. By choosing to listen to the words spoken by women through this collection and through other forms of media, the viewer/listener is contributing to elevating women’s voices. Women have value. Their words hold weight. Their experiences matter. After years of existing with the primary purpose of being “seen”, it is time for women to take up more space in platforms that allow us to be seen AND heard.
More info about this product:
This mixed media piece features a 1.5" depth solid wood frame. This piece comes with an artist statement and signature. If you purchase this original work of art you will be contacted by the artist for more information about pick-up options in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, or delivery/shipping information.
*Decorative frame not included*
Please note that the buyer is responsible for any shipping charges and/or for picking up the painting, but the artist (or gallery) will facilitate the process by obtaining quotes, packaging the product safely, and bringing it to a shipping centre at no extra cost. Reach out to the artist directly through the Contact page for any inquiries regarding this piece.
*This is an original painting by Tania LaCaria, there is only one in the world. Frame not included.*