Art, Outreach, and Tools for Change (English)

The Redwood (Abi Ajibolade, Kelly Cho, Mary Choy, Julia Colucci, Lucy De Luca, Christina DiGianni, Akilah Downey, Leah Finley, Axile Gerona, Ngasseu Kamga, Catherine May, Mila Perez, Suavae Ricketts, Aphie Thayan), Evan Tapper

A corner of a white gallery with a TV, framed painting, and large glass case set away from the wall. A corner of a gallery with exhibition text and a reader rail on the left wall, a flat screen TV and framed painting on the right wall, and large glass case of tools set away from the wall. The exhibition text is titled, “Art, Outreach, and Tools for Change.” The text is black and repeated in Anishinaabemowin, English, then French. On the right wall, the TV screen has a pair of headphones hanging underneath the right corner. Moving right, the painting also has a pair of headphones hanging underneath the right corner. The edge of the case that runs parallel with the wall text, has a reader rail with tools that can be touched.

Art, Outreach, and Tools for Change: Video

The Redwood, Evan Tapper, 2023

Video

Art, Outreach, and Tools for Change: Watercolour on Paper and Audio

The Redwood, Evan Tapper, 2023, 110 x 74 cm
A painting of multiple scenes of a city and people overlapping each other. A painting of multiple scenes of a city and people overlapping each other. On our right the painting is all gray and gradually becomes more colorful as we look towards the left. City skyscrapers line the bottom of the entire painting. On our right, above the gray skyscrapers, sits a small person drawn all in white, floating in a gray sky, sitting cross legged staring into a computer. Above them rows of zeros and ones stream upward. In the middle of the piece is the large torso of a person with medium skin tone holding a bandaged bleeding orb, possibly a heart, against their chest as the red flows down onto a grey skyscraper below. Obscuring the left side of the person's neck is a bright yellow sun with purple and yellow orange rays. To the left of the sun, in the upper left corner of the piece, rainbow ribbons of color flutter in a bright blue sky above vibrantly hued skyscrapers. In front of those skyscrapers, a lively park scene is depicted with stick figures and a large tree with red and pink leaves.

Audio

Madhu’s Tools

The Redwood, Evan Tapper, 2023, mixed media installation

Images

Artwork Details

The Redwood HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) Staffing Program supports women, trans, and non-binary survivors of gender-based violence train for careers in the HVAC industry. Participants obtain a G3 and G2 Gas Technician license. The Redwood covers all costs, such as tuition, textbooks, tools, and childcare. The HVAC industry experienced a surge in pandemic-driven demand given the importance of air quality during this health crisis, providing participants with a pathway to long-term financial independence. Learn more about Madhu's journey below.

Installation Details

These artworks were created in collaboration with The Redwood’s program participants, staff, and volunteers. The video and installation reveal the transformative impacts of the iDetermine app, launched during the pandemic when gender-based violence intensified, and the HVAC training program which empowers women in achieving economic self-sufficiency. The watercolour drawing was made by four youth participants living at The Redwood during the pandemic. Listen as they share their experiences while creating this creative project.

The Redwood opened in 1993. Since then, it has provided programs and services for women and children to live and thrive without abuse, homelessness, and poverty.

About the Artist

A portrait of a person with light skin and a grey beard looking at us. A close up portrait of Evan Tapper, a person with light skin, standing on the street with a streetcar, out of focus, in the background. He smiles slightly at us with slight wrinkles surrounding his blue eyes that match the color of his collared shirt. Sunlight lights up his short blonde hair that is parted on the right side.