Mique, F-O qu'on s'parle de l'art comme formule d'activisme ! Dans l'épisode d'aujourd'hui, Mique, Camille et Danielle s'parlent de l'art d'aujourd'hui et des différents moyens utilisés pour passer des messages. Mique parle aussi de son parcours et ses projets de la prochaine année !
Franco-Ontarienne, femme Métissée, du Nipissing Ouest, Mique a comme objectif d’abolir les stéréotypes négatifs du Graffiti. Elle espère également sensibiliser le public aux réalités des minorités visibles et invisibles ainsi que s’assurer que la jeunesse et les communautés dont elle visite ont les outils pour partager leurs messages. Aussi de mettre de la couleur sur tous les murs !
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00:00:00
Hello everyone, my name is Danielle Roy, one of today's podcast’s co-host.
00:00:05
I am Camille Sigouin, the other co-host of the podcast today. Hello and welcome to the first official podcast of l'Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario FO on s'parle.
00:00:20
In our podcast, we talk to influential people in the Franco-Ontarian community about influencers, accessible models who have had an impact on us, and on the Franco-Ontarian community in general. The first season of the podcast is funded by the Ottawa bilingue program, which is an ACFO Ottawa program that funds initiatives promoting bilingualism in the Ottawa area.
00:00:43
Today, we have the pleasure and the chance to chat with Mique Michelle, an activist artist from the North who has worked in the South, East of Europe, everywhere, Mique has been everywhere. We are really really happy to have this discussion with her. We talked about art as a type of activism. We also talked about the different arts that can be associated with different messages, and what message to send. She tells us about her journey as an artist and talks about how she’s been experiencing the pandemic. It was a really really good discussion, and we are so happy to have heard from her and had the chance to talk with her.
00:01:29
It's a really cool podcast, so we hope you enjoy it !
00:01:45
Hello Mique, how are you?
00:01:47
Hi I'm doing great, I'm feeling a little weird, but a good weird, I'm glad to see you guys.
00:01:52
We're really happy to have you. Thank you for being with us today for our 6th podcast, the 6th AFO Podcast.
00:02:02
Mique, we’d love to talk with you today about urban art as a form of activism.
00:02:08
First off, Mique, tells us a little about yourself and your background.
00:02:25
Real talk.
00:02:30
I think it's really cool that the three of us get to talk about this today, considering our paths have all crossed in the past.
00:02:37
I started cultural facilitation, because there were things going on in my community that I was not ok with, not everyone knows how to write a complaint, it is not necessarily in everyone’s culture to do this in writing, others are more oral. Which I guess is what happened to me. I ended up going into political sciences at Ottawa U, that didn't work out. I think that's where we all met, through organizations, either for Franco-Ontarians or for women. I think Camille and I met first, I remember you back in the day. I believe it was your interview at the Ottawa Art Gallery? Yeah, we had met in the workshop but just briefly. Danielle, I think we had always heard of each other in passing. I would always hear about you and Chico, people knew I was from the North, Field which is about three hours from Iroquois Falls in the middle of a highway. I ended up doing graffiti. With the can, you are not limited by language, nor limited by accessibility. It is a much more secure way. You don't have to be there, in front of Parliament with people you don't necessarily feel comfortable with, who can hurt you, because you're a minority. The three of us at the moment, we are a minority, we’re much more targeted.
00:04:11
As a woman, with graffiti what I aim to do is to make sure everyone has the tools to be able to address what they feel needs to be addressed, in a healthy and safe way and also spread their word. By the public, for the public, that makes sense. I’m going to try to talk about 20 years of career in 3 minutes.
00:04:35
That's so interesting, I don't know why, I never thought about the fact that it is à form of activism, while still being safe too.
00:04:46
There is such a stereotype surrounding this, right? That we’re all vandals. It is always the first thing that was mentioned when I was in class. That must be your favorite word . Oh god, I turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger when I hear about this. It's the kids who talk about gangsters, stereotypical vandals.
00:05:10
Yeah, it’s another form of scaring people, not addressing it and then not listening ,deny it. Because even in Ottawa, this year will be the first year, and I think it's the weirdest year to choose to do this, but they do a pilot project that, as a homeowner, have the right to put a mural on your house, but you need a permit, you have to pay for the wall. It is the first year they’re allowing this, before that, it was illegal. Now, as long as you own your house, you must apply and wait 30 days. Then, city advisors must approve. But in the middle of a pandemic, facing issues such as homelessness, overdoses, Covid, we are not even a fully bilingual city yet. And you want us to start a pilot project so that people can pay even more to have something on their own house? Yo! where were you during all those conversations in Ottawa? Like come on!
00:06:08
I didn't know it was illegal
00:06:14
As long as you are the owner of your house, you do what you want. It's just crazy how sensored we are, because people are so afraid of what we're going to say. Because they know they’ve made a lot of mistakes, because they know what's going on in the world. The representatives are scared but they shouldn't be. If they did a good job, you will be fine.
00:06:31
You do workshops in schools to break this stereotype that graffiti is bad.
00:06:44
Saw graffiti. Give me two seconds.
00:06:53
What's super cool is that this object here. The Spray can allow me so much to address things, because often it's like that, things that you feel but don’t know how to say? With the reserves, with the band offices, every minority in power is trying to pit us against each other like a slice of pizza right? So when we try to talk about stereotypes or discrimination. We say "you did this to my people, but your people did this". Here we are talking about an object that lives discrimination. The gangster, vandalism, criminal. We are pointing at an object. Then we are able to recognize the problems or that we are being mistreated then we are able to find solutions together, or share solutions that we have already lived together. It gives a chance, as we saw at pride in Toronto, a few years ago. Black Lives Matter united people from all communities. We got together as a minority to have a place and then we got it is too beautiful, that's the recipe for me.
00:07:58
I find that art is something that is universal. It's something that everyone... I am not an artistic person, am I artistically impaired. It's not even funny.
00:08:09
It's special, but every time, I see a painting or I see something that speaks to me or I recognize myself in something. It gives a feeling of belonging, it gives a feeling of, just looking at a play. I can't even imagine people... You just answered why
00:08:36
It's important to see black models on the cover of vogue. You just answered all that, to be able to recognize yourself, identify yourself, and visual art. There are so many institutions that have tried to academicize this. And make it a certain way. It is the decolonizing way of communicating. Because you're not limiting us by the borders But it's true. These borders are all that we negotiate, a language which is by your community a language. Even with our regional accents like when people tell me that my French is very cute. Sorry girl it's a big mix of languages okay? That's why I said. Things are not going to be fine, I will be fine. It's this mixture, it's this way it is with music, with the way that a. Dumatique was saying things back in the day, or that Samian, the whole gang, Snotty Nose Rez Kids. All crews.
00:09:33
It was such a cool way like east coast west coast, we were chatting with Biggie and Tupac. People can’t accept that diversity with our languages. With the Academy, but art is mind blowing.
00:09:50
This is also something that we may not have mentioned, is that we all come from the North, different places in the North. We had a big conversation about that, about migration from the North to elsewhere and the impact it has on a person. We had a conversation about immigration.
00:10:13
I can't even imagine changing continents or changing countries. When I moved 8 and a half hours away from the North to here.
00:10:22
Then the impact was huge on me.
00:10:30
It's almost like I didn't have the right to live the moment, this moment of grief. I was talking with this man in Timmins and he was explaining that you are allowed to grieve if it would have been 8 hours in Europe you have changed country three times, that's it.
00:10:48
How long have you been in Ottawa? It has been a long time.
00:10:57
Yes and no because I have always continued to move? I left home.
00:11:02
I was still quite young, I went to Marten River, when I was in high school I went to live there. Then after that I went to Ottawa in 2004-2005, but after that I moved to Europe two, three times. We often talk about our culture, we learn a lot more when we have to defend it, especially the language. To say no I am not from Quebec yes I am Canadian. People thought I was from Lebanon or North Africa. The way I speak. When you come to defend yourself, then start graffiti. There was a girl from Morocco, me, and four people from Scotland. And that's where I tried to learn to speak English in France with this gang. But through graffiti we understood each other clear, crisp and precise, it was too cool.
00:11:56
In art there is no language. Yes, in my opinion, art is a language as such, but it's not French, or English. There are plenty of things. What are the messages that you convey in the art that you do? What are your messages to you, that you want to pass along when you do art?
00:12:23
When I started, and it is still my two priorities. Water, then education for my whole family, it really started, some say ah, so that's nice. No, it was something super selfish.
00:12:36
I was just really scared for my family, for my nieces, because they really don't have the same privilege as me. I have white skin, then they don't, just have access to drinking water.
00:12:48
There have been so many racists that I am able to make a career out of it. Graffiti in northern Franco-Ontarian. Even now during confinement. We continue to address it, we continue. But yes the message is above all that. But also that the communities can recognize each other. As Danielle mentioned
00:13:11
The feeling that you demonstrated is so much, to be able to recognize yourself in what is happening in the world. To know that you have a place, you have the right to defend yourself and your right to exist. It sounds stupid to have to say but at the moment a lot of communities who believe that they have no right to exist.
00:13:26
Then.
00:13:28
I find that you still have the amount of projects that you were able to do in the North, it's incredible. Really you walk in Timmins I see you
00:13:40
Every time, I'm like "that's Mique, that's my friend, 've never seen this one, it's a new one.”
00:13:50
It's crazy to think, I think in northern Ontario. Is there a city where you haven't reached? No eh?
00:14:00
I'm glad you asked because it's been about a few years since I worked on a TV show. We came to look for young people from everywhere. They were the ones who built a park as a joke, we said imagine if we could go to all the reserves, then make a mural with them and let their story be told. The production team actually took me seriously. We continued this dialogue there. We just finished filming the Demo, the pilot in Hearst. At Constance Lake and Hearst. And we just chose 26 communities, Iroquois Falls being one of them.
00:14:41
The whole of the North is called the colors of the North. It's going to be all the communities and the youth who will show us what it is for them. And honestly I wouldn't want to talk about it too much because I don't know if my soul would be able to take the TFO rejection. But the conversations are tempted to go really really well. I just saw the entire demo. We talk about why the water is not drinkable. Why it's not all our parents who identify themselves, because of shame, because of everything that was happening. These are kids of 8, 9 years old, so, once again, the youth are spreading the message in the north. Then we will go to 26 communities from Wabush, in Nunavut with Marcus, my apprentice. Iroquois Falls, I don't know what the furthest south we're going to pass.
00:15:31
We're gonna go see Andréa Goulet. My whole gang in Nipissing. This is our goal. all the communities as you say that I may not have gone well I hope to get there in the next couple of months. So that's an exclusive.
00:15:49
There, we just had an exclusive to our podcast. Do you have the right to edit it? Yes, yes, because I asked TFO, because I don't want you to think "You rejected her!" "You ruined the dream of all young people".
00:16:06
But no Because there is someone who also mentioned. We want to see if there is interest, to see too, by speaking to the public. Yes it is an exclusive. It will be the color of the North.
00:16:18
If you go to my Instagram @miquemichelle, you will see a photo of me in front of a big sturgeon. Well, that's exactly it, then it's with this crew. I must say that the production house that I did this with is mainly women, women, visible or invisible minorities, people who really knew that there was a need to see this on TV, that is. They are also doing My stay at home life, they will show realities from different homes of people who may have a parent or houses, made up of different cultures, identities, especially during confinement. So yeah it's a really great crew. They are even doing a drag queen show. Did you organize everything during COVID?
00:17:15
I learned big lessons during confinement I was "like guys I never work"
00:17:24
My friends sat me down and then they told me just because you're not doing a big mural it doesn't mean you don't work, then like heap said, in Timmins, in the North, why there is lots of murals
00:17:33
This is because there is a lot to say. We don't have much of a chance to be listened to but when you do that over 150 ft by 52 ft of wall talking about Reconciliation. So in Timmins there’s the Good Medicine project. That's exactly it, giving visual aids to the elders that they can teach because that's not my place. To approach this conversation there. Each mural has a teaching
00:18:01
I hadn't realized that, there are 16.
00:18:12
This is crazy, it must have been a whole concept created because I figure that you had to talk with elders to talk about the teachings. Then what did he want to communicate, oh wow.
00:18:25
We applied for a grant for two murals.
00:18:41
Two then it's made 16! it was supposed to be at the airport, then in the community, not just how the community trusted me was unreal. You know the police was there to help me out throught out the whole process.
They talk about how much progress has to be made in relation to racism, stereotypes, violence, unjustified on many minorities. But I have to say the city of Timmins has shown that progress is possible. They sent the police emails with all my walls that I was doing, then did not approach that I was there. They really did take measures to make sure, to avoid this violence there. I'm not saying there aren't any in Timmins. But there was this action. Even then the mayor gave me permission to paint.
00:19:31
What did I want in the town hall in the court, just ahead. So we put our hands which hold an eagle's feather because of Gaetan Baillargeon. Guys, please talk to Gaetan, he's so cool. We can even now, instead of having our hands on the Bible. We can hold it when we are sworn in either as our rule or to witness. It's all thanks to Gaetan. At the federal level, by the way, it happened in Hearst, it went from the municipal
00:20:03
But it changed at the federal level. So yeah.
00:20:09
Things are moving. Things are moving, yeah. It's crazy because of the pandemic we're all stuck
00:20:18
At home, in our own bubbles. And it's legit bubbles, we didn't know what was going on with you. There are so many projects coming out after the pandemic. It's like woah.
00:20:37
That's why we need you, we really need that, because for me, a big flaw is to be humble and not allow people to live and celebrate what they were involved in. And that's what I need to work on. I gotta be a lot more braggy if you want. Because the people who participated are like "seems to me that we thought we were being listened to" Then I spread their message no more than I needed. I have another responsibility, because the objective is not the mural, it is the dialogue that goes with the mural. So I have to keep that in mind. And for lockdown I was in a skyjack, I was 42 feet in the air, I was safe, social distancing at 42 feet in the sky. I was socially distant. I don't remember why, I think it was for another contract that ultimately, because we had a virtual event. It didn't work. You weren't in Canada at the beginning?
00:21:39
I was evacuated.
00:21:46
It's not funny, many things have happened to our artists during the last 9 months and 8 months. You know. How are you? Are you ok?
00:22:05
Oh my god, you know when you asked me how I was? I felt like I was in front of Trille des bois.
00:22:12
At daycare during a 15-minute break, you can experience things, you can change boyfriend, girlfriend.
00:22:18
You may have the worst day. Looks like confinement did that to me, okay?
00:22:26
I am supposed to be in Senegal right now, for the Festi Graaf with my crew. But it didn't happen. What happened is, I was at the MASA festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 3000 francophone artist, like "Oh my god!" I was leaving a little earlier than everyone else, because I wasn't just doing a show, I did murals, big murals. When I got there I got an email saying "you have the choice to refuse to go because a COVID pandemic is starting. But other than that, I haven't seen the news, I was out in Africa making a wall. So I didn't know what was going on. So I started going to the festival and I was standing with the Senegalese delegations and from Benin. I didn't keep too much with the gang from Canada. I told myself, I already know them. Martin Cadieux was there, it was cool. I was like "Ah, I'll hang out with them in Canada, that's fine". But then all of a sudden, the Canadian Ambassador, her husband is from Hearst by the way. He worked in Cochrane.
00:23:30
What a small world. They come talk to me. And even the gang from the council of
00:23:39
The Canadian arts council have been very supportive and helpful to me. Then they said "You know what, you're gonna have to go Mique." "I was like, what do you mean?" "Well there is a pandemic" "No way!". When they knocked they asked me to leave, they told me to leave, to be quite honest.
00:24:03
Some of them did not, it took them about three, four months, and then they have debts of $ 20,000.
00:24:09
Because there are no more planes after, right? But when you pay for your plane and it's canceled, they don't pay it back right away. You need accommodation? And there is the lockdown that takes place there, and to have access to food, it was the festival that paid for our food. You know what? I’ll tell you. The evening before leaving I thought things weren't super serious, so I decided that we were going out in Abidjan one last night.
00:24:36
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
00:24:43
You know what? He's gonna be cool with that. Do you know the group De la flore? A Franco-Ontarian group. Well Mathieu was the guitarist of the crew I was with, and we found a bar called the pharmacy, it was all nurses and doctors.
00:25:00
"We have found the cure, we no longer need to leave"
00:25:02
Then no joke, I got a big hand sanitizer thing at the pharmacy as a joke. It was hanging on my purse. Two bouncers who were arguing over, if they could share it. "No it's madame’s, don't touch it." Never in my life did I think I'd be at a bar where two big bouncers are fighting for hand sanitizer. That's how my pandemic started. Then after that, I was on a plane in Montreal. They wanted to ship me to Toronto, I said no, I called my friends. I stole my own suitcase. DJ UNPIER was the first to call me then say "Do I have to hop in a van, put on Saran wrap to come and get you? "I was at the airport then Trudeau had just closed the border.
00:26:06
It was something. He is in my heart forever. Your return to Canada.
00:26:20
And I figure you had contracts.
00:26:24
I had another mural to do in Abuja, and I'm not going to lie, we had a really funny moment like 1 hour before I left for the airport. I broke in tears, because I have never finished a contract in my life. I never finished a mural, who I am, my work ethic. That's when the lady from the Canada Council for the Arts, she tells me that if it takes a global pandemic for me to take a break, do it. And yes, I was supposed to keep going in other countries. Then when I arrived here, no jokes at the same time, I said to myself the lockdown kinda saved me . I had been touring for 8 years,I was exhausted. I'm not going to lie, I gained a lot of weight since I started, due to stress. I slept my first 2 weeks, didn't find it tough. I have also seen that our community is fully united.
00:27:25
I got off the airport I got to my door then there was a box of groceries from a restaurant. They closed so they brought me vegetables.
00:27:34
Wow, because they knew who had to confine myself for two weeks,.
00:27:40
I did 21 days because I didn't know enough about the pandemic. This is why I did it. I don't know if you can see it, but there was a sunset, I bought from Astro turf. I made my own exterior. twenty-one days. But honestly I needed it. I slept, hardly woke up, just to drink water,
Wow I figure the time change is really different? They are 6 hours earlier in Abidjan. Even at that I was so burnt. Honestly I slept when I could before. Because often I worked on murals in the evening because there are people during the day in the communities or the building or what not. yeah
00:28:37
So when you came back, you threw yourself into these northern projects. I guess that once the 21 days have passed. Because next thing you know, you are in Timmins. Doing lots of other things, there was still a pandemic. It must have changed the way you do things. Normally there are lots of young people with you, groups with you, it changed and it must have been a really different vibe than what you're used to.
00:29:11
We have already experienced the strike right? Yeah, I already had 4, 3 months of postponed projects. Because It was postponed, they did not count for CERB which is fine, I manage. But it's just to say, the other artists and all their shows, have already lost their deposits. It was also to see what advice called me to have my deposit. The first sentence: the Deposit is not refundable. You're a big organization like the Ministry of Education, and you ask me to have my deposit? You have to check your institution, the priorities. I had the privilege of being able to speak like that.
00:29:57
I already have the reputation of being difficult, we know that. Just strong, I think that's it.
00:30:05
Thank you, but we're the three women who make a living from this I think. But I knew I had the privilege to say no, I kept my deposit. I'm ready to talk about it openly in front of everyone. I can't imagine someone who just started visual art, who has just started. We are talking about UNPIER he has two children, a new home, he has just moved to Eastern Ontario, he just quit, it's been a year and a half that he is not a cultural leader anymore, he is now a full time DJ. he lived through the strike and the 2020 lockdown.
00:30:55
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
00:30:59
I am safe at home; check, we are able, and I'm glad you mentioned that. You know when they say, do it online, do zooms. Who is going to bring the internet and who will bring the laptop? Where are you? And the people that bash Amazon, people bash bottled water but that's all we got. Will you bring it to me in your hands? Yeah, 2020.
00:31:32
It has taught us to appreciate the work of artists even more. Looks like we took it for granted. It was in our lives, art was in our lives around us. But then, the pandemic began. Then ,oh my god, you have to encourage these people, we must not lose them. Download UNPIER's music when he releases a song, follow you on social media, buy your art if you have art for sale individually, things like that.
00:32:11
On our side, it taught us a lot of things. We must be careful with our dialogue, eh? With artists, I think it's fine. When people say oh my god you live in confinement as an artist, you just eat macaroni and cheese. You talk like that because of my job. Check how you talk to people because of who they are and where they live. This is so not empowering. It does not bother me, it brings up a conversation, it starts a dialogue.
00:32:41
So it doesn't help that I'm a bit makeshift, boogie trash, that's what I prefer, a bit boogie, ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh my god.
00:32:57
That's what happens when you eat oysters with a bottle of champagne in a sky jack in the back of a dumpster.
00:32:59
Talked about living in the north and that shocks her.
00:33:15
I think it's this year because of the lockdown. I realized that I need both, I'm not able to just live in Ottawa, oh no. Go home 5 months. We did the same thing I think.
00:33:27
I think your one of the last people I met with in Ottawa that I had
00:33:34
I also saw that being there for too long
00:33:45
Because when you want the best for your people, then you can't give that to them. This is where the noises come out. We spoke earlier.
00:34:02
The idea of being a new artist who
00:34:07
ends up in the year 2020 and finds themselves in everything that happens, in deposit situations. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out or who wants to get into this art form?
00:34:21
Don't forget that we are already creative men, we are already creative, so already the fact that you dared to do it, you got it. You are able to create. Camille: You know, I never spoke to reporters, but then someone from your gang said if you want things to change, then you talk to no one, it's not gonna happen. So I wrote a column for Radio-Canada. It's part of my job right now. It's important to not forget that, it's too easy to fall into the negative right now. And it's ok, It's okay to be dark
00:34:57
It's okay to say it out loud, that this sucks, it's shitty, I feel weird, tomorrow I might be crying all day.
00:35:03
But today I will be productive. And that is ok. We can't wait for things to get better, we have to adapt, and create our new realities. We've all seen it. We see it in the movies we love. We see it in books that we are supposed to read from youth. But now, it's our turn to take action. But that's just me, what do I know?
00:35:28
Ha!
00:35:29
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
00:35:31
I paint sunsets.
00:35:41
I don't even know what to ask anymore, I just wanna hear you talk, keep talking.
00:35:46
I have one last question. I think it's important ,because I know we've had conversations before, and then I don't know if that's the biggest challenge you've had. But what is it in your career? What are the biggest challenges you've had to overcome? What are the things you said to yourself, that's a doozy
00:36:04
It was not easy. But on that same note, what's the one thing you're most proud of about your career?
00:36:14
I like this. I will start with the most difficult to finish on a happy note. I am always the first to fall in tears. It's correct.
00:36:26
But it's not to get attached to the point of poisoning myself with the negative that I see in the communities. Because there is nothing worse than arriving in a community and saying “Oh my god as if you live like this”. Because the person who angers me the most in my life, is the person who tells me that where I am from, is not amazing and shitty. like who are you?
00:36:52
I grew up in the woods and I was okay with that. “Oh you won't have internet” shut up, who are you to give that caliber?
00:37:01
But it's true.
00:37:02
Who are you? To be like “Oh quality of life” things are going to be fine, not going to be right, that was rough. Yes ,but your computer crashes, and you cry the same way I would cry if I had just survived two car accidents, then get hit by a moose.
00:37:19
It's about not letting it get to me, and poison me. And it's okay to have projects that are happy go lucky and that don't change everything in one day.
00:37:35
I'm starting to learn, I'm still not 100% there yet.
00:37:43
And the thing that makes me the most proud, like when we started Couleurs du Nord. You know, I always want to make sure I'm following the protocols when I'm talking to a community or whatever. Because I hate the white savior complex. “Ah yes, I'm coming” But to hear the people I spoke with. Right away it wasn't a question. “Yeah but you can come back.” And that's the thing that makes me the most proud, to have those beautiful relationships.
00:38:13
And to be invited again. I guess I am doing something right.
00:38:20
That's it, it's not all the rest, it's seeing how proud they are to have done the murals with us. It's little things like that
00:38:32
These are my biggest moments. Not the rest, the majority of the rest I do not mention.
00:38:39
Ha ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
00:38:50
Even with you guys,seeing you guys at a workshop and participating, because it's not everyone, organizations. Let's be real the FESFO I liked it, it's been 17 years, it's the best tool.
00:39:02
And it made me who I am today, but never would you have caught me during these 17 years singing and playing co-op games. Let's be real wins. It's to see what comes out of it afterwards, and to see, no joke, we succeeded, look how many of us are in organizations? At UNI TV , we got Nadia, we have the whole gang. Many cultural organizers are people that we have worked with in the past. And not just the FESFO but as a Franco-Ontarian community, activist, have succeeded. We must not forget that we succeeded, our objective was to sensitize, And now it's about figuring out what the next step is.
00:39:58
I want to finish with a reflection. Since we’re talking about art activism. Do you remember playing games at Les Jeux when I animated the visual art finale? Then I said “I'm not artistic, but I'm going to give you this finale because I'm going to let Aimé and Mique host their finale on the floor.” I was on the stage and let you animate that finale there. I came back to the stage and I said actually I'm artistic, like digital arts, social media arts. Turns out I'm artistic, Danielle and I had this discussion in the last few weeks.
00:40:49
We want to do something. We want to get the messages across. But we don't sing, we're not funny, we're not humorists.
00:41:00
The only one we can offer is a good time. So we create social media content.
00:41:08
Our art, I’ll speak for myself, my art is the creation of social media content
00:41:16
You are curators, as you say, you are putting the stories together. So that we can see what's going on? What you do is unreal. To be able to organize, to put artists first and group them together, it's an art on its own, we're all so space cadets. Camille, I'm glad you mentioned this moment.
00:41:38
Because 17 years before that it was my first event ever and it was in Hanmer then when I saw you on the stage, when I saw Jézabel Bardot, but especially when I was there at the finale. I said to myself, my work here is done.
00:41:52
Then that's when I retired, I thought to myself I got no business here you guys have got this. It was such a beautiful moment.
00:42:01
I remember Josée Joliat was saying “Do not say that!”
00:42:11
The Games started with a Grandfather drums, then they ended with Jezebel Bardot, and they were hosted by someone like you, who works in media arts. At the moment, it's more accessible, it's your medium.
00:42:27
This is what we saw in the last games. Which we took place in time and places on the platform. So thank you for daring to do that, it was awesome.
00:42:37
I really wanted, like the listeners, to think about the message you want to get across, like anything you are going to get your message across, you happen to be able to post your message. From my education in the art of activism. It's gonna be an art know.
00:42:56
Whether it's a stencil, yarn bombing, art attack, whether it's beetroot juice. This is what is most important with activist art is where you put it, what you say, and how clear it is. That's it.
00:43:11
Thank you
00:43:16
It was super cool. Thank you so much. Danielle, do you want to add something?
00:43:20
No, I just want to say thank you. I say it all the time you're someone who inspires me a lot and I have a lot of respect for you. I appreciate all the work you do, like I said, I see your paintings and I say “she's my friend!”
00:43:37
I'm so proud of you and what you do. Don't let go, I can't wait to see this, I can't wait to see the shows. I am very proud of you No, but thank you, same for you.
00:43:51
I can't wait to see how our collaboration will go further with Couleurs du Nord?
00:43:55
With the chronicles, with any other project that may be like. After we finished this. We are working hard but after that, you step-back “Oh, imagine you if, poof, poof!” Step 3 4, 5 6 and what will come out of that, so yeah I can't wait. Thanks again for putting the camera and the microphone in my face, I appreciate it a lot.
00:44:17
No problem, if people want to follow you on social media, you said instagram earlier, are there other places people can follow.
00:44:26
Facebook, i also go by the same name. My website, it's been three years since I touched it, so can be avoided. a bit of Olitec, he emphasizes.
00:44:34
I would say Instagram for the whole visual. It is accessible even if you don't have an account you can check it on a computer. But above all, go search the city. You are in confinement, but you can go take some steps go look what she means? In Timmins there is a house for a group of retirees who took cars and drove around. It's really cool.
00:45:05
Thank you to the listeners. Then don't forget to follow AFO's social networks either, so @monassemblee on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube, and in the next episode, we will talk about 2020 in the eyes of a young native .
00:45:24
We can't wait to have this discussion. Thank you. Thank you again Mique. Bamaapi ! Ciao.