Daily Bread
Teresa Ascencao
Curated by Abedar Kamgari
Workers Arts and Heritage Centre
51 Stuart Street, Hamilton, ON
May 11 – August 17, 2018
Portuguese-Canadians have contributed to the building and functioning of Canadian cities for decades, often enduring physically demanding jobs to put food on the table. They are cooks, homemakers, in-house childcare workers, cleaners, and construction and garment workers. Their strong presence in both Hamilton and Toronto is marked not only by a distinct cultural heritage, but also by their humility and community values.
Inspired by this history, and drawing on her own Azorean and Portuguese-Canadian background, Teresa uses her privilege as an artist to depict the work and the hands behind the work. She makes light-sensitive emulsions from plants used in traditional Azorean and Portuguese foods, which become key ingredients that help create anthotype images when exposed to sunlight. The process of creating the ephemeral anthotypes can take several weeks to complete, and is reminiscent of the patience and care involved in preparing food for loved ones every day. By capturing a fragment of local workers’ routines, Daily Bread brings to light their individual stories, highlighting the often-invisible labour of the Portuguese-Canadian diaspora in Hamilton and Toronto.
Saturday, June 2, 1:30-4:00 pm
Anthotype Workshop with Teresa Ascencao
Saturday, July 21, 2:00-4:00 pm
Coffee and Conversation: Teresa Ascencao, Gilberto Fernandes, Anna Camara and Carlos Lourenco
Image credit: Teresa Ascencao
Image credit: Teresa Ascencao
Image credit: Teresa Ascencao
This exhibition and its auxiliary programming were generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Hamilton Community Foundation. The artist would like to acknowledge the Ontario Arts Council for their support.
Daily Bread
Teresa Ascencao
Curated by Abedar Kamgari
Workers Arts and Heritage Centre
51 Stuart Street, Hamilton, ON
May 11 – August 17, 2018
Portuguese-Canadians have contributed to the building and functioning of Canadian cities for decades, often enduring physically demanding jobs to put food on the table. They are cooks, homemakers, in-house childcare workers, cleaners, and construction and garment workers. Their strong presence in both Hamilton and Toronto is marked not only by a distinct cultural heritage, but also by their humility and community values.
Inspired by this history, and drawing on her own Azorean and Portuguese-Canadian background, Teresa uses her privilege as an artist to depict the work and the hands behind the work. She makes light-sensitive emulsions from plants used in traditional Azorean and Portuguese foods, which become key ingredients that help create anthotype images when exposed to sunlight. The process of creating the ephemeral anthotypes can take several weeks to complete, and is reminiscent of the patience and care involved in preparing food for loved ones every day. By capturing a fragment of local workers’ routines, Daily Bread brings to light their individual stories, highlighting the often-invisible labour of the Portuguese-Canadian diaspora in Hamilton and Toronto.
This exhibition is accompanied by an essay written by Abedar Kamgari.
Auxiliary Programming:
Friday, May 11, 7:00-9:00 pm
Opening Reception
Saturday, June 2, 1:30-4:00 pm
Anthotype Workshop with Teresa Ascencao
Saturday, July 21, 2:00-4:00 pm
Coffee and Conversation: Teresa Ascencao, Gilberto Fernandes, Anna Camara and Carlos Lourenco
This exhibition and its auxiliary programming were generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Hamilton Community Foundation. The artist would like to acknowledge the Ontario Arts Council for their support.