EMMEDIA Exhibitions BLACK2THEFUTURE ABOUT BLACK2THEFUTUREUNLEASHING BLACK CREATIVITY, TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES AND SHAPING NEW FUTURESBlack2TheFuture is a residency and mentorship program that merges the realms of art, technology, and Afrofuturism. It aims to empower and uplift Black media artists (audio, video, animation, multimedia, transmedia, technology-based art, fashion, performance, installation, etc.), offering them a space to explore their creative potential and envision a world where the past and present converge to conceptualize new futures.Through personalized mentorship sessions, tailored workshops, and access to Emmedia's production space and equipment, selected artists will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to bring their artistic visions to life. The program will culminate in a collective exhibition with engaging events such as an artist talk, an exhibition opening reception for the artists to share their work with the broader community.Gallery Hours: November 24 to December 12, 2024 Monday to Friday 12:00- 5:00pmLocation: EMMEDIA Exhibition Gallery - 2005 – 10 Avenue SW, CalgaryOpening Reception: Friday, Nov. 22, 7 - 9 pm Matilda Aslizadeh's Moly and Kassandra MOLY AND KASSANDRAMoly and Kassandra is a three-channel sculptural video installation that brings together seemingly unrelated things: emotional operatic performances, dry statistical charts, and precariously propped-up scenery flats.Standing amid an open-pit molybdenum mine, evocative of an ancient amphitheatre, the prophet Kassandra sings the history and fate of this commodity from the point of view of 1979—a pivotal date marking the shift from Keynesian to neo-liberal economic policy in Western democracies. Clad in the year’s haute couture clothing, her songs are musicalscale translations of economic charts that trace the production and value of molybdenum, an element used primarily in strengthening steel alloys and inextricably linked to the weapons industry. From the standpoint of the not-too-distant past, Kassandra, whose name means “to raise,” warns of the volatility and environmental devastation wrought by neo-liberal capitalism; unfortunately, similar to her ancient Greek namesake, she is cursed to inspire only disbelief.WHEN: August 1-30, 2024Opening Reception: Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 Laura Anzola's Voices Discover "Voices" at Emmedia Gallery, an exhibition featuring the work of Laura Anzola that connects the experiences of Calgary's immigrant community with the majestic migrations of humpback whales. This exhibition features personal narratives broadcast through eight ceiling-hung speakers and an original surround sound composition, complemented by immersive hand-drawn animations. It delves into themes of migration, identity, power imbalances, and the quest for belonging, aiming to bridge gaps in understanding, foster empathy, and enhance connectivity in a world marked by visible and invisible borders.Gallery Hours: January 12th - 27th, 2024 on Tuesday to Saturday at 12:00 - 6:00pmLocation: EMMEDIA, 2005 10 Ave SW, CalgaryOpening Reception: Friday, January 12th at 6pm. Sandra Vida's Way Station Sandra Vida's Way StationEmploying subdued colour and an abstracted interplay of video images, Calgary artist Sandra Vida explores the legacy of cultural histories in the present. Based on personal reflections, and produced during the Covid pandemic, WAY STATION comes to grips with the oppression, violence and conquest that characterize most ancestral pathways. In response, she affirms hope for change, and performs rituals of healing, transformation, and regeneration.Gallery Hours: November 3 to 30, 2023 Monday to Friday 12:00- 5:00pmLocation: EMMEDIA Exhibition Gallery - 2005 – 10 Avenue SW, CalgaryOpening Reception: Friday, Nov. 10, 7 - 9 pm
