ELORA – “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!”
A childhood mantra, chanted on school playgrounds around the world since the 19th century, inspired the title of the latest exhibition at the Elora Centre for the Arts, which opened with a reception this past Sunday.
It’s a familiar rhyme, meant to emphasize resilience against verbal insults and bullying, suggesting that physical harm is more significant than emotional pain caused by taunts or criticism, and encourages victims to “move on” because… they’re only words, right?
Sticks and Stones asks us to explore a different view; to consider how spoken and written expressions shape our world, how simple words can become weapons.
In our hyperconnected digital age, words ripple across screens and echo through virtual spaces at unimaginable speeds.
Our dependence on social media and its power to use words to hurt amplifies opportunities to cause pain to others, especially those on the margins of society or who belong to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
We see the result of hurtful messages on our mental and physical health, our political systems, and community or family relationships every day.
Featuring the work of two emerging artists, this exhibition comprises textiles, painting, and photography.
Alek Bélanger, based in Montreal and Toronto, creates work that delves into themes of identity and queerness; using pages taken from gay conversion therapy books, he redacts the text with acrylic paint, forming beautiful uplifting poetry through the words that remain.
Bélanger’s large-scale paintings merge abstract art layered on top of photographs of the artist’s body; by stripping away masks and distractions, this minimalistic yet dynamic collection prompts self-reflection and serves as a mirror to the audience, inviting contemplation of their own selves.
Olivia Mae Sinclair, a Toronto artist, also uses text in her fabric books and large textile panels – some measuring several feet in width – incorporating screen printing, sewing and machine embroidery to layer words on top of marks and slashes on the background.
Through her intuitive trauma-based practice, she examines the emotional implications of power and sex between female and male identifying individuals.
Sinclair’s books have a rough and raw quality, with rips and fraying addressing the theme of deterioration while her hand-written text articulates intimacy and confessions often held within.
Sticks and Stones is a timely invitation to reconsider the weight of our words.
This exhibition asks us to recognize their power to heal or harm, to foster dialogue between the participating artists and the community, especially now.
Sticks and Stones runs until June 29.
For more information about the exhibition and the artists visit eloracentreforthearts.ca.
Sylvia Galbraith is an curator at the ECFTA.