Project Brief
x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓ New Growth 《新生林》is a garden designed by artist and ethnobotanist T’uy’tanat Cease Wyss at 221A’s Semi-Public. This phone line is a part of Living Description, an initiative convened by Aislinn Thomas, supported by 221A and many contributors working to create non-visual ways of experiencing the life and the growth of a garden.
For more about jaz whitford, press one.
For more about Soloman Chiniquay, press two.
To hear more about Oliver Barnes, press three.
To hear more about Valeen Jules, press four.
For more about Cheryl Green, press five.
To hear about Ramya Amuthan, press six.
And for more about Aislinn Thomas, press seven.
To hear these options again, please stay on the line.
Contributors
jaz whitford is secwe̓pemc two-spirit interdisciplinary artist. jaz works with a range of materials, forms and mediums to investigate and express their lived experience and understanding of spirituality, indigeneity and community care.
Sol is a documentary photographer and filmmaker living between xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ territory and his homelands of Treaty 7 territory. His lens-based work explores the ways he is welcomed to witness expressions of Indigeneity, creating imagery that attempts to show, in sometimes raw ways, the land and the people on it, the ways they use and connect to the land, and the artifacts they leave on it.
Oli is an activist, musician, community worker, neighbourhood explorer and avid collaborator currently based on the Unceded Territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. He is not interested in occupying the center and finds value in the often invisible labour of supporting, assisting, and building with those he cares for. As a musician and bandmate, he has toured across Turtle Island and Europe and has performed at festivals such as POP Montreal and Sled Island. Barnes is of mixed Malagasy, Chinese & European ancestry.
Valeen Jules is a queer birth worker and wood carver from the Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw Nations. Valeen has been known to friends as “the doula that never leaves”, “the eagle soaring above”, and “the only top at the table”.
The New Growth Garden Hangout audio description was written by access artist Cheryl Green, with contribution and support for many Semi-Public artists and contributors. Cheryl is an invisibly disabled white Ashkenazi Jewish cis woman who lives in the US. She resides in Portland, Oregon, the unceded homelands of the Multnomah Clackamas, Cathlamet and many other bands and tribes.
Ramya Amuthan is a Sri Lankan Canadian currently living in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendet Peoples. Ramya is the co-host and producer at Accessible Media Inc’s daily entertainment and lifestyle audio show, Kelly and Company. Her work involves meeting fascinating people, hearing their stories and facilitating conversations that bring out the messages people want to tell. As an access consultant Ramya works on engaging projects involving feedback from the blind and low vision community. She is also the co-creator of Adventures CCB, encouraging blind and low vision individuals to step out of their comfort zones through daring physical activities.
Aislinn Thomas is an interdisciplinary artist living on ancestral and unceded Mi’kmaq territory in Unama’ki. Aislinn is indebted to the work of Disability Justice activists. She gratefully works alongside and in the legacy of so many who value the disruption of disability and treat access as a space for creative acts. Aislinn is a white, disabled and chronically ill cisgender settler of Ashkenazi and British descent.