Art and Culture at the Library
At Richmond Hill Public Library, we’ve got creativity and culture down to an art. Explore featured exhibits, curated collections and resources that enrich and inspire our community.
Hope and Healing Exhibit Is On This Summer at Central Branch
Métis artist Tracey-Mae Chambers brings her body of work representing her personal journey of hope and healing in a new art installation at Central Branch. As a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Chambers travels across Canada, creating site-specific installations at historical residential school sites, cultural centres, museums, and public spaces.
Using large, pre-made crochet and knit pieces constructed with red yarn, her installations serve as a medium for broaching difficult discussions about decolonization and bridging gaps between settlers and Indigenous communities. This evolving body of work seeks to foster understanding and healing, reflecting Chambers' personal journey of self-education and reconciliation.
Chambers hopes this work will inspire dialogue and reflection, and encourages people to photograph and share their images and experiences online using the hashtag #hopeandhealingcanada.
Exhibit on display now in the Glass Case Gallery on the main floor until Sunday, August 25.
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Artist Statement
Immerse yourself in a captivating installation by artist Tracey-Mae Chambers, mapping questions of identity while sparking dialogue on displacement, decolonization, and reconciliation.
#hopeandhealingcanada is an invitation to venture along pathways of understanding between Indigenous and settler communities. The knit, woven and crochet-work installation is part of a series of site-specific works spanning over 100 public institutions, including historic residential school sites, museums, and galleries.
Intricately hand-crafted using vibrant red yarn, Chambers' creations endure the elements while serving as catalysts for reflection. Each piece, bearing the weight of history and hope, is hosted by institutions for as long as they desire before being repurposed at other sites across Canada.
For Chambers, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, the choice of red holds profound symbolism. It embodies life and vitality, as well as the struggles and injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. Yet, red also symbolizes courage and love, guiding us toward healing and mutual understanding.
Interwoven with complexity, Chambers' installations are reminders of the strength found in community bonds.
Watch Virtual Author Talks
Watch virtual, interactive interviews with world-class, bestselling authors! Thanks to our partnership with Library Speakers Consortium, it’s free for members to tune into new virtual talks with today’s top writers and thought leaders every month. Ask questions in live interviews, or watch previous talks at your convenience. Ideal for adult readers of non-fiction or fiction titles.
Entertain Yourself with Hoopla
Whether you're looking for a cool, indie film, or a mainstream, popular series, Hoopla offers a huge selection of movies and TV shows to stimulate your creative side. Plus, listen to audiobooks and download eBooks and comics with the click of a button. Access in-branch or from work/home.
Watch Quality Canadian Films
Did you Know? Access to the National Film Board of Canada's film archive is available with your membership. Watch more than 5,000 documentaries, animated films, interactive productions, and short films in English and French on a variety of topics. In-Library use only.
