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Photo | Hana Nikčević

First VUSAC showcase of women and trans artists of colour a success 

On February 9th, the VUSAC Equity Commission held their first Art at the Intersections showcase in Old Vic. Despite the snowstorm outside, Alumni Hall flooded with guests who were buzzing with excitement.

The event showcased and celebrated the artwork of women and trans people of colour at UofT, featuring visual art, poetry, photography, and performance art. Before the performances began, guests were invited to walk through the gallery of visual art pieces arranged around the foyer. The pieces centred around themes of intersectionality and sparked meaningful conversations among the attendees.

With the art displayed in front of, and partially obscuring, the portraits of past Victoria College presidents, it was hard not to think about the mostly straight, white, cis, male people who have ran and continue to run institutions that disenfranchise, tokenize, and oppress women and trans people of colour—institutions like Vic and UofT. With their art foregrounding these portraits, it felt like the women and trans artists of colour were stepping out of the shadow of these cis, white, male-dominated systems.

The second half of the evening delivered equally impactful performances. The showcase featured diverse forms of art, including spoken-word poetry, poetry readings, vocals, and classical music. The performers touched on topics of diaspora, identity, and tradition. Most importantly, the performances allowed women and trans artists of colour to showcase their talents and their multiplicities.

When asked about the importance of the event, Georgia Lin, first-year student and Equity Commission member who spearheaded the event, said: “This showcase values and recognizes the power of women and trans people of colour, and provides a necessary platform for the talents of the artists whose abilities are often underestimated because of their identities. As a woman of colour and performing artist myself, I had never found a truly equitable [and] diverse outlet to share my work.”

Lin also noted that she “wanted to create a space that honours intersectionality in a sector that has traditionally excluded marginalized groups. Art at the Intersections came together in a way that celebrates the voices of women and trans artists of colour at UofT.”

A critical part of the showcase was its compensation of the artists for their participation. It is common for local artists, especially trans artists and artists of colour, to not be compensated for their work. Art can often be seen as a free commodity, one that is meant to be consumed by an audience with little to no regard given to the artists. Lin said that, through this funding by the Victoria College Performing Arts Endowment, “to be able to both showcase and financially [support] our artists for their dedication and labour to their works was a great joy.”

Overall, the showcase was a great success. Not only did it draw attention to issues of intersectionality and representation, it also provided an exhibit for the immensely talented women and trans artists of colour at UofT.

Here’s to hoping VUSAC Equity’s Art at the Intersections becomes a Victoria College tradition.

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