My favourite cousin passed away. He was a fun, sensitive, easygoing free spirit. And I think I always thought he would be around in this realm in the later years of my life.

His copy of Iron Maiden's A Matter of Life and Death sits on my bookshelf (which is ironic; I wanted him to let me keep it, tbh), while a figurine he gifted me several Christmases ago sits on another. His wish for me, he had said, was for me to find love.

'70s Rod Stewart songs remind me of him, as do remembering him dancing in his building's hallway, back and forth to melodies I couldn't hear.

He was a chef, and after hours, he would dress to the nines, choreograph some quick moves to the music in his head, and hum happily to himself while I sat on my aunt's couch, giggling, watching him while side-eying MASH reruns.

And always with a quick step, spin, and excited smile anticipating the night, he'd be off....

Patriothall Gallery
1D Patriothall
Edinburgh, Scotland
Curated by Sandra Alland

Artists: Karen Miranda Augustine, Ariadna Battich, Alec Herbert, mihee-nathalie lemoine, Tiu Makkonen, Li Moran, Chris Red, Sad Little Man, M. Sage, Alison Smith, Steadfast, Mary Trodden, Del LaGrace Volcano

Reception: 20 June 2014, 7 to 9 PM
Artist's Talk: 05 July 2014, 2 to 4 PM

A Space Gallery
401 Richmond Sreet West, Suite 110
Toronto
(416) 979-9633

The State of Blackness Conference brought together artists, critics, and curators to develop art education practices as a way of rectifying the invisibility of Blackness in Canadian art curriculum.

Participants: Karen Miranda Augustine, Deanna Bowen, Sandra Brewster, Charles Campbell, Mark V. Campbell, Wayde Compton, Julie Crooks, Erika DeFreitas, Pamela Edmonds, Dominique Fontaine, Honor Ford-Smith, Richard Fung, Sylvia Hamilton, Jérôme Havre, Ebony L. Haynes, Johanna Householder, Camille A. Isaacs, Michelle Jacques, Alice Ming Wai Jim, Betty Julian, Olivia McGilchrist, Anna Jane McIntyre, Megan Morgan, Charmaine Nelson, Abdi Osman, Michèle Pearson Clarke, AboubakarSanogo, Adrienne Shadd, Dionne Simpson, Rema Tavares, Camille Turner, Gaëtane Verna, Rinaldo Walcott, Genevieve Wallen, Syrus Marcus Ware, and Natalie Wood.