Locals Only: Performance, Community Conversation, and Book Launch

May 30 and June 1, 2019
AKA Artist-Run and Station 20 West

Burnt Sienna with Kris Alvarez:
Thursday, May 30, 7 pm at AKA Artist-Run (424 20th St W, Saskatoon)
Community Conversation and Book Launch:
Saturday, June 1, 1 to 4 pm at Station 20 West (1120 20th St W, Saskatoon)

In 2017, Locals Only began as a large-scale multi-year project exploring food security, community-based artworks, and intergenerational exchange in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods.

Built around a key partnership between AKA Artist-run and CHEP Good Food Inc., Locals Only focused on engagement and dialogue to occur alongside the cultivation of new points of access to fresh food across core neighbourhoods.

Locals Only commissioned a number of exciting projects from local and national artists that created community gatherings and engagement around local food, changing neighbourhoods, and creative forms of hospitality. Some of these projects, including the mobile carts called Somewhere Between a Chicken and a T-Rex made by local artist Jordan Schwab, served as a platform for community authorship and consultation, while Kevin Wesaquate’s misaskwatomina project formed new points of gathering by planting over 250 saskatoon berry bushes in Victoria Park.

Locals Only also commissioned a group of youth artists to be at the centre of outreach and engagement efforts, where they led community-based projects and activities. This youth authored work was a central focus of Locals Only, as we aimed to build new and resilient capacities in youth to take the lead on multigenerational considerations of food security in core neighbourhoods. Throughout the summer of 2018, the youth artists worked with Elders and knowledge-keepers and hosted weekly engagement activities in conjunction with the mobile art and food carts heading out into public spaces in Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods.

Now, our new publication takes up a role of project archive, recipe collection, and proposition for continued dialogue and action. Gathered from project participants and extended community members, the wide range of contributions form a complex portrait of community engagement around food security, youth empowerment, and reciprocity. The publication will launch with many of our community partners and participants in attendance and free copies will be provided for local residents.

In addition to the launch, we’ll be hosting a performance by Kris Alvarez and community conversation featuring Elders and knowledge-keepers, participating artists, community leaders, and staff discussing their experiences and connections with the project. On Thursday, May 30th at 7pm we will host the performance Burnt Sienna with Kris Alvarez, featuring special guests Lindsay Eekwol Knight, Manuela Valle-Castro, and Leigh Thomas at AKA and on Saturday, June 1st, we’ll be at Station 20 West for a community conversation from 1pm to 3pm, followed by the publication launch from 3pm to 4pm. Lunch will be served at 1pm and snacks will be provided throughout the afternoon.

The events are free and all are welcome!

AKA
424 20th Street West
Saskatoon SK  S7M 0X4
306 652-0044 | Accessible
akaartistrun.com
gallerycoordinator@akaartistrun.com
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AKA is an artist-run centre operating on Treaty Six Land that encompasses the traditional homeland of numerous First Nations, including Cree, Dene, Plains Cree, Nakota, Saulteaux, and Ojibwe, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 12 to 6pm
Saturday 12 to 4pm

Projects and events are free and open to the public