April 12, 2019 from 7:00 – 11:00 PM
April 13, 2019 from 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Hamilton Artists Inc.

Pressure Points is a two-day program exploring how gentrification has been unfolding in Hamilton, and the arts community’s role in that process. What are the causes and consequences of gentrification? How can individuals and organizations work collaboratively to push for sustainable alternatives and mitigate harm to existing communities? Through performances, talks, discussions, and youth-led initiatives, Pressure Points will examine the systemic roots of urban injustices and economic disparity, and forge points of solidarity between affected populations and their allies.

Free event. Space is limited, please register in advance.
Meals will be provided. Child-care will be provided all day on Saturday, for kids aged 4-14.

How to register: No registration is needed for Friday’s programs. To register for Saturday, please RSVP through Eventbrite or call us at 905.529.3355.

Visiting and Accessibility: Hamilton Artists Inc. is a wheelchair accessible facility located at the northwest intersection of James and Cannon Streets in downtown Hamilton. Washrooms are gender neutral, but do not have automatic door buttons. The gallery is within walking distance of local bus routes and Go Transit. Parking can be found along the street, or in paid lots nearby. Additional accessibility information is available here.

Schedule:

DAY 1: Friday, April 12, 2019, 7:00 – 11:00 PM

Please join us for the reception and launch of Pressure Points during art crawl. You do not need to register for the events on Friday evening.

The Hanging
Red Betty Theatre presents The Hanging, an immersive and interactive spectacle based on verbatim text collected from East Hamilton Rent Strike interviews and recordings at the Landlord and Tenant Board hearings in Hamilton, riddled with flights of fancy by playwright Radha Menon. Directed by Tony Sciara, this short performance was developed with Lori le Mare and the Hamilton Aerial Group, supported by Hamilton Tenants Solidarity Network.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM
8:15 PM
9:00 PM
9:45 PM
Each performance is roughly 10 minutes long. Meet in The Inc.’s ArcelorMittal Dofasco Courtyard, which can be accessed through the gallery or via the Cannon Street gate entrance.

7:00 – 9:00 PM
Drop-in Children’s Activities
Facilitated by Annie Webber. Children of all ages welcome. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

7:00 – 11:00 PM
Zine and Reading Corner
Grab some reading material to learn more about gentrification! Participate in the Recipe Cards art activity organized by the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre’s youth council members. All zines and resources are available free of charge.

• Survival Guide to Gentrification: A new zine created by youth at ReCreate Outreach Art Studio through a workshop with Sylvia Nickerson, with support from Hamilton Artists Inc.
• Gentrification Glossary: A collaborative, community-sourced resource to understanding the theories and effects of gentrification. Developed by Hamilton Artists Inc. and GAGED Hamilton.
• The Art of Gentrification: A zine by artist Simon Orpana.
• Feeling Tense?: A zine by artist Sylvia Nickerson, produced by CA$INO Press and Centre[3] for Print and Media Arts.

7:45 PM and 8:30 PM
Exhibition Tours
Attend a guided tour of our current exhibitions, led by our knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Each tour is approximately 30 minutes long. Meet in The Inc.’s James Gallery.

About our current exhibitions:
Winter Garden is an interactive installation by Mere Phantoms exploring the politics of spaces built to house living things.
What we know to be true unpacks the complexities of power structures and dominance, featuring works by Zahra Baseri, Yasmeen Nematt Alla, and Arshia Salesi.
Same corner, same juys, same line of work is a site-specific installation by Vanessa Maltese that draws on the history of The Inc.’s current location to grapple with the changing landscape of downtown Hamilton.

DAY 2: Saturday, April 13, 2019, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Please join us for a full day of programming, meals and child-care provided! Space is limited, please reserve your spot through Eventbrite or call 905.529.3355.

10:30 – 11:00 AM
Doors open. Welcome and remarks.

10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Child-care activities led by Annie Webber. Available upon registration for children aged 4-14.

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
SESSION 1: The Nuts and Bolts
A brief overview of how gentrification is unfolding in Hamilton for new and long-time residents. This session will highlight the mechanisms that allow gentrification to take place, the role of the arts in that process, and the ongoing consequences for various communities.

Speakers: Shawn Selway and Sarah Wakefield
Facilitator: Kojo Easy Damptey.

12:30 – 1:15 PM
Lunch (Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options available)
Recipe Cards: A participatory art activity developed by the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre youth council members

1:15 – 2:45 PM
SESSION 2: Stakes and Strategies
How have individuals and local groups responded to gentrification? This session will introduce possible solutions, as well as a range of creative actions and strategies that can be used to resist the root causes of gentrification, as well as its harmful effects.

Speakers: Danielle Boissoneau, C.A. Borstad Klassen, Stephanie Cox, Danica Evering, and Erika Morton
Facilitator: Tara Bursey

3:00 – 4:30 PM
SESSION 3: Collective Power
Facilitated by local artists, this session will encourage reflection and conversation through small group activities. How can we leverage our resources and collective power to help mitigate the harm of gentrification? How can we advocate for a city that truly includes everyone? This session will help us to imagine new or different ways of engaging with the neighbourhoods we inhabit.

Artist-facilitators: Michael DiRisio, Irene Loughlin, Simon Orpana, and Nea Reid

4:30 – 5:00 PM
Wrap-up & closing remarks.

Hamilton Artists Inc. (The Inc.) is committed to the presentation of contemporary art and related cultural practices. The Inc. facilitates a national dialogue surrounding issues in contemporary art through exhibitions, publications, performances, education and outreach projects. The Inc. actively engages in community arts programming and educational initiatives that represent the cultural life in our city and beyond.

Contact:
Abedar Kamgari, Programming Director
programming@theinc.ca / 905.529.3355

Hamilton Artists Inc.
155 James St N
Hamilton, ON L8R 2K9
http://www.theinc.ca/
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Many thanks to our funders and programming partners: