Windsor singer in running for international competition Stimulating conversations
Barbardos artist Racquel Rowe bringing exhibit to Artsplace
Windsor songbird Terra Spencer’s tune Brick and Mortar was chosen to represent Canada as one of seven finalists in the Commonwealth Song Contest.
This past weekend Spencer’s song was tied for third in the international competition, which runs until May 31. Brick and Mortar tells of her affection for the old Windsor Wear plant by Highway 101.
It is incredible for a song to live this many lives, when it was inspired by a love and a place reaching its end, Spencer noted online.
Individuals can only vote once at https://www.commonwealthsongcontest.com/ vote.html
Her self-produced second album, Chasing Rabbits, won Music Nova Scotia’s folk recording of the year and received nominations for ECMA folk recording of the year and CFMA contemporary singer of the year. Her song, Feels Like Home, was named the 2021 Blues and Roots Radio International song of the year.
Spencer, who hails from Summerville, Hants County, toured across Canada and the United Kingdom with
Ben Caplan in support of their recent joint record,
Old News. She is becoming a sought-after studio musician, co-writer, producer, and workshop facilitator.
She will join Canadian folk icon David Francey on tour to celebrate his upcoming album. On July 13, they’ll perform at the Acoustic Maritime
Music Festival in Kempt Shore, Hants County.
The Commonwealth Song Contest is a major international music event for the 2.5 billion people of the 56 Commonwealth Nations. The first contest launched during the 2018 Commonwealth Games and received thousands of song entries from artists and songwriters.
Barbados artist Racquel Rowe will have her exhibit at the Artsplace Gallery in Annapolis Royal from June 3-July 29.
The art show, The Chicken Is Just Dead First, is a euphemism for the difference between island life and North America.
The title is a phrase from Zalika Reid-Benta's collection, Frying Plaintainl, which is a collection of short stories about a first generation Jamaican-Canadian growing up in Toronto.
Rowe’s exhibit features work made between Canada and Barbados.
“Leaving my predominantly Black country of origin at the age of 18 had a profound effect on me; I was not ‘othered’ until I moved to Canada, it’s strange to become a minority in one’s adult life,” Rowe said in a news release.
“I quickly learned that many people have preconceived notions of what living in a ‘tropical paradise’ is like, and this pushed me to create artworks with a distinctly Caribbean setting, using contexts that were deliberately not intended for a Canadian audience.”
Rowe's roots in Barbados are depicted in a visually compelling way through video and imagery that celebrates life in the Caribbean and contrasts it with what it means to be Canadian.
“Ms. Rowe’s art is intended to open up new ways of seeing, her work will stimulate conversations that we should all be having at this time,” said Ted Lind, exhibition committee member.
The Chicken Is Just Dead's first opening reception is on Saturday, June 3, from noon to 2 p.m., with an artist talk and tour at 1 p.m.
Founders House food truck will also be at Artsplace from 11:30 a.m, June 3.