Red Embers, Beaches, Toronto
Memorial to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
November 2021 - ongoing
Designer Lisa Rochon with co-organizer Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
Indigenous artists: Hannah Claus, Sarah Biscarra Dilley, Rosalie Favell, Rolande Souliere, Louise Solomon, Lido Pimienta, Eladia Smoke and Larissa Roque, Annie Beach, Kristy Auger & Adrienne Greyeyes, Lindsey Lickers Tash Naveau, Catherine Tammaro and the women of NWRCT
Structural Engineers: Ophelia Bajari and Madina Guillerm, ARUP
Registered Architect: Eladia Smoke, Smoke Architecture
Regent Park Sewing Collective for stitching and finishing detail
ANEX Works, installation crew
Generous Support from City of Toronto Indigenous Affairs Office, Cultural Partnerships, Parks, Forestry and Recreation. Part of ArtworxTO
Red Embers, Allan Gardens
June - Oct, 2019
Generous Support from Public Space Incubator, Park People
Conceived, Commissioned and Produced with Co-Designers and
Co-Organizers Larissa Roque, Tiffany Creyke
While protecting tree roots and using existing lighting to enhance the installation at night, Red Embers would be fully installed to offer a flowing, colourful soundscape for local residents and visitors from across the city. The inspiring and innovative installation underscores the significance of ‘Unceded’ the first ever Indigenous-led, curated and designed pavilion representing Canada at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale (held May 25 – Nov 25, 2018). Importantly, it will provide a safe space for women and as a powerful backdrop for the Annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil for MMIWG held every year on October 4th and the Neechi Circle gathering held every Thursday.
The Red Embers’ Design Team includes: Tiffany Creyke, an Indigenous Planner, the Artistic Associate for Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto/Vancouver, and a member of the Tahltan First Nation near Dease Lake. Larissa Roque, an intern design-architect for Smoke Architecture Inc., and a member of Wahnapitae First Nation near Sudbury. Lisa Rochon, principal of Citylab, design director of the new Canadian Canoe Museum to be sited on a National Historic Site, and former architecture critic for The Globe and Mail.
Charitable Status Partner for Red Embers: the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT). NWRCT will host regular workshops for Red Embers, and will create two banners with expert Indigenous artists, Lindsey Lickers, Tash Naveau and Catherine Tammaro. The NWRCT is a community-based organization dedicated to providing resources and support to urban Indigenous women and their families. NWRCT delivers culturally relevant programs and services that empower and build the collective capacity and self-sufficiency of Indigenous women. NWRCT’s work and direction is guided by the Seven Sacred teachings: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, and Truth. Their teachings, traditions, and cultures inform all of their activities. Regent Park Women’s Sewing Collective provided stitching services, attaching the completed banners to the pole pockets and finishing details.
With thanks to the Friends of Allan Gardens, CentreCourt Developments, Toronto Arts Council, Torys LLP, Andrew Sorbara, Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto, Park People, Ken and Eti Greenberg, University of Toronto School of Cities, Michael McClelland, ERA Architects and the City of Toronto.
Allan Gardens is one of Toronto’s most historic parks, founded in 1858 with its iconic glass Palm House and century-old trees. The installation, Red Embers, recognizes that the park has long been an important gathering space for Indigenous peoples, while also struggling with issues of vandalism and violence. Conceived as a celebration of the brilliance of Indigenous artists and as a memorial to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Red Embers seeks to open up new positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
The Red Embers installation is a site-specific work by Indigenous designers Tiffany Creyke, Larissa Roque and Citylab’s Lisa Rochon. Below the tree canopy and along the major pathways in Allan Gardens, thirteen charred cedar gates were installed with a great red banner suspended from each one. All of the fabric banners were individually painted and interpreted by Indigenous women, including celebrated designers and artists. The installation honours the 13 Grandmother Moons within the Lunar System, as it is the Grandmother Moon that provides healing and a re-balancing of energy for women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. Elder Jacque (Jacqueline) Lavalley provided guidance throughout the process. The unveiling of Red Embers on June 8, 2019 was accompanied by a sacred fire, lit at sunrise, extinguished at sundown, as well as hand drummers, speakers and the public art installation inspired the creation of a new Indigenous garden in Allan Gardens.
