A Casual Reconstruction & STRIKE/THRU, at MAI and online

𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱: 𝟭𝟬$.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 + 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄 / 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐔 is a double-bill interdisciplinary encounter between two old friends from Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal. Nadia Myre is a contemporary visual artist and Algonquin member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg First Nation, and Johanna Nutter is a 7th generation euro-settler theatre maker and curator. Along with six invited participants, they explore the uncomfortable feelings around being Indigenous and/or non-Indigenous.

At the heart of 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 is a recorded dinner conversation between six people whose origins are Indigenous and “other,” about the politics of belonging within the confines of colonialism. A verbatim transcript is given to Settler participants, who re-enact the conversation in front of the audience. Oscillations of identity constructs ensue. 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄 / 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐔 is a playful exchange between Nadia and Johanna, incorporating elements raised by the reenactment with their own lived histories, in an always-evolving search for what a true act of conciliation might feel like and look like .

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 + 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄 / 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐔 have gone from stage to screen and will now live in both worlds simultaneously. Using the plasticity of the digital environment to bridge Nadia and Johanna’s disciplines, and the accessibility of the virtual environment to reach out to a wider range of participants, they are preparing a LIVE hybrid to be presented onstage at the MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) and online at the same time. June 3-5, 2021 at 3PM EST

Nadia Myre et Johanna Nutter are recipients of MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels)’s Alliance program.