The exhibition Sandra Brewster: By Way of Communion presents two new commissions including the first public sculpture by Toronto-based Canadian artist Sandra Brewster. The two works, DENSE (which closed on May 1, 2022) and A Place to Put Your Things, offer different facets of the artist's practice while addressing themes of place and belonging.
As first-generation Canadians, stories passed down from parents and loved ones give us a sense of belonging to a place in which we have never lived. These stories help us intuitively connect to a land, a history, and people that ingrain us with a sense of self far better than any label could convey.
A Place to Put Your Things
5 February – 30 September 2022
The sculpture, A Place to Put Your Things, is the second work featured in the exhibition. This large-scale installation is part of an ongoing series titled Smith that Brewster began in 2004. The series title refers to the common surname comprising the largest section of many printed telephone books. Since its inception, Brewster's Smith series has incorporated drawing, animation, and painting, all of which include figures' profiles made of collaged "Smith" pages from the phone book. These works point to the absurdity of assumptions that manifest as stereotypes and systems of classification, including those endured by members of the Black community. While a shared surname unites, it also offers a veil of anonymity. A common surname does not necessarily bind people through familial ties, as individuals likely manifest different behaviours, beliefs, and experiences.
The new sculpture, A Place to Put Your Things, is a departure from previous works in this series and is the artist's first public artwork. As Brewster describes it, the piece invites participants to "a place to rest and be at peace, to unburden oneself, and simply sway at one's own pace and rhythm. Play being a central element of the work, the sculpture connects to an inner child and can be engaged by children and adults alike." Facing Lake Ontario, the swing gives new purpose to the location in which it is installed, and its movements can be felt from both near and far.
Press release courtesy The Power Plant.