June 25th – Bunmi Africa https://www.facebook.com/BunmiAfrica/
Bunmi Africa is a Writer and Performance Poet. She shares strong socio- political opinions, promotes cultural history and inspires through Spoken Word Poetry. These are her ways of documenting experiences and challenging norms. Bunmi Africa released her debut album “In Honour Of The Broken” on the 30th of April, 2022. She shared a story of trauma and healing in this body of work. Bunmi Africa has collaborated with an array of musicians, artists and poets, in her bid to make performance poetry accessible to mainstream media.
June 25th – Windsor Feminist Theatre
http://windsorfeministtheatre.ca/
Throughout its forty plus year history, WFT has written, created, developed, produced and presented hundreds of socially relevant and ground-breaking productions to thousands of audience members. With a goal of inclusion, and priority of reconciliation, WFT invites community participation, and provides employment for primarily local professional artists through specialized workshops/master classes, artists’ residencies, and original productions.
July 1st – Canada Day Diversity Drag Show
Lua
Lua is a strange, artistic, and creative drag queen. When you go to her show you’ll always have something new to experience.
Hudson Bae
Ahoy there! Hudson Bae is Windsor’s premiere drag king, and the campy Casanova pirate captain of your dreams. Head of Hudson’s Harbour Production and Design, and a lover of disco and dad jokes. Seas are never rough when you’re part of his merry crew!
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde is the area’s only draglesque performer. Bouncing between the two or marrying them when desired. What to expect is props from fire fans/eating, hula hoops, giant props and so on. A little silly and a lot sultry. Mercury runs her own photography business and is a wig stylist.
Epoxy
Epoxy is a Windsor born queen who runs local businesses and events, including YQG Popups and Interrobang Vintage. She recently curated the Drag Me to Windsor exhibition, which celebrated 150 years of Windsor-Detroit drag history.
Vanessa Bae
Vanessa Bae calls Windsor her hometown, and she is a hyper-queen but does like to be known as a high energy queen. However, she can’t deny being known as a dance queen.
B. Martini
B.Martini serves sexiness and style. She is a high energy performer who will leave you gagged. There is a reason they call her the party girl!!!
Geena Haze
Geena has been a drag performer for over 20 years and has performed in Windsor, London, Ottawa and Vancouver. She is also the current reigning Guardian of the Hearts of London and Southwestern Ontario.
July 9th – Vanessa Shields
https://vanessashields.com/
Vanessa Shields is a writer, mother, and lover of all things creative. She has published three collections of poetry, the most recent, ‘thimbles’ (Palimpsest Press, 2021) was listed as CBC Books Must-Read Spring poetry books. Her poetry has been published in Arc Magazine, Hamilton Arts & Letters and in various anthologies. She is an editor and mentor for writers at all stages in their writing lives as well as a creative guide for those looking to explore their creativity. For all things Vanessa, please visit her website vanessashields.com
July 9th – Windsor Classic Chorale https://windsorclassicchorale.org/
Founded in 1977 by Director Emeritus Richard Householder, the Windsor Classic Chorale has become a core component of the local arts community by presenting its annual concert season and singing at a variety of other events throughout the Windsor area. The Chorale considers it a privilege to perform in this community and enjoys collaborating with other organizations including the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Chamber Choir, the Windsor-Essex Youth Choir, Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts, as well as various solo artists. The Chorale has performed in a wide range of venues including Heritage Auditorium at the University of Windsor, All Saints’ Church, and on Pelee Island at the Stone & Sky Music & Art Series.
July 30th – Deanna Radford ~ https://poetryinvoice.ca/read/poets/deanna-radford
Deanna Radford is fascinated by our relationship to the Internet and the physical space it occupies in our lives. Her poetry examines these things and how this tool of communication intertwines with our most personal and emotional connections. Experimental poetry, music, art, the environment, and social justice inspire her practice. In poetry & prose, Deanna has written about literature, sound art, and music for many prestigious publications.
July 30th – Siqiniup Qilauta (Sunsdrum) https://www.facebook.com/siqiniup.qilautasunsdrum/
Siqiniup Qilauta (Sunsdrum in English) performs Inuit cultural performances that include throat singing, drum dancing, games and singing traditional songs. The name of the group, Siqiniup Qilauta roughly translates to The Sun’s Drum. The name was influenced by an Inuit legend they heard about the sun. When the sun has a complete halo around it, it indicates good luck and the halo represents a drum. They have travelled nationally and internationally demonstrating traditional and contemporary Inuit throat singing, drum dancing, and games—as well as providing interactive workshops on the history of the Inuit, and their current realities. They believe strongly in the strength and resiliency of a cultural people that moved from igloo to iPod in such a short time.
August 13th – Raging Asian Womxn Taiko Drummers
https://www.ragingasianwomxn.ca/
(RAW) is a Toronto-based performing arts ensemble made up of East and Southeast Asian womxn. Formed in 1998, they carry on the diasporic Taiko tradition that grew out of Asian American and Asian Canadian mobilization in the 60s and 70s. RAW exists as a critical response and challenge to both systemic and internalized oppressions. RAW plays large taiko drums as creative resistance for social change, carving space for self-expression, education and community building. RAW has performed at a wide variety of events including Pride celebrations, art festivals, social justice events, and more.
Arts Can Teach Personnel:
Karen McClellan
Karen is a professional musician, small business owner and strong advocate for the arts in education. She is dedicated to making the arts accessible to young people in Windsor-Essex schools and community settings. Her expertise as an artist educator has allowed Karen to combine her enthusiasm for the arts and education in a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. Karen performs with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, London Symphonia, in faculty recitals at the School of Creative Arts and in rock/pop duo Front Row Cello with singer-guitarist Ted Lamont.
Mbonisi Zikhali
My name is Mbonisi Zikhali and I hail from Zimbabwe, which means the ‘House of Stone’. It is a Southern African country that reverberates with powerful poetry, song and dance. It was there that I grew to understand the power of spoken word performance and hip hop not only as entertainment, but as powerful tools in conveying the raw emotion of youth, and as dynamic mediums for grassroots activism.
Louise Paquette
Louise Paquette BFA, a native of Windsor, ON, received her BFA as a dance major from York University in Toronto in 1995. Paquette was a principle dancer with HNM Dance Company from 1997- 2011. Paquette was also a principle dancer with Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises 1997-2009 and currently sits on the board of directors. Paquette had the pleasure of dancing and training with Denise Szykula, as a member of Dance Nonce for the 1998 and 1999 seasons and Dance Nonce the Sequel 2010- 2018. Paquette has instructed dance at the University of Windsor as a sessional instructor since 2005 and as a special instructor 1999-2005. Louise taught creative movement, ballet, jazz, and modern disciplines at the Acedemie Ste. Cecile Dance Studio School 1996-2014. Louise opened her own dance school Dare2Dance in 2014 and is proud to be in her fifth successful season. Paquette has been a mentor artist educator in the classroom with the Learning Through the Arts program 2000-2018 and continues this work with Arts Can Teach currently.
Patricia Fell – Artistic Director
Patricia’s career as a professional artist for more than 30 years has embraced award winning design for the theatre, education, and the promotion of social injustice issues. Her extensive background in community based arts initiatives place her in an educated position from which to project a unique and achievable production outcome. Her body of work includes experience in design for the theatre, installation art, performance art, production management, and all levels of theatre administration. Patricia is proud to volunteer for the Township of Pelee Island’s Funding Advisory Committee, and as a board member for the Pelee Island Co-operative Association.
Trevor Malcolm
Past winner of a Palme D’Or, Trevor’s career as a performer, composer, and band leader has had a chameleon-like intrigue stretching form from punk rock, to orchestral and electro-acoustic work; this speaks volumes to his collaborative ability. Trevor possesses a unique insight into the world of music which transposes into greater participatory performance art. His reputation as a musician’s musician has garnered a professional respect that translates as enthusiastic agreement to participation from artists who would otherwise be unattainable.
Stone & Sky Music & Art Series 