February 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Celebrating the sounds, stories, and visuals that shape our community. 🇨🇦
We are deeply honoured to host “Rhythm and Remembrance,” a month-long solo exhibit by the talented Happy Amarkah. In celebration of Black History Month, Happy has curated a powerful collection of personal works reflecting his unique perspectives, feelings, and artistry.
🎤 Hosted by: We are thrilled to have Paul DB Watkins (@thevinylprofessor) as our emcee for the evening. Also known as DJ Techné, Paul is a Professor, Writer, Sound Artist, and Vinyl Aficionado who brings a deep rhythmic soul to this celebration.
Join us for the Opening Reception:
🗓️ Sunday, Feb 2nd
⏰ 6:30 PM
Can’t make the opening?
The exhibit will be on display for free, self-guided viewings for the entire month of February.
📍 Lobby Hours: 11 AM – 4 PM | Monday to Friday
Artist Statement
Rhythm and Remembrance
Echoes from the Past, Power of the Present
My artistic practice is deeply rooted in lived experience. My own, and those shared with and inherited from others. These experiences form the foundation of both my identity and my work, shaping how I understand history, culture, and belonging. As a person of color, I draw heavily from Black culture and African-related histories, engaging with them not only as subjects of study, but as living forces that continue to inform the present.
The works in Rhythm and Remembrance explore how memory moves. It explores how it is carried through generations in stories, images, objects, and sound. Rhythm, both literal and symbolic, acts as a connective thread throughout the exhibition, reflecting the ways Black history has been preserved through music, ritual, and creative expression when traditional records failed or were denied. Remembrance, in turn, becomes an act of resistance, honoring voices and experiences that have too often been overlooked or erased. Versatility is central to my artistic approach. I work across a range of materials and mediums, selecting each intentionally to best communicate the emotional and historical weight of the subject at hand. Extensive research, careful investigation, and the use of photographic references inform the creation process, allowing each piece to exist as both a personal reflection and broader cultural inquiry. The resulting works move fluidly between hyper-realism, abstraction, and conceptual expression, mirroring the complexity and multiplicity of Black identity and history.
For me, art is a cathartic and necessary practice. It is a space for reflection, questioning, and dialogue. It functions as a form of self-examination, much like a conversation with a counsellor/therapist, while also inviting viewers into that exchange. When audiences engage with the work, their responses complete the process, transforming individual expression into collective understanding. Through Rhythm and Remembrance, I aim not only to look back, but to affirm the enduring power, presence, and humanity of Black lives today.
