Women Empowered
Chika Ofoha – Helping the community tap into their creativity
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Whether it is photographs or works of art, images create a memory of people, places, and things that we hold with us forever. For Black women art has created a new space of recognition and has presented an opportunity to both celebrate and immortalize their contributions. It has created a new space of recognition.
Art does not show people what to do, or how to feel; great works of art create synergy between your senses, body, and mind. It can help you navigate your emotions, and this can spur thinking, engagement, and even action.
Most of us know the feeling of being moved by a work of art, whether it is: a song, a play, a poem, a novel, a painting, or a spatio-temporal experiment. Most recently I met a young woman, and upon seeing her work, I was transported to a new place that was, nevertheless, strongly rooted in a physical experience. I became aware of a feeling that I do not actively focus on. This transformative experience is what art is constantly seeking.
Quietly, Chika O has been experimenting with her artistic ability, finding ways to express herself, and help others express their innermost feelings. She specializes in curating inspirational and expressive paint events that enable those who are open to doing so tap into their creativity.
I was introduced to Chika O through a mutual friend of ours Nigel Birch; upon meeting her I knew that she was a phenomenon. It was on Friday, March 24th, 2023, that I saw the extent of her magic. She was the art curator at the LEGUP Secure your Wealth Symposium, and to see what she was able to do with the space, to turn a hotel common area into an art gallery; it was incredible. I decided right there and then that I wanted to share her talents with the world, so we sat down, and I went on an artistic journey with her.
“I went to school for the arts, but I didn’t do anything for myself,” Chika tells me. “I didn’t use my talent for anything. One day, I realized something had to change.
I was born in Mississauga, then my parents moved out to Newmarket. After my parents separated, myself, my four siblings, and my mother moved to Markham.
As a child, I was very vocal about what I wanted to do: be creative or play outside. All my gifts were focused on art. Give me paints, give me crayons, and give me a pencil crayon that is what I wanted. It was like this until I was 12 years old. School takes art seriously, so I used school as an outlet for my art.
They would spend more money on art supplies, and it allowed me to do more. There is basic art, but I wanted to be challenged. I wanted to learn techniques. From 10 to 12, that urge to learn more came up. My mom put me in art camp, and there I learned colour theory, sculpting, and how to work with clay.”
There was no denying; she was born an artist.
“I would win competitions at church because of the detail that I put into their work. There is so much that can be told by looking at a child’s art. You can learn so much from their world.”
She was very detailed explaining what art does for a child, and I knew that there was a story there.
“I was seven or eight when my parents separated. I learned a lot during that time. You never know what a child has to deal with. When I was younger, I was very attached to my dad. I copied everything he did. When my parents separated, the picture of my life was destroyed. When I had to shift to the new picture, I resented it. I didn’t like this new picture. Single mom, going to school, with the absence of my father; my world had revolved around him. I didn’t know what to revolve around anymore.
There was a gap, a hole. I woke up unhappy. Now I know that it was depression. My mom did the best she could. She would keep us connected to our community as much as possible, but it never filled the void.
It is only now that I am older; I realize why I focus on women in my art so much. It can be very difficult for us, especially when dealing with the opposite sex. Back then, I didn’t even have the words, so I put it in my art.”
Chika O takes her responsibility as an artist seriously; the idea that artists have responsibilities may come as a surprise to some – it is to help people not only get to know and understand something with their minds but also to feel it emotionally and physically. By doing this, art can mitigate the numbing effect created by our daily experiences. So, what she has done is find a way to bring art to the community in an interactive and engaging way.
“I curate events for organizations, and I also have fun with my paint nights. This gives me an opportunity to engage with individuals on another level. I want to inspire people to keep that creative muscle in their brains moving.
Art is what I do so that I do not self-inflict. How you process pain is unique for each person. When I am in my artistic space, I am reliving my pain, but in the way that heals me. When you don’t have the words to express how you feel, it can be really frustrating.
My paint nights are special to me. I am given complete creative control.”
Each month Chika holds a themed paint party; her next one is themed the Green Garden happening on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, from 7:30 PM 9:30 PM. Whether you are looking for a fun bonding activity for a group or a more personal experience, her events offer a perfect blend of social interaction and individual exploration. As your host, she is there every step of the way, guiding you towards creating a beautiful work of art that you can be proud of, and there is more…
I don’t want to give away too much about what Chika told me, but on May 6th, 2023, Toronto is going to be formally introduced to Chika O. A group of us will be working alongside Chika on a project that reflects the unique experiences of Black women. We will be fusing art and words to tell the story of a Black woman’s experience living in the diaspora. Her struggles, her joy, her pain, her celebrations; it will be a recognition of Black women all over the world.
“I have been working on things for a long time, and now is the right time to showcase what I have to the world. I am really excited about it, and what I will tell you is to start looking out for event details in the first week of April. For now, you can FOLLOW me on Instagram @paintwithchikaoh, or @artby.chikaoh.”