Community News
Union Station history: Let’s share the story
BY TVISHA MISTRY
The Union Station, downtown Toronto; many of us know it as a railway station and almost all of us have walked past it on a regular day. But do you know the historical significance the location holds in black history?
Union has partnered with Nia Centre for the Arts, a Toronto-based charitable organization, to showcase Union history through tributive black art. The exhibit, “Here Again At the Crossroads” was launched on March 23rd, 2021, and will be live online and in Union Station until May 31st, 2021.
“Nia Centre’s creative and cultural vision aligns with our mandate of celebrating creativity, diversity, and inclusion through our free arts and cultural events,” said Syma Shah, Executive Director of programming at Union. “While we have been challenged in how we can physically present exhibitions, we have been able to adapt and showcase the thought-provoking work through our microsite. Being able to work with an exceptional partner like Nia Centre, we have a unique opportunity to build awareness of the contributions, history, and stories from black communities. We are honored to provide a platform to promote the artists and help them reach new audiences,” she added.
Nia Centre for the Arts is a non-profit organization founded in 2009. The institution is dedicated to connecting community members and supporting the development of a healthy identity in black youth through artistic and cultural experiences. Last year, the Centre launched construction to transform its facility into Canada’s first professional black arts centre.
Showcasing history, Nia Centre for the Arts brings together three contemporary black artists “to present and explore what it means to be at a literal and proverbial “crossroads”.”
“The conversation we have been having for decades is around how we support and value black lives. Despite corporations, organizations, and people spurring out into the streets saying Black Lives Matter there is still a debate,” stated Alicia Hall Executive Director of Nia Centre for the Arts. “We are calling on people to defend Black Lives Matter, Black Health Matter, and Black Artists Matter. The goal of the exhibit among many is to reflect whether or not we truly support black people to lead happy, independent, and free lives. Which is why it is very important to emphasize on the ‘again’ part, as this is a revisited conversation,” Hall added.
The exhibit showcases work from Canadian multi-media artist- Jordan Sook, Andre Wagner- award-winning photographer, and Jayda Marley- acclaimed Queer Afro-Indigenous poet.
Through their pieces, the three artists pay their tribute to black history while portraying their perception of the current state of the world, in terms of racial injustice.
Jordan Sook’s piece entitled “Thank You for Keeping Us On Track”, pays tribute to the black Canadian train porters who were the first to form a railway union in 1917 in North America. The 15ft sculpture comprises of handcrafted hats that are inspired by those worn by the porters.
“Train stations are in many cities. They are a place in which people and goods move freely every day. In the case of Union, it is black men working particularly in the nineteen hundreds as train porters. It is often a job they did without pay, relying solely on tips. In terms of working conditions, we are talking about that,” stated Hall.
Alongside the tribute to porters, Union will exhibit Jayda Marley’s poetry (with audio) “A Ticket to the Revolution,” based on a utopian world with equality and freedom. The poetry captures the world of our dreams where we can live freely without the rules and restrictions of a modern-day capitalist world.
Lastly, the exhibit will feature photographer Andre D. Wagner’s collection of images. His panel of the three striking black and white photos represent the struggle between the American dream and the reality of being black in America.
“This exhibit isn’t going to provide answers, but rather it poses questions and encourages people to think: about where we are as a society, to reflect on their role in racial injustice,” says Alica Hall.
Currently, Union encourages all commuters who pass through the station to visit the exhibition in person. However, a special microsite has been developed to experience the exhibit remotely. You can access the exhibit though through:
www.torontounion.ca/hereagaincrossroads