Roots of Rhythm at the ROM

Many of the non-Caucasian people of our City Toronto were honoured just before the beginning of Caribana, the biggest North Americana Festival of its kind by having an art exhibit of their own origin. 30 Artists of various backgrounds showed their paintings, which were curated by Joan Butterfield, an advocate and leader of the Association of African Canadian Artists. After having produced and curated over 100 exhibits she obviously knows how to do it. This show is a fabulous representation of various styles and techniques on the theme "Roots of Rhythm".

Artists were invited to illustrate a poem that she wrote, even though she claims not to be a poet. And indeed it is the rhythm of the people that catapulted their culture forward , the rhythm that we admire and will not do without, without which so many musical expression never would have taken place, never would have come into being for the rest of the world to admire and participate in.

The African Canadian culture includes different cultural roots, but rhythm is something they all have in common. The sound of drums is ever apparent and thus there are several representations of them including other musical instruments, but also other cultural idiosyncrasies are illuminated, like those of the Indian African culture.

Outside the building the kick off to Caribana was celebrated with a steel drum band. Here and there tentative steps were taken in the offered rhythm by onlookers.

Moving with the rhytm

When the band played Abba’s Dancing Queen in a Caribbean sound yours truly could no longer stand still and had to join in. This is music that could wake the dead indeed!

Already getting to the exhibit is an adventure. The halls of this structure exude grandeur and instil awe. The sheer scale of the place dwarfs most people, not surprising, because it houses huge dinosaurs as well as complete Chinese structures and huge totem poles.

Following a theme

To experience all of what the Royal Ontario Museum stands for one would need many days. The variety alone demands serious contemplation. It is a fantastic place to learn about other cultures as well as our own. It is a place to wonder and admire, to explore and research, to get inspired and stimulated, and after a visit we walk away enriched.

Royal Ontario Museum	Outside the Diamond	Reflections

For program and exhibits go to www.rom.on.ca