{"id":34027,"date":"2016-05-16T15:34:45","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T19:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/?p=34027"},"modified":"2016-07-09T12:59:10","modified_gmt":"2016-07-09T16:59:10","slug":"annie-macdonell-holding-still-holding-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.artoronto.ca\/?p=34027","title":{"rendered":"Annie MacDonell: Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is in full force throughout Toronto as several of the exhibitions opened last week to kick off the event. The Ryerson Image Centre was buzzing on May 4th as each of the galleries within are hosting a show as part of CONTACT; Annie MacDonell being one of the exhibiting artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Winner of Scotiabank Photography Award, 2015, Angela Grauerholz, who has a major exhibition in Ryerson Image Centre (fourth from left), artist\u00a0Locrin Stewart (in the middle) and Annie McDonell (right of Stewart) at the Opening Reception, May 4, 2016. Photo: Emily Newell<\/p>\n

In the University Gallery and on the Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall Annie MacDonell\u2019s show, titled, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together<\/em> is a marvel. In partnership with choreographer, Ame Henderson, the photographs are comprised of six contemporary dancers performing on the topic of the power struggle between the police and protesters. MacDonell has gathered images of passive resistance from the RIC\u2019s Black Star Collection. Then she analyzed and dissected the actions they depicted in order to recreate them in performance and video, filmed in long, static shots.<\/p>\n

MacDonell wrote in her “Notes for Performers” that the purpose of the characters in her work \u201cis not to memorialize them [but] is to hijack and rewrite the power relations they describe\u201d. The artist used the beautiful setting of the historical President\u2019s office at Ryerson University\u00a0to rethink those power dynamics. She has removed all elements of the original setting: such as buildings, streets, the crowd looking at the actions – and focused only on the bodies themselves and the positions in which they take form.\u00a0The dramatic meaning of the photographs are juxtaposed with the way of the dancers\u2019 performance, with their peacefully and elegantly intertwining bodies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. \u00a9 Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell<\/p>\n

Through this method MacDonell examines how – even in these trying situations – people hold to their families, friends and loved-ones. Taking the time to watch these bodies move is incredible. It is challenging to think of where these, sometimes violent, images came from.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell<\/p>\n

Moving from a screen, where the dancers are configured, to a slideshow of images \u2013 we confronted by an intense and extremely topical discussion about power. All the images depict passive political resistance when protesters express opposition by using their own bodies to block further actions while police officers hold and forcefully move them. MacDonell noted that all the chosen images depict \u201cinstances in which peaceful refusal of protesters was met with fair compliance by authorities\u2026they are, by and large, peaceful images.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. \u00a9 Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together<\/em> raises many questions that are very relevant to the world around us today. If these are the peaceful images, what would the violent ones look like in this medium? How powerful is the act of a peaceful \/ passive protest? Why certain people \u201cmet with fair compliance\u201d from the forces while others receive brutal violence? How does it feel for the people protesting to be lifted or dragged? How does it feel to lift or drag a person? Why do people engage in these political activities? I had never thought about going limp as a form of protest. Faced by MacDonell\u2019s work, it is something I can look at in a whole new light. The still, limp body of a protester is just as powerful in its own right as the tall, stiff, strong bodies of the men holding it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. \u00a9 Annie MacDonell. Courtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Annie MacDonell, Holding Still \/\/ Holding Together, (video still), 2016. Multi-channel installation. Photo: Emily Newell<\/p>\n

Annie MacDonell has created an interesting and intelligent conversation about power through performance and photography. Being in the gallery and taking it all in was an incredible experience. It made me think about that there are many people out there who must, either passively or aggressively, fight for what they believe in. On the other side the police force is designed to maintain order and keep peace – but that sensitive line is often crossed by both parties involved.<\/p>\n

Annie MacDonell will have an artist talk at the Ryerson Image Centre on May 18th at 6:30 pm \u2013 which I would recommend attending and to listen to her thoughts about these powerful images.<\/p>\n

Emily Newell<\/p>\n

*Exhibition information: May 4 \u2013 August 21, 2016, Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould Street Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue \u2013 Fri, 11 \u2013 6, Wed, 11 \u2013 8, Sat \u2013 Sun, 12 \u2013 5 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Emily Newell<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dramatic meaning of the photographs are juxtaposed with the way of the dancers\u2019 performance, with their peacefully and elegantly intertwining bodies.<\/p>\n

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