ki wii chi hii to naan

we take care of each other

during the week of march 11 to 15, a group of people gathered in the evenings at Studio 393 in Portage Place shopping centre. some had never beaded before while others were amateur beaders; none had worked with beads the size and weight of a skateboard wheel. participants had a vague idea of what they would create, leaving space for experimentation, learning, and failure. artist Jessie Jannuska brought her skill and expertise to the group, teaching all participants how to brick stitch. 

much has been said about skateboarding cultures; in particular, the ways skateboarders transgress normative forms of engagement with urban landscapes by bending the rules. less talked about is the care and collaboration that are also prevalent features of the areas skateboarders congregate. experienced skaters are encouraged to exercise their abilities, while novices are fostered and given space to learn, with everyone primed to help when someone falls. the installation pictured here is an embodiment of this care. 

kinanaskomitin to Jessie Jannuska, Angel Fosty, Amber Clark, Shay Picard, Katie May, and all others who participated in this project, including Kokoms Charlotte Nikon and Barb Bruce.