Let’s Heal the Divide

^{Let’s Heal the Divide, 30 foot neon sign, located on the west side of 133 Keefer St., Vancouver Biennale open air installation, 2020 to present. Photo credit: Ric Lam}

Let’s Heal the Divide was originally installed on the façade of Vancouver Community College from 2015-17. It marked the physical and perceptual divisions between the Downtown Eastside, one of the most impoverished postal codes in Canada, and one of the wealthiest commercial and financial districts that borders it.

Reinstalled in December 2020, the piece is now located in Vancouver’s Chinatown, a neighbourhood confronted with gentrification, class inversion, and the threat of cultural displacement from urban developers and city rezoning. The new location is still blocks from the Downtown Eastside – home to many communities stricken by the fentanyl crisis and the lack of safe drug supply.

From a broader perspective, the artwork also resonates beyond its physical surroundings. Globally, we have witnessed institutional and systemic racism and violence, intense political conflict, the rise of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too Movements, the fight to end targeted transgender violence and discrimination, the continued struggle for Indigenous rights and environmental justice, and of course, a world-wide pandemic.

At one of the most divisive times in recent history, we continue to make demands for a better world. While economies have been radically altered, and public and personal engagement restricted, we have still found ways to connect, learn, protest, preserve traditions, and build community. Let’s Heal the Divide acts as a reminder that we all share the responsibility for inclusion, justice and collective healing.

The piece was installed at 133 Keefer St. on December 9, 2020, and remains there today.

Photo credits: Ric Lam, Toni Latour, Nicole Wild and Alex Mof

^{Let’s Heal the Divide, 30 foot neon sign, located on the north facade of the Vancouver Community College, Vancouver Biennale open air installation, 2015-17. Photo credit: Ric Lam}

Let’s Heal the Divide was originally installed on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2015), on the brick wall of the Vancouver Community College, on Coast Salish Land. It remained on the facade of VCC Downtown until July 2017. The official lighting of the piece took place on a rainy March 11 day. The event began with a welcoming and blessing by Carleen Thomas, from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who spoke beautifully about the message of the piece and the cleansing power of the rain. A panel discussion followed with a packed room inside VCC. Panelists included the artist, Toni Latour, art historian, Sandra Seekins, human rights advocate and community builder, Romi Chandra-Herbert, architect, Michael Geller, and urban planner and moderator Gordon Price. The impassioned dialogue that followed included voices from diverse community members, artists, service providers, activists and more.

^{Promotional Poster, 2015}

Let’s Heal the Divide was born out of an invitation Toni Latour received to participate in the 2014-16 Vancouver Biennale – responding to the theme “Open Borders/Crossroads Vancouver”. With a concept drawing in hand, Toni went to Victory Square Park, across the street from VCC, to consult with the public over a series of days. She also consulted with local Indigenous artists before going forward with the idea. The resulting work was a site-specific piece that addressed the socio-economic, political and cultural points of disconnect present in the area.

^{First concept drawing, 2013}

The location highlighted the glaring economic disparity between neighbourhoods and acted as an intersection between perceived borders. It marked a physical division between one of the most impoverished postal codes in Canada and one of the wealthiest. The piece sat at the border between Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES) and the financial and commercial district of the city.

In the spirit of hope, Let’s Heal the Divide, called for action, collective healing, connectivity, and inclusion.

After the launch, the conversation continued with a series of video interviews produced by the Vancouver Biennale, asking the question “What does Let’s Heal the Divide mean to you?”. Noteworthy interviewees included musician, Bif Naked, artist, Tiko Kerr, and politician, Constance Barnes. Interview Series

The public conversation continued again in 2016, with an artist talk and discussion hosted by the Vancouver Biennale and the Indian Summer Festival. Toni spoke about the work with her newborn wrapped onto her.

Indian Summer Festival Artist Talk, June 2016

Installation Day, March 8, 2015

Launch Day, March 11, 2015

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launch

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The project was fully funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Faculty Professional Development Fund. The artist would like to thank both institutions for their generous support. She would also like to thank VCC and the Vancouver Biennale for hosting and supporting the piece. Finally, Latour would like to recognize the strength, resiliency and heart of the Downtown Eastside community.

Let’s Heal the Divide, Edmonton, August 13, 2021

In association with Arts on the Ave, The Vancouver Biennale presented a second edition of Let’s Heal the Divide in Edmonton. It is installed at Jelly Bean Park (92 Street and 118 Avenue).

“A big thank you to all our supporters and friends who came out for the unveiling of Toni Latour’s “let’s heal the divide” public art exhibit, located on the facade of the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts and ArtsHub 118 building. A special thank you to Chef Rich Francis for catering the event with his delicious salmon ceviche and Three Sisters Soup. It was a day of celebration and reflection.” – Arts on the Ave

“A neon public artwork has been unveiled in Edmonton by Arts on the Ave, a registered non-profit charitable organization that is dedicated to the community, which it so passionately serves, through the cultivation of positive urban renewal.

Mounted on the east outside wall of the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (118 Avenue at 92 Street), LET’S HEAL THE DIVIDE by Vancouver-based artist Toni Latour speaks to a multitude of “divides”: political, cultural, socioeconomic, gender, religious, educational, and familial—to name a few.

Christy Morin, Executive Director of Arts on the Ave, and her team have successfully collaborated with numerous community partners to ensure the installation of this public artwork. At the unveiling on August 13, 2021, many individuals, seated in a sharing circle, spoke eloquently about their involvement in the neighbourhood and the divides that they encounter on a regular basis.

The gathering reminded us all to keep engaging our neighbours and community members in new conversations and to continue the work that has already been started.

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LET’S HEAL THE DIVIDE is one of three artworks on loan from the Vancouver Biennale (another artwork, LOVE YOUR BEAN by Cosimo Cavallaro, is visible in the accompanying photographs) to Arts on the Ave as part of an effort, in collaboration with The Places, to transform the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood into a community arts district. It is through culture-led urban regeneration initiatives and a strong sense of creative spaces and placemaking that these art-infused communities have begun to flourish and provide a safe, nurturing environment in which artists may thrive.

Edmonton is situated in Treaty 6 Territory, a traditional gathering place, travelling route, and home for many Indigenous Peoples.” – Murray Nichol