EMBASSY CULTURAL HOUSE
Virtual Celebration for Lorraine Klaasen's FCLMA World Music Award
TBD
Due to unforeseen circumstances we regret that we have to postpone the event planned for November 28, 2020. Please check back for the date and time of the rescheduled event.
Lorraine Klaasen
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The Embassy Cultural House community is thrilled for Lorraine Klaasen for winning the annual 2020 award for world music at the Forest City London Music Awards in September 2020.
Now living in London, Lorraine is a 2013 Canadian JUNO Award winner. She has been performing and recording music in Canada for over 30 years and she’s also conducted music workshops in schools all over Canada, the Caribbean and the United States. Her outreach program focuses on South African music, arts and culture with an emphasis on how immigrant cultures have enriched Canada. Lorraine said on her recent Forest City London Music Award : "It is wonderful to be receiving this award and thank you to FCLMA for their continued support of arts and culture. Music plays a vital role in the face of racism and oppression and I just want to make people happy with my gift of music." Due to unforeseen circumstances we regret that we have to postpone the event planned for November 28, 2020. Please check back for the date and time of the rescheduled event. |
Virtual Exhibit: Hiding in Plain Sight
Exhibition live: Friday, October 30, 2020
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The Embassy Cultural House is pleased to announce its first virtual group exhibition: Hiding in Plain Sight.
This exhibition is inspired by the book "Hiding in Plain Sight" published in 2020 by St. Louis-based journalist Sarah Kendzior. In her book she describes US President Trump's administration as "a transnational crime syndicate masquerading as a government." There are many other governments in the world at this time that also fit this description. They are all connected. This inaugural virtual exhibit is organized by Ron Benner. An image of the artwork in any medium can be submitted along with the accompanying information - artist's name, title of artwork, date & medium. The virtual exhibit launched on October 30, 2020 with some of the artists and journalist Sarah Kendzior attending this event. 
Please see Sarah Kendzior's recent article in The Globe and Mail, Nov. 05, 2020
Launch photos by Fern Helfand:
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Participants include:
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Embassy Cultural House catalogue now onlineIt is with great pleasure that we are sharing an online version of the now out-of-print The Embassy Cultural House, 1983 to 1990 catalogue. This catalogue was published in 2012 to accompany the survey exhibit "The Embassy Cultural House, 1983 to 1990" presented at Museum London.
The late Robert (Bob) McKaskell curated the survey exhibit and the catalogue was edited by the late Melanie Townsend. The catalogue also includes essays by historical curator Michael Baker and Toronto-based artist, educator and activist Rebecca Deiderichs. The Museum London public program included a sold-out concert of an improvisational jazz performance by Eric Stach and local musicians. With special thanks to Museum London, the estates of both Bob McKaskell and Melanie Townsend, to all the contributors and supporters of the catalogue and Colour by Schubert for making this publication available online to a broader public. Click here to read the catalogue online |
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Art installations @ ECHVideo produced by award winning Canadian artist Wyn Geleynse on the art installations at the Embassy Cultural House (ECH) from 1983 to 1990. Installations by Shelagh Keeley, David Merritt, Robert McNealy, Michael Fernandes, Lani Maestro, Magdalena Campos, Spring Hurlbut and Susan Day graced the walls and rooms of the Embassy Hotel, which also hosted the ECH in the restaurant portion of the hotel located at 732 Dundas Street in London East.
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Retrospective video @ ECH produced by Museum London
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With featured artworks and archival documentation, this retrospective exhibition at Museum London in 2012 documented the energy, enthusiasm and optimism of London's Embassy Cultural House.
Music: "East End" by Olenka and the Autumn Lovers. http://olenkalovers.com/
Music: "East End" by Olenka and the Autumn Lovers. http://olenkalovers.com/
In memory of curator & writer Bob McKaskell 1943-2020
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In memory of Bob McKaskellIt is with the sad news, that our good friend, independent curator and writer, Bob McKaskell died on June 30, 2020 from cancer.
He was living between Port Dover, Ontario and Oaxaca, Mexico. While in Oaxaca he decided to study Spanish and he had just initiated a program of curating exhibits of Oaxacan artists in his apartment located in the centro historico of Oaxaca. He was a great cook, an excellent gardener and his pursuit of knowledge was startling wide-reaching. Anyone who knew Bob, understood that his sometimes stubborn nature contributed to his ability to intensely focus in a very particular and detailed way to whatever subjects grabbed his interest. Bob taught Contemporary Art History for many years at Western University. He was a huge supporter of both Canadian and international artists and had a commitment to challenging art practices including conceptual art, performance works and independent artists' projects. While in London, he was involved in programming at The Embassy Cultural House, the Forest City Gallery, Museum London and the McIntosh Gallery. He also worked at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and and the Glenbow Museum in Calgary where he built strong friendships and made contributions to the arts community across Canada. There are so many fond memories of Bob - especially close to our hearts is the survey exhibition he curated Embassy Cultural House - 1983 - 1990 at Museum London in 2012. |
