PROJECTS & PROGRAMS
Since launching our website in the summer of 2020 we have initiated a number of projects and programs. From virtual exhibitions, to cultural events and online archives, the Embassy Cultural House (ECH) is an artist-run digital initiative celebrating arts and culture. Originating from London, Ontario, the ECH community reaches across Canada and around the world.
Virtual Exhibitions
From 1983 to 1990 numerous artists exhibited at the ECH. It closed its physical doors in 1990. In 2020 the ECH was re-envisioned as a virtual artist-run community space and website. In October 2020 we held our first virtual exhibit with over 40 contributors responding to this open call.
The Embassy Cultural House (ECH) and GardenShip and State are pleased to present a virtual group exhibition Stop Extinction! Restore the Earth to celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2021. Work in the exhibit features artists from within the ECH community and Gardenship and State participating artists. Artworks in the exhibit address the broad issues related to the climate crisis, and other threats to our ecology. Works also address the intersection of sustainable living and the respect for Indigenous land rights.
Exhibition contributors include: Jessie Amery, Tariq Amery, Ron Benner, Paul Chartrand & Michelle Wilson, Carole Condé & Karl Beveridge, Stephen Cruise, Tom Cull, Susan Day, Experimental Music Unit, Holly English & Olivia Mossuto, Michael Farnan, Michael Fernandes, kerry ferris (1949 - 2016), Jan Figurski, Mireya Folch Serra, Fatima Garzan, Dave Gordon, Tariq Hassan Gordon, Joan Greer, Tegan Moore, & Sourayan Mookerjea, Jamelie Hassan, Fern Helfand, Lisa Hirmer, Sharmistha Kar, Mark Kasumovic, Brian Lambert, Skylar Mohacsy, Patrick Mahon, Kim Moodie, Catherine Morrisey, Troy Ouellette, Jill Price, Judith Rodger, Kian Saadani-Gordon, Niloufar Salimi & Mohammad Tabesh, Jayce Salloum, Jenna Rose Sands, Roland Schubert, Sandra Semchuk, Carolyn Simmons, Dan & Mary Lou Smoke, Ashley Snook, Jean Spence, Diana Tamblyn, Jeff Thomas, Bernice Vincent (1934 - 2016), Esther Vincent, Christine Walde, and Jade Williamson |
In a true cloud to street project, our online exhibit EARTH DAY: Stop Extinction! Restore the Earth has jumped from the screen to the street. Our community partners Attic Books and Colour by Schubert Custom Photofinishing have embraced the exhibit and included works in the display window of their shops in London, Ontario.
Please take a moment to read this great conversation between Patrick Mahon and Jeff Thomas on the significance of Earth Day and the intersection with Indigenous rights.
Please read the wonderful essay at the ECH by novelist Marwan Hassan on his memories of the East London, and his relationship with the Embassy Cultural House. Photos provided by Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner, and page design by Olivia Mossuto.
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Please read this article by Olivia Mossuto, Art as engagement: creative ideation in the fight to save the planet. A conversation with Christina Battle, Ron Benner, and Shelley Niro on how art is changing our relationship to the environment, and mobilizing communities to care, grow, and solve together.
We are pleased to present this online exhibit Intercambio/Exchange, a collaboration between Canadian curator Bob McKaskell and Oaxacan artist Lissette Jiménez Díaz. In 2019, Bob set out to restore a rarely-used room in his Oaxacan apartment, with the intent of turning it into a contemporary gallery space for emerging artists. Lissette would be his first commission. Bob intended to have her installation work in his new space for one year. He was making plans to commission six Oaxacan artists altogether, over as many years. Sadly, there was no official opening of this project before he passed away on June 30th, 2020. Thanks to Marnie Fleming for bringing this special online exhibit to the ECH.
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The ECH's International Women’s Day Exhibition - Go; Rise and Strike went live on March 8, 2021. Coordinated by Jade Williamson with the assistance of Charlotte Egan and Ruth Skinner, the exhibit includes over twenty-five artists. The exhibit includes artists who showed in the original International Women's Day exhibitions presented by the ECH in 1984 and 1985, as well as many more artists who are part of the ECH community today.
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SLEEPWALKING - EMBASSY CULTURAL HOUSE
STANDS WITH HONG KONG: ECH is pleased to present Sleepwalking (夢遊), a series of screenings, talks, readings, exhibits, open calls, and events in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong who are fighting the 2019 extradition bill. In China and Hong Kong, political issues are often spoken about indirectly. In Hong Kong to say “I’m going sleepwalking/I’m dreaming” is a way to say you are going to protest. Through this program we hope to highlight ongoing events in Hong Kong and connect them with artists, experiences, and issues from our own communities as a means to build transnational solidarity.
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"Hiding in Plain Sight", catalogue cover published in February 2021
Hiding in Plain Sight exhibition: The ECH is pleased to present 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 former 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. The exhibit launched on October 30, 2020.
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Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Celebration of Lorraine Klaasen's FCLMA World Music Award, February 13, 2021
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A core value for the ECH community is to celebrate the accomplishments within our diverse arts and culture community. As part of our commitment to equity our digital and online programming includes events and content to recognize the contribution of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, elders and youth, women, LGBTQI2, and people with disabilities.
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Print and Digital Publications
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The ECH website has grown quickly since our launch in July 2020. We have added a Facebook page, Twitter account and an Instagram page to promote our activities and highlight all the great activities of our contributors. In January 2021 the ECH published its first print catalogue from the Hiding in Plain Sight exhibit with a print run of 500 catalogues. You can view an online copy of the catalogue here.
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Digital Archives
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The archives of the ECH were donated to the Ivey Family London Room at London Public Library by the collective of the ECH. The library also houses the archives of London's earlier artist-run centre, the 20/20 Gallery. In 1992, Greg Curnoe wrote an article about the significance of artist run galleries in London, Ontario. The article included reference to the ECH, read the article here. In the summer of 2020 the ECH was re-launched as a website to pay tribute to the history of artist run centres in London and to bring the ECH archives online.
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Local Partners
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The ECH is please to work and collaborate with a wide range of institutions, charity, non-profits, small business, cultural initiatives to advance our shared vision of a more just and equitable society.
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Institutional Relations
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The ECH has benefited from the encouragement and support of local institutions including Museum London and Western University's Arts and Humanities Program.
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