Art is for the people. It is the thread that holds society together, allowing us to be with one another, to feel with our whole selves, and to learn with every fibre of our being.
Art has been made to erase history and spark revolutions. Art is a weapon-- one that must be wielded carefully, bravely, and with the utmost intention. Yet, under capitalism -- art withers. It becomes expendable, the first to be dismissed because of two things: The first because capitalism reduces art to a financial transaction tied to wealth and class. This further distances art from the public, creating a void of accessibility and understanding. This leads to considering art as something superfluous and done as an act of splurging. The second is because it encourages critical thinking and invites the public to think and feel. It ignites collective intellectual paradigm shifts and emotional fervour that unites people and inspires resistance. For both these reasons, art, under capitalism, dies.
Art is for the people. Since the dawn of humanity, it has been a gift—born of the earth and inspired by it. We create. We are the players on the stage. Theatre of the everyday. Dances on the sidewalk. Music in the trees. Paintings in the clouds. We can not be separated from this beauty and potent discipline we call art. We are of it. It is of us.
A call for a return to this truth.
A call for a return to each other.
A call for care, for intention.
A call for the artist to remember each member of their community in the making of artwork.
A call for the community to commune through a creative act.
Art is our right.
Art is for the people.
The Nature of Us is a devised sound installation and choral performance conceived by Kevin
Jesuino, Jean-Louis Bleau and Cassette Bessette. In collaboration with TRAction, ARTIO Choir,
and the Mount Royal University Choral Association, the project blended soundscapes,
monologues, and choral music to foster a deeper connection with nature. Set in public green
spaces, the installation featured a six-channel sound system discreetly integrated into the
environment. The 30-minute soundscape guided listeners through a meditative experience as
pre-recorded vocal performances from six choir members harmonized with the natural sounds of
birds, trees, wind, and other ambient elements.