Featuring Maddi Adams, Steph Berry, Vanessa Furlong, April Hubbard, Cassidy Mante-Adjei, and Joi Carvery, Shayla Shenanigans, Sof Kreidstein, with Britt Moore-Shirley and ven cain, Jessica Winton & Sophie Pilipczuk with the Immigrant Migrant Women’s Association of Halifax (IMWAH), Jill Rogers, MissShapen, Steacy Easton, Cadence Lemay-Gaulin and Sebastian Doak, Joanna Bull, Marie Webb, Julia Clarke & Kennedy Collins, MSVU Child Study Centre, Erin Donovan, Dawn Hatfield, Andrew Jackson, Nicola Miller, Mark Morton, Lukas Pearse, and Tricia Snell, Darlene Strong, Onya Hogan-Finlay, Jen Parker + Jillian Banfield with Community Cyclists, Jenna Reid, Avery Maynard, Anna Quon, Christian McGinty, Jeremy Costello. Performance, 2022.
Four images in a tiled image gallery: (1) People sit in chairs on either side of a wide paved path beside a green hill flanked by autumn trees. Photo credit: Eyelevel Gallery (2) The Changelings by Cadence Lemay-Gaulin and Sebastian Doak. Two people caught mid-gesture, one using a cane, and each with an arm extended outwards as they almost dance-hobble along the parade path. They have white masks and colourful knit granny squares, scarves, kerchiefs and yarn draped, tied, and knotted over black clothing. Image credit: Justin Jarvis. (3) A person wearing artist Marie Webb’s bold, sculptural textiles smiles. They have an orange-red cape like garment draped over an elongated shoulder piece, a yellow tunic, and a fish-like soft sculpture on top of a predominantly turquoise felted headpiece. Image credit: Justin Jarvis. (4) Pleated, golden fabric wings drape from Circus Artist Joi Carvery’s extended arms as Joi smiles widely, illuminated by the gentle light of an overcast sky. Image Credit: Justin Jarvis
As the title suggests, QUIET PARADE is a low-stimulation / sensory-friendly parade that invites all who are present to help create a pocket of joyful and celebratory quiet in the city–an inherently experimental proposition that is only possible with the generous effort and contributions of many.
While QUIET PARADE centres the creation of low-sensory accessibility as a shared practice, the project embraces a broad definition of access and attempts to plan for and respond to the inevitable access conflicts and tensions that arise. To that end, the project includes ongoing learning and consultation, ASL interpretation, live visual description, seating, a loud zone, and other points of access outlined in the Parade Access Guide.
The first iteration of QUIET PARADE took place in Kjipuktuk / Halifax in October of 2022 and featured 22 artist floats, including several static floats. It was commissioned by Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery with support from Eyelevel Gallery and Nocturne. QUIET PARADE will be hosted by Blackwood Gallery in Mississauga, ON, curated by Ellyn Walker, in 2024.
Many thanks to all the contributing artists, volunteers, and attendees, and all those working behind the scenes to made this project possible, including Co-Curators Claire Dykhuis and Laura Ritchie, Parade Co-ordinator Kelsey McLaughlin, Sean Lee, Traci Steylen, Access Team members David Dahms, Doyle Lahey, Emma Hoch, Maegan Murrins, Riv Williamson, and seeley quest, and to Lindsay Ann Corey at the Halifax Regional Municipality. Sincere gratitude to all who shared feedback or consulted along the way.
We gratefully acknowledge support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality, and Support 4 Culture.
For full artist bios and project descriptions, please see the Parade Access Guide. QUIET PARADE 2022 artist projects include:
Circus Arts, Maddi Adams, Steph Berry, Vanessa Furlong, April Hubbard, Cassidy Mante-Adjei, and Joi Carvery
Silent Funny Insults, Shayla Shenanigans
In Touch / In Motion, Sof Kreidstein, with Britt Moore-Shirley and ven cain
Poetry on Tiptoes, Jessica Winton & Sophie Pilipczuk with the Immigrant Migrant Women’s Association of Halifax (IMWAH)
Wearable Flowers, Jill Rogers
All a Flutter, Ysabelle Vautour & Jessica Kenney with Samuel Kelley and Ramneet Singh Kalra
MissShapen
Hello My Name Is, Steacy Easton
The Changelings, Cadence Lemay-Gaulin and Sebastian Doak
The Blanket, Joanna Bull
Fashion Show, Marie Webb
MAD Walkers, Julia Clarke & Kennedy Collins
A butterfly can be quiet, MSVU Child Study Centre
Hush Band, Erin Donovan, Dawn Hatfield, Andrew Jackson, Nicola Miller, Mark Morton, Lukas Pearse, and Tricia Snell
The Lady On The Beach, Darlene Strong
Heating Pad, Onya Hogan-Finlay
Flying High, Jen Parker, Jillian Banfield & community cyclists
Shhhh Banner, Jenna Reid
Thalassophilia: the love for the ocean, Avery Maynard
Self Portrait Sandwich, Anna Quon
every good thing in my life has come from being queer, Christian McGinty
LOUD ZONE, Jeremy Costello