The Agnes Etherington Art Centre celebrates Black culture in its newest exhibition.
Janice Reid: Fluorescent Beige invites viewers to celebrate Black identity and culture through the lens of Brampton-based photographer Janice Reid. This solo exhibition is curated by Tianna Edwards, MA ’21, EDI coordinator at Queen’s Yellow House Student Centre. The exhibition runs from Sept. 12 to Nov. 9, centred on themes of Black womanhood and expression.
Reid’s work has been showcased in galleries across Canada and internationally, including the Art Gallery of Mississauga and the National Gallery of Jamaica. Reid currently serves as the Brampton Public Library’s Artist in Residence, where her work explores migration and honours her Canadian-Jamaican identity.
For Edwards, curating Fluorescent Beige builds on her friendship and previous collaborations with Reid. Hosting the exhibit at Queen’s resonates personally, as the two first became friends and began their creative partnership during their university years, according to a statement Edwards wrote to The Journal.
The phrase “fluorescent beige” references a scene in the film Precious (2009), where protagonist Jo Ann says her favourite colour is “fluorescent beige.” Edwards says the term is “a play on [the] representation of Blackness—how Black folks can feel both very visible and on display (fluorescent) and invisible (beige).”
Edwards is also excited for students to engage with Black history and culture. She emphasized that Reid’s work is vital in representing Black culture through photography, driven by her passion for telling stories often “excluded from visual culture due to the influence of white supremacy and the patriarchy.”
Through the photography of Fluorescent Beige, Reid offers a vibrant celebration of Black models, “Honour[ing] their rich skin tones, textured hair, and all the features that make Black folks so beautiful,” Edwards said. She hopes that Black visitors will leave the exhibit feeling seen, valued, and celebrated.
Corrections
A previous version of the story incorrectly stated that this was Tianna Edwards’ first solo exhibit; it was not. It also mentioned that the work had been showcased nationally and internationally under the title Fluorescent Beige; the title was only used at the Agnes.
Additionally, the article misstated Tianna Edwards’ position at the Queen’s Yellow House Student Centre as the IDEAA coordinator; she’s actually the EDI Coordinator.
Incorrect information appeared in the Sept. 12 issue of The Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.