Author: Olivia Johnson

Olivia is a Montreal-based journalist who loves writing about arts, culture and identity. Fueled by espresso, you'll most likely find her scribbling a story idea in her notebook or detangling her hair.
Cultural Lifestyle

Wild City Mapping | A Portrait of Montreal

Wild City Mapping immerses visitors in the story of urban nature in Montreal and its relationship to residents. After nearly ten years of work, the Wild City Mapping Collective, a group of visual and media artists, mapping enthusiasts, wilderness lovers and tech geeks, can see their work come to fruition. Their goal: to demonstrate the personal significance of wild urban spaces. “We map the wild … Continue reading Wild City Mapping | A Portrait of Montreal

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Visual Artists

Chains & Crowns: Identity Through Hair

Chains & Crowns, an exhibit by photographer Stephane Alexis explores hairstyles and their connection to the Black community. Alexis took inspiration from the way the women in his life talked about their hair. Whether it was the money they were investing, how to achieve certain results or the difficulty that comes with maintaining certain styles.  “My cousins, female friends, my mom, my aunt’s – we … Continue reading Chains & Crowns: Identity Through Hair

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Photo of Kim-Sanh Chau
Cultural Lifestyle

Kim-Sanh Châu Explores Asian Diaspora Through Dance and Song

In Bleu Néon, Kim-Sanh Châu, 35, uses dance and song to navigate the fantasy of nostalgia, loss of language and sexual objectification – three themes that are widely experienced by Asian diasporic populations. The lights dim as Châu enters the theatre. She stands in the center of a circle made of neon lights, an image typical of south-east Asian countries and the inspiration for the … Continue reading Kim-Sanh Châu Explores Asian Diaspora Through Dance and Song

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Photo of Warona Setshwaelo discussing the climate crisis
Cultural Lifestyle

The Climate Crisis Takes Centre Stage at the Centaur Theatre

Writing a play about extinction isn’t easy – not when the climate crisis is a widely discussed topic, and especially not during a pandemic.  Yet, Brooklyn-based playwright, Miranda Rose Hall still managed to write A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction. It’s about main character Naomi as she retells the story of life on Earth. “The play is a one-woman show about extinction … Continue reading The Climate Crisis Takes Centre Stage at the Centaur Theatre

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