The LLAMA Project

The LLAMA Project was started in 2007 as a way of bringing together a diversity of professional artists from different countries and cultures to share ideas, stories and experiences with each other and a diversity of community members. LLAMA strives to reflect the changing world and shift our perspectives.

The focus of LLAMA’s exploration is on the influences of culture and change. LLAMA works to give voice to people on issues that impact their place in the world. It encourages youth and community involvement, and celebrates diversity and innovation.

Voz/Voice: the arts of resistance and resilience

The LLAMA Project’s first initiative involved an innovative international exchange between Canadian and Mexican artists. Early in 2009, LLAMA’s Canadian artists travelled to Mexico for the first residency. (Check out the “Mexico Residency” stories in the blog about eating crickets, doing school workshops, finding artistic inspiration and being immersed in local sounds and politics).

Later in the same year, eight Canadian and Mexican professional artists spent many weeks in the Yukon, collaborating with each other and engaging with other artists and community members through a diversity of public events and workshops.

These culturally diverse artists work in photography, ceramics, print making, sculpture, large installations and more. Their dialogues and art work explored themes related to the environment, cultural, social justice and politics. In addition to hands on workshops and face-to-face events, there were videos, podcasts, a blog and media stories posted on the website to share the learning with the community.

This international exchange resulted in a body of work called Voz/Voice: The arts of resistance and resilience. The inaugural exhibition of Voz/Voice was at the Yukon Art Centre Public Gallery in November-December 2009. Additional exhibitions are being planned for the coming year.

For updates on LLAMA Project’s activities and plans, check out our blog.