Parallel Lines

an interactive art installation and social engagement project

where differing points of view may converge through the magic of perspective

Artist Statement

Parallel Lines encompasses:

Featured

Perceptions

Encaustic painting series

In Memoriam

Interactive sculpture installation

Fragile

Interactive sculpture installation

15 Minutes of Fame

Interactive sculpture installation

Workshops

in museums, galleries, and communities

Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions •••?•••

about Parallel Lines

Centred around reclaimed prison beds from the former Kingston Penitentiary for Women— Parallel Lines encompasses: encaustic paintings, interactive sculpture installations, storytelling, Visitor participation and conversation.

Referencing traditional representations of women in art; Canada’s history of genocide against Indigenous people; the plight of refugees fleeing war and persecution; immigrants struggling to build new lives in Canada; and the continued challenges of those striving to overcome violence, racism, disproportionate incarceration rates, poverty, sexism and abuse— Parallel Lines motivates and empowers people of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to share and express themselves in ways beyond words: transcending language barriers and engendering intense, intimate, personal connections with art.

Exploring differing ideas and perspectives on reality, perception and choice— Parallel Lines addresses our tendency to imprison ourselves and others through our beliefs and choices; and examines the precarious journey we all must take in order to escape our (frequently self-imposed) prisons and find healing. The decision to change, move or flee necessitates pushing boundaries, crossing borders, seeking the unfamiliar— both losing and gaining freedom and security. Much as we attempt to divest ourselves, we remain inevitably encumbered with baggage: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, ideological or political. However, once unpacked, our baggage unleashes the potential for exchange, understanding and transformation.

The title Parallel Lines refers to the physical and emotional bars of the prisons in which we periodically find ourselves. It also refers to how opposite sides of a road, in one-point perspective, appear to converge in the distance— just as seemingly opposing view-points can converge with a new understanding.

Parallel Lines encompasses:

Perceptions: 24 encaustic paintings featuring a woman on a bed; and a suitcase
15 Minutes of Fame: an Artist-facilitated interactive sculpture installation featuring a prison bed and a suitcase filled with personal items with which Visitors may interact
In Memoriam: a sculpture installation with 12 prison beds
Fragile: an Artist-facilitated interactive sculpture installation featuring a 30+ ft pathway of eggshells upon which Visitors walk while meditating on what they seek most in life
Esperanza: an installation of Visitors' keys tagged with 1 word indicating what they seek
Workshops: designed and directed by the Artist, for people of all ages, cultures and socio/economic backgrounds; conducted in the art gallery, at museums; and/or in community centres, mental health centres and schools— exploring perception and choice through interactive sculpture installation, storytelling and painting
Sharing Circles — storytelling and discussion sessions with the Artist and Visitors

Parallel Lines has received outstanding audience feedback wherever it has been presented and is proving to be a particularly effective tool for engaging and empowering marginalized individuals to express themselves in ways beyond words: transcending language barriers and engendering intense, intimate, personal connections with art.

Perceptions

a series of photo-based encaustic paintings exploring perception, reality and choice — centred around a prison bed from the former Kingston Penitentiary for Women; a standard-issue prison suitcase; and an individual

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In Memoriam

view of Parallel Lines exhibition by Amanta Scott

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15 Minutes of Fame

Man under Bed experiement P3030195-full.jpg — 15 Minutes of Fame

an interactive sculpture installation featuring a prison bed and a standard get-out-of-jail prison suitcase with which Visitors create their own installations to tell their stories

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Parallel Lines succeeds in engaging people’s hearts and minds through interaction, play and conversation — motivating them to want listen, hear and consequently empathize.

Fragile

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Esperanza

Meditating on the Key

prison bed with keys and tags

Tying on a key

"Myself"

It can be challenging to identify and find what we really seek.

Quite likely, for this reason, a key tagged with “myself” was left untied on the floor.

Brave soul, whoever left it there.

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Workshops

The workshops empower participants to consider multiple different perspectives; share stories; listen to and connect with others; cultivate empathy and compassion; and express and release their emotions through sculpture and painting.

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Sharing Circles

Sharing Circles are artist-facilitated discussion sessions in the galleries and museums; and also online discussion groups to offer a support network for participants following workshops and exhibitions.

Connecting and engaging with strangers through play, performance, laughter and conversation — empowers us and enables us to appreciate the values, priorities and perspectives of others.

Parallel Lines empowers people to voice intense, personal and political issues; deepen understanding; forge connections; and engage meaningfully with the arts.

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shared pain

I feel as though we all shared our pain, whether it be in that moment or in the past. We all connected/bonded.

Whether we shared our story or not we all took something from it that we needed.

Walking into this I was very closed off and sad/angry for how my life was going in the past week; but walking out of this I feel like I’m going to go home and do something productive rather than laying in bed.”

Thank you for helping me see something in myself that I didn’t see before.”

Workshop participant - Kirkland Lake District Composite School

expressing art through emotions

“Thru my own experience in Art, I heard the same teachings. I’ve always felt that expressing art thru emotion is the most effective way to learn art. I enjoyed what knowledge I did learn from this teaching. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Many thanx, Meegwetch!”

workshop participant Beaverhouse First Nation

calming

connected

Loved the afternoon

“Really loved the afternoon!!

The suitcase at the beginning was very inspiring.

Will start a suitcase of my own. LOL!!

Thank you for everything!”

workshop participant — Beaverhouse First Nation

eye-opening

“When I was presented with attending your workshop I was unsure of what was about to happen, or what I was going to experience.

This was one of the most eye-opening experiences.

You have a very special gift of touching others even without knowing the back story.

I thank you as I am going through my own journey (which is presenting some obstacles) and you have changed my perception of what I am feeling and how I am dealing with it.

Wonderful experience. Thank you.”

what she said

Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for making me do this workshop.

I know I seemed like a crank ass but it really did help.

I learned so much and it really made me feel less alone.

I feel like, just for a minute, I forgot life sucked.

So thank you.

inspiring

“The activity presented was very interesting, inspiring.

The game with the suitcase was inspiring.

You are a good motivator.

Thank you very much”

(workshop participant, Beaverhouse First Nation)

worthwhile

“This experience opened my eyes to other people’s stories.

Even though I’m not interested in art, I thought this workshop was worthwhile.”

(workshop participant, Kirkland Lake District Composite School)

handcuffs on the dress

“The handcuffs on top of the child’s dress made me think of an old friend I know who did time for touching a child, but now, having officially paid his debt to society, he cannot forgive himself for what he did.”

workshop participant — Kirkland Lake

friend

“After hearing her story . . . I felt I could be her friend.”

self expression

“Like blossoms opening, listening in on the conversations gave opportunity to explore the possibilities to a variety of ideas of self-expression.

I was this self-expression that I found enjoyable.

Working in a different medium than I am familiar with pushed me to new ground.”

Chief Marcia Brown Martel (Beaverhouse First Nation)

different perspectives

“ I feel like it was nice to see all these random objects in a series of different ways.

A different perspective seen from every angle.

I liked seeing how other people think/feel about them.”

(workshop participant — Kirkland Lake District Composite School)

heal

“As I heard the stories of others, I was then able to see my story.

I had to get through my past childhood to heal.”

workshop participant — Canadian Mental Health Association, Cochrane Temiskaming Branch

fun

“I found the suitcase to be ‘weird’ at first, but once we got going with different meanings and different views, I felt more open-minded and got chills from people’s descriptions and views of the items.

I found the experience quite healing and fun!!”

(workshop participant — Canadian Mental Health Association, Cochrane Temiskaming Branch)

possibilities

“I saw so many possibilities within the suitcase.

When items were placed on the table, it was like they came to life.

The removal of the items can either enrich or deplete the suitcase, depending on your perception.

Interesting exercise.”

(workshop participant, Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane Temiskaming)

secrets

“It made me see that different things can mean lots of things.

One object can mean one hundred things and make you see it in new ways.

I’ve learned that a teddy bear can mean a happy or a dark secret from someone’s life.”

(workshop participant — Kirkland Lake District Composite School

philosopher

“The wear and tear of the suitcase represents the fact that you’ll get tossed and dirty but you will survive and those bumps just add more value to who you are in the end.”

(workshop participant — Canadian Mental Health Association, Cochrane Temiskaming Branch)

old suitcase

“The old suitcase reminded me of antiques. Someone who has lived a great life and nothing has stopped them.”

(workshop participant — Canadian Mental Health Association, Cochrane Temiskaming Branch)

Click here for The Story of Parallel Lines

Click here for What People Do

Join us!

Leading Tone Arts Productions is a not-for-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to promoting the arts, cultivating unity in diversity; generating intercultural awareness and understanding; and educating through installations, exhibitions, workshops and performances. Amanta Scott is our Artistic Director and CEO.

The support of our friends, community partners, patrons and sponsors goes a tremendous way to helping us stimulate the minds and hearts of people of all ages, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

We are always interested in learning and hearing what drives and motivates people.

What do you care about? What matters to you?

Art is in the experience. What does it cause you to think? How do you feel?

Together we create art and make a positive difference in the world.

Our fundraising campaign is facilitated by CanadaHelps.org.

Charitable tax receipts are provided. Every bit helps us make art happen!

Thank you!

For our 2018 season, Parallel Lines was made possible through the generous support of: