Canadian environmental artist reacts to tour interference
WHILE FRANKE JAMES has been a visual artist her whole life, in 2006 the focus of her work turned to climate change. James never thought her work on the environment would end up blacklisted by the Harper government.
“We did an energy audit on our house because we were renovating, and at that point, I started to do research into climate change,” says James.
“I realized that our house was this giant energy sieve, and we really needed to get serious and part of getting serious was waking up to the fact that climate change is the defining issue of the 21st century.”
Since the audit, James’ visual essays, which are drawings with a story or message, about climate change have garnered enthusiastic responses. In 2009, James saw the publication of five of her works together in her debut book, Bothered By My Green Conscience. Earlier this year, James was contacted by a Croatian educational organization about taking her artwork to Europe in a multi-country tour.
“There was supposed to be an art show in Europe to tour 20 countries, and it was going to places like Moscow, Athens, [and] Italy.” explains James.
“It was just fantastic all the places that it was going to. The show was 40 art works, so 40 prints of mine were supposed to travel.”
Before she was supposed to embark on her artistic endeavour, the tour’s co-ordinator contacted James with surprising news in May 2011.
“She said that she had met with the cultural officer from the Canadian embassy in Croatia, and [they] told her, ‘Don’t you know this artist speaks against the Canadian government?’” says James.
“And I was totally blown away. I said, ‘Why on earth would she say that?’ I don’t speak against the Canadian government. I criticize some of Harper’s policies, but I don’t speak against the Canadian government.”
According to James, the tour never took place because the show’s organizers felt intimidated by the Canadian government.
While the federal government has denied any interference with James’ tour, recently released documents show emails from the federal government that initially approved the tour, as well as $5,000 worth of funding. The emails then show Jeremy Wallace, climate change deputy director for Canada, advised funding not be given. It was later stated that the project “would in fact run counter to Canada’s interests.”
In response to the government’s interference, the Toronto-based artist has taken her cause to the streets of Ottawa, protesting in the way she knows best. For the month of November, six of James’ visual essays will be mounted in paid ad displays on Bank Street, just steps away from Parliament Hill.
“I think what I’m doing is so important because there are many people who are being blacklisted and silenced by the Harper government,” she says.
“But in the case of Environment Canada scientists, they’re not speaking out—they’re afraid for their jobs, they’re afraid for their pensions, and they’re not going to kick up a fuss, whereas I can kick up a fuss and I can get very loud.”
James is currently consulting legal counsel about her cancelled tour and is striving to get access to statements in the released government documents that have been blocked from view due to reasons of international security.
Despite the cancelled tour, James remains positive about getting her message of the need for environmental action across.
“I’m trying to inspire people to aim for more ambitious behavioural changes,” says James.
“We have to face climate change … Why are we choosing to change light bulbs when we actually need to get way more ambitious?”
The released government documents and James’ recently completed visual essay on her blacklisting by the federal government can be found at her website, FrankeJames.com.
—Keeton Wilcock
