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Musicians and artists bring The Tragically Hip’s lyrics to life in Echoes of the Flame

A new series of original artworks directly inspired by, and featuring, lyrics from the Tragically Hip continue to move forward Gord Downie’s legacy of working toward reconciliation with First Nations people across Canada. 

A new exhibit, called Echoes of Flame, is on display at Bracebridge Hall in Muskoka, Ont., through August 28 and can be viewed online. All 18 pieces are original pieces of work, created by artists from Canada, the United States and Europe, feature or are inspired by Hip lyrics. More importantly, a portion of proceeds from the sale of all 18 pieces will be donated to the Tsi Tyonnheht Onkwawen:na language and cultural center, located on a Mohawk reservation in Tyendinaga, Ontario. 

The funds will be used to build a school there to help students learn their Indigenous language, a practice that was denied and prohibited during the horrors of the residential school era. 

The exhibit is in partnership with LA -based Song-Word Art House and the Hip and includes paintings, sculpture and mixed-media pieces, and the artists involved are remarkable in their own right: Among others, Daniel Lanois contributed a piece inspired by “Not Necessary” and Tom Wilson has contributed a piece inspired by “Now The Struggle Has a Name.” 

“The artworks curated for Echoes of The Flame have an epic feel to them, incorporating lyrics selected from The Tragically Hip’s vast catalog into the actual pieces, marrying the power of the written word with the beauty of the image,” according to a press release about the exhibit. “The 17x JUNO Award winning band and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees oversaw the artist selection process for the exhibition, ensuring that Canadian artists make up 75% of the roster, including representation from Indigenous creators and French Canadians.” 

Not only are the original pieces available for purchase, but there are 150 prints of each piece available for collectors. 

The full list of artists and the songs that inspired their piece includes: 

Simon Andrew – Bobcaygeon

Michael Barber – Fiddler’s Green 

Jeff Bartels – Grace, Too

Brayden Bugazzi – Trickle Down

Rob Croxford – New Orleans Is Sinking

William DeBilzan – Ahead By A Century

Sandrine Dickel – Boots Or Hearts

Filippo Fiumani – Fully Completely

Niki Hare – Blow At High Dough

Peter Horvath – Looking For A Place To Happen

Daniel Hughes – Wheat Kings

Brigitta Kocsis – Ouch

Daniel Lanois – Not Necessary

Kai McCall – Ahead By A Century

Eric Nado – Poets

Dina Roudman – Tired As Fuck

Sylvain Tremblay – Little Bones

Tom Wilson – Now The Struggle Has A Name

More information can be found here

Amber Healy

I write about music policy and lawsuits because they're endlessly fascinating.

Amber Healy has 518 posts and counting. See all posts by Amber Healy

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