My Journey into Curating

By Regatu Asefa

After several years of working and travelling, I made a very intentional decision to return to school. I wanted to study art history, write a thesis on Ottoman architecture, and get my foot in the door in curatorial work. So, I began my combined master’s degree in Art and Architectural History and Graduate Diploma in Curatorial Studies at Carleton University in September 2021.

During the first year of my master’s program, and as part of the requirement of my diploma, I enrolled in a course that allowed me to co-curate an exhibition at the Carleton University Art Gallery. The course was led by then- OAG Senior Curator, Rachelle Dickenson, and resulted in my first curated exhibition, Where We Stand. When I spoke to Rachelle later in the semester about my plans for the following school year including internship possibilities, she suggested I join her at the OAG working on an upcoming exhibition on the history of hip-hop in the city. I didn’t know much about the OAG, and knew even less about the history of hip-hop, let alone in Ottawa-Gatineau. Still, I was excited to continue to work with Rachelle and gain further curatorial experience, especially in a subject matter with which I was unfamiliar.

When I resumed school in the fall, the year-long internship began and, almost immediately, I was introduced to the vast network of MCs, DJs, dancers, artists, community members, and organizations that make up the hip-hop world in the city. Among the guiding voices of the exhibition was an organization called OBAK – the Ottawa Black Artists Kollective. I had never come across a similar organization, a group that advocated for, advanced, and supported local Black artists across various career trajectories. And were they ever connected! Many 83 ‘til infinity research leads entwined with OBAK in some form.

While I was neck-deep in research on hip-hop’s history and coordinating between artists and community members, Yanaminah Thullah joined as the Commercial, Community Guest Curator. I’d never heard of the position and when Yanaminah explained the role – a partnership between OBAK and the OAG specifically for Black curators – I decided I would apply for the next cycle. I got to witness Yanaminah curate her first exhibition, We Do Not Dream of Labour. It was inspiring, to say the least.

Several months later, after 83 ‘til infinity had opened and I had moved back to Toronto and was finishing up my master’s thesis, the opening for OBAK’s curator position was posted. After some logistical questions, I quickly applied. I wanted this. I had seen Yanaminah conceptualize and create an incredible exhibition, and I was ready to do the same.

My current exhibition, Inviting the Conflict, is my first as the sole curator. At the opening reception just last week, one of the artists asked me whether the show had prompted any ideas for future exhibitions. While I’m still focused on Inviting the Conflict, ideas are forming of what I want to explore next. And I’ve got lots of ideas.