By Bailey Telo, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On November 16, 2023, Mapleview Centre revealed their latest mural designed by Jamaican-Canadian collage artist Stylo Starr.
Stylo Starr is a visual alchemist and creative facilitator based in Hamilton, known for her captivating multi-layered collage pieces with her primary thematic focus of nature, fantasy, and the Afro-future.
She believes in the power of the positive representation of Black people in fine art, as well as in the ability of art to heal and restore through the creative process, regardless of ability level.
Starr’s pieces are intricate, unique, and aesthetically pleasing.
“I create intuitively whenever I sit down to collage. I like to organize my clippings so it’s easy to begin putting the puzzle together. I love images of flowers, bugs, crystals, and fruits, and will usually start with a couple clippings of those to see where it takes me. Every collage is an experiment,” says Starr.
Art became an integral part of Starr’s life from a very early point. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved building and making things from scratch with items I had around me,” she says. Throughout her career, Starr has looked up to a variety of artists, such as Lorna Simpson, Ellen Gallagher, Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
“I’m inspired by nature and natural phenomena. I love astronomy, astrology, botany, and geology and I’m always seeking out books and magazines on those topics. Finding new images — especially of space — energizes a lot of my work,” she adds.
Afro-futurism is a concept that Starr focuses heavily on during her creative process.
According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “Afro-futurism expresses notions of black identity, agency, and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life.”
“We look to the history of our rich and vastly reaching collective cultures and we bring that foundation forward into the future through music, film, literature and the visual arts,” Starr explains.
Starr’s work has been showcased throughout the GTA. In addition to her mural at Mapleview Centre, some of Starr’s most recent projects include an installation at Hamilton’s Supercrawl, cover work for Annick Press, and a tarot deck of hand-cut collages.
Now what does Starr’s remarkable mural in Mapleview Centre portray?
“Hang on, sister; hold on, friend, is visual affirmation.”
“The world is a terrifying place right now, and this stands as a reminder that even when the world is at its darkest, we must find the space to bloom. Additionally — shopping malls can be an epicentre of stress, especially at this time of year. I hope that this piece can serve as a resting space for those caught in the ebb, flow and undertow of seasonal capitalism,” says Starr.
Don’t miss out on Stylo Starr’s breathtaking works of art at Burlington’s Mapleview Centre at 900 Maple Ave.
To stay up to date with Starr’s creations follow her Instagram: @stylostarr.
Sources:
National Museum of African American History and Culture. 2023, October 18. Afrofuturism. Url: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/afrofuturism (accessed Dec. 3, 2023).
Starr, S. n.d. Stylo Starr, workshop facilitator, collage. LinkedIn. Url: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/stylo-starr-2ab6bb92 (accessed Dec. 3, 2023).
