Syrus Marcus Ware
This practice-based dissertation project engages large-scale portraiture to confront and resist the fungibility of Blackness. The project comprises a selection of twenty drawings and an exegesis in which I analyze my aesthetic process in order to shed light on theoretical problems and gaps in Trans, Disability, Black studies and activisms. This collection of writing also discusses and presents activist struggle, white supremacy in the arts, abolitionist organizing and speculative futures. These theoretical explorations are supported by reflections on the collaborative creation process and the ways in which the portraits have been received. To this end, I have included interviews I conducted with the portrait subjects and through textual analysis of ways in which the portraits have been taken up in art and activist contexts. I argue that studying and supporting Black disabled activist practice can inform ways forward for disability arts in the Canadian milieu.
I wrote the majority of this dissertation on the unceded territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit- in the part of T’karón:to that was underwater at the time of the Toronto Purchase of 1805 (completed in 2010). This land is part of Treaty 13, it is Three Fires Territory and part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant. The portraits were all drawn in these territories.
As a Black person whose ancestors spent generations on slave labour camps in the southern USA, I am very aware of the fungible conditions facing Black life on Turtle Island. I know that Black liberation will never come on occupied land, and am working to support Indigenous resurgence always.
I am thankful to the Land for holding me and caring for me as I undertook this process. I honour the beings who occupy this space along with me-the animals and plants and rocks and earth here.
This work would not have been possible without the love and support of my family and community. When I decided to go back to school, I conferred with my grandparents, Harold and Gwen Irons. My grandfather encouraged me to pursue this effort and my grandmother has continued to root for me even after his passing two years ago. I am so thankful to my grandparents for inspiring my love of education and learning and for always reminding us that we were loved unconditionally. All my love, always.
I am also so thankful to my twin, Dr. Jessica Ware, who read countless drafts and supported me by answering all of my academic questions as I went through this process. I’m thankful to my daughter Amelie Ware-Redman for letting me work on this when she’d rather have been playing and for rooting for me, always. Thank you to my partner Dr. Jenna Reid for her unwavering support and encouragement throughout this process. Thank you to my co-parent, Nik Redman for your friendship and care and for encouraging me to take this leap all those years ago. To my sister Janine Carrington, thank you for watching the kids so I could work and for reminding me to have fun and take breaks. Thank you to Hilary Offman, for believing anything was possible.
Thank you to my incredible committee, in particular to my supervisor Dr. Rachel Gorman who has helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel so many times in this process. Your support is so invaluable. Thank you. To my committee members, Dr. Allyson Mitchell and Dr. Lisa Myers, thank you for helping me to plan a process that worked and for encouraging me along the way. Your feedback has been generous and Im so thankful for the chance to work together. Thank you to Dr. Tiffany King for supporting my defense and offering key analytics around fungibility. Thank you also to my initial team, Dr. Jin Haritaworn and Dr. Honor Ford-Smith. Thank you for your support and guidance.
Thank you to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Slyff Fellowship for supporting my academic work over the past 6 years.
This project would not have been possible without the tireless and incredible labour and love that these activists pour into our community every year. I am so thankful to the activists that I spoke with, but also to the countless other unsung heroes who are doing the work to make change happen, who are stoking the fires of revolution and who are ensuring that we take care of each other in deep and meaningful ways. Thank you for all that you do. We love you.
This thesis is dedicated to Black disabled, Mad and crip activists Marsha P. Johnson and Harriet Tubman, and to my ancestors and all of my future generations.