Cornerstones
A case for convenience
The corner shops, food markets, groceterias, and convenience stores of North End Halifax.
This exhibition shines a spotlight on often overlooked community-serving spaces, convenience stores past and present across North End Halifax, and positions them as community fixtures crucial to the landscape of Nova Scotian built heritage.
OPENING RECEPTION: THURSDAY JULY 31, 6PM-8PM, HALIFAX CENTRAL LIBRARY, SUN ROOM (5TH FLOOR)
About the artist: Sara Russell is a visual artist and illustrator located in Kjipuktuk, Halifax. She holds a BFA from NSCAD University and recently achieved distinction in MA, Graphic Design from Falmouth University, UK. Her work is informed by her experience and connection to place and home, investigating themes related to gentrification, changing built landscapes and nostalgia. She is a multimedia artist, working with mixed media, digital illustration, photography, oil painting and printmaking.
The place I live in has been a guiding factor and influence of finding my voice and unique perspective as a graphic designer and artist. Investigating and examining my surroundings and the history of where I live has been a constant theme to my work, particularly as it allows me to find real-life issues to tackle and respond to through design.
I live in the complicated and beautiful city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have seen many changes not only the visual look of the city, but also the effects of social issues its residents navigate.
The neighbourhoods I’ve known for over 23 years are adapting or succumbing to the demands of gentrification, and suddenly buildings are being torn down and businesses shuttering to make way for people whose buying power can eclipse the long-time residents who live, work and serve in these communities.
The journey of research conducted for this exhibit started with examining the look and visual identity of place and led to me finding a gap in the built heritage of Nova Scotia to contribute to - using art.
This exhibit is a case for the protection of culturally significant buildings not currently included in the built heritage landscape of Nova Scotia — community-serving convenience stores and independent food markets.
How can a deeper connection to the built heritage of Nova Scotia inspire community action to protect buildings of cultural significance against gentrification, and better reflect the communities that shaped it?
Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them. By old buildings I mean not museum-piece old buildings, not old buildings in an excellent and expensive state of rehabilitation—although these make fine ingredients—but also a good lot of plain, ordinary, low-value old buildings, including some rundown old buildings - Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.
Cornerstones showcases the value of culturally significant and community-serving buildings not currently included in the built heritage landscape of Nova Scotia, and, hopefully inspires Nova Scotians to think of other buildings that they may not have considered as heritage before. The unique architectural features of these spaces communicate the diverse identity and history of the province and the people who live here. The protection of buildings from demolition also slows and eventually stops the envelopment of neighbourhoods from gentrification.
Fostering a deeper connection to the built heritage of Nova Scotia is not achievable without broadening the scope of what is currently registered and urgency in protecting the buildings most at risk for redevelopment – like the community corner/convenience store.
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