Storytelling is more than just mere entertainment. It’s a sharing experience where we discover myths and folklore. It’s a teaching tool that creates an emotional connection between strangers.
The Art Gallery of St. Albert’s latest exhibit is titled The Garden, a tranquil, magical space visual artist Elsa Robinson created from memories of her vibrant Jamaican heritage.
Robinson had always intended for her installation to be a gathering place for people. This coming Saturday, the last day of the exhibition, the gallery will create a public family event titled Storytelling in the Garden.
Robinson is slated to recount two folk and ancestral tales from her heritage. Joining her are author-playwright Marty Chan and former St. Albert Public Library writer-in-residence Tololwa Mollel.
“They are all consummate professionals, and it should be a heartwarming experience,” said gallery curator Emily Baker. “After the storytelling, we’ll open up the floor to questions.”
Robinson will tell two Jamaican folk tales – Ananse and Brother Tiger as well as Ananse and Muzirodinkinah (Mo-zi-ro-din-kee-naah). Ananse is a spider and the stories are amusing and are used to teach important life lessons she said.
Chan instead is relating two stories from his Chinese heritage. One is about a snake goddess who repairs the sky and creates the first rainbow. He describes it as a “pourquoi tale,” one that aims to explain the origin or reason behind a phenomenon.
He will also tell a fable about a Chines magistrate, who could be described as an “Asian Sherlock Holmes.” Instead of a magnifying glass, he uses a bronze bell to catch a thief.
Mollel will also share two African-inspired tall tales adapted to his style and creative sensibilities. In one story, he introduces the brash trickster Ananse, a spider figure who originally came out of West Africa and travelled to the Caribbean.
In his second tall tale which is part fable, part riddle tale and part story about death and redemption, Mollel introduces Zeki, a man with six sons and a daughter. A curse has been inflicted on him and his children play a role in rescuing him.
Storytelling in the Garden begins at 1 p.m. at Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron Street. The event is free and open to all ages. Visitors are asked to pre-register at https://www.artsandheritage.ca/products/storytelling-in-the-garden
