Tom Wilson Reading and Performance

Join Tom in the gallery for an acapella performance and reading from Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home. In his memoir, published in 2017 by Penguin/Random House, Tom reveals the impact of discovering his Indigenous heritage in his 50s. This is a great opportunity to connect with the artist, witness his power as a  storyteller, and view the work in the gallery. Copies of the Mohawk Warriors, Hunters & Chiefs: The Art of Tom Wilson tehohåhake will be available for purchase in the gallery. This program is a co-presentation by TAP and VENUEx/VENUE.

In partnership with WORDS, we are offering this as a hybrid event. If you are unable to join us in person, you can attend the event virtually. CLICK HERE to register.

ABOUT TOM WILSON

Musically, Tom Wilson is known for his work with the bands Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse and Lee Harvey Osmond, the latter receiving a 2020 Juno Award for the album Mohawk. Wilson’s memoir, Beautiful Scars: Steeltown Secrets, Mohawk Skywalkers and the Road Home, in which he reveals the impact of discovering his Indigenous heritage at the age of 53, became a national bestseller. He was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada in June 2023 for, “his multifaceted contributions to the arts in Canada, notably as an iconic musician, as well as for his advocacy of Indigenous communities in Canada.” Decades ago he began dedicating more of his time and energy to his second passion, painting. Painting has become a way for him to connect with his Mohawk identity and convey his feelings on the injustices experienced by Indigenous peoples. The exhibit includes Fading Memories of Home, an installation piece by Tom located in TAP’s LAB203 Gallery. The idea for the installation with accompanying video and sound recording was seeded during a family dinner with Jane Lazare, Tom’s biological mother. She recalled a traumatic experience from residential school when the grade five teacher had asked the room of Indigenous students to look at those around them, and then told the class these would be the last Indians they would ever know.