A Q&A with Dominica-born, Toronto-based artist Gomo George, whose work is currently on view in Fragments of Epic Memory.

Gomo George is a multidisciplinary artist working in painting and sculpture, whose artmaking centres African and Caribbean traditions. Since the early 1980s, he has been a strong advocate for Black artists working in Canada, curating exhibitions and founding the city’s first Black artist run gallery, ColoLux Studios. Inspired by a photograph taken by K.A. Richards in 1958, his striking watercolour Women’s Carnival Band (2002) is currently on view on Level 5 as part of Fragments of Epic Memory.  We caught up with George to hear more about his work and teaching philosophy.

AGOinsider: What do you miss most about Dominica?

George:  I miss family and childhood friends.  I miss the sea and rivers of which we have 365, enough to bathe in one every day of the year. The greenery of the island.

AGOinsider:  ColoLux Studios, the gallery you founded in 1984, was a groundbreaking achievement. Can you tell us why it was important?

George: Founding Cololux was important because I was the only one showing in the mainstream galleries.  My colleagues were not getting similar opportunities.  We needed a place where we could establish a presence visually, as well as a place to discuss our work.  A place we could share knowledge about the Canadian and diasporic art scene. It was a place to foster much needed professional development.

AGOinsider: Was there a particular artist or artwork that was profoundly influential for you when you began artmaking?

George: My childhood friend Eddy John was a friend and mentor; he was influential and he encouraged me to take my talent seriously.  Ras David from Jamaica was another early influence.  As well as all of Carnival preparation activities.

AGOinsider: Teaching art is a combination of instinct and technique. What was the best lesson you ever received? 

George: The best lesson I got was that a mistake can become the focal point or binding aspect in creating an artwork.

Fragments of Epic Memory is on now, until February 21, 2022.