Art is a powerful tool of expression. The hopes we have in the past can shape our futures. The ability to create something new or better depends on our ability to imagine it. These ideas and the prompt of what it means to dream while Black are at the core of Union Station’s newest exhibit, Black Dreams and Aspirations, sponsored by TD, co-curated in partnership with MakeRoom Inc. 

We were delighted to speak with Miss Daisy, one of the artists for the exhibit, about what Black Dreams and Aspirations means to her. Her featured artwork in Union’s West Wing, entitled Curls and Coils Are Intertwined in My Mind, creates a visual display of how our dreams grow and evolve into a perceivable reality. It highlights the importance of keeping our younger selves’ dreams alive, even when we are older, understanding that the evolution of thought expands as we grow in life.

What was the inspiration behind your art showcased in the Black Dreams and Aspirations exhibit? 

My aspiration is to be a dreamer, especially being a young black woman in a big city. I’m always trying to show that I’m not just a woman, I’m not just a black woman, I am more than that. Hence why I call myself an eccentric eclectic expressionist, which means I express myself in a manner of different forms.  

The inspiration for my art piece was showing that my dreams grow with me; from when I was a small child, to my present self, to when I’m older and wiser. I want to show that my inner child is still a part of me, it’s the most joyous part of my soul – smiling, happy all the time. I want to show that as I grow into my older self, I am calmer, wiser, and more accepting of what’s going on around me. My art piece is showing the embodiment of a dream, being the past, present and future. 

What message or emotion do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your artwork? 

Joy. I’d love if they felt joy and have a second to stop and take in the present moment. Especially being in Union Station where everyone’s in the hustle and bustle, moving fast. I really would love for people to take a second to look at all the artwork – it’s bright, and colourful, and can put a smile on your face. People can come up with their own perspective and interpretation of what black dreams and aspirations are and think about how they would like to show up in the world. 

What inspired you to become an artist, and how does your identity influence your work? 

I am a creator of many things – creative director, set designer, model, yoga teacher. I just feel like there’s nothing that could put me in a box. I want to take the word ‘black’ and the word ‘woman’ and just be a person. I feel like we’re quick to put labels on people, and I dislike labels because I feel they put me in a box. Labels can help, but they can also be a detriment to people in marginalized communities. So, I really wanted to show that I’m more than that – I can do as many things as you think I can, and I can do the things you think I can’t. I’m ready to take up space. I’m ready to be myself and smile more!

How do you think that art has the power to inspire change in society? 

I love art because it’s the most in-depth – yet also sometimes not in-depth – thing I’ve ever seen. We’re always so quick to read about things because we want to know ‘what do they think about it?’, ‘what do they think it means?’. But with art you can interpret what you think it means. 

A picture tells a thousand words. When I first heard my dad say this, I took it seriously. I wondered ‘how can I tell a thousand words in one picture’. I didn’t understand until I started to make art myself. Art can be a million different things, and it’s ever changing. I like to create art that can heal and inspire. Whether that’s to let go of trauma, spark something new, getting over a creative block. Art is not just in a painting or in a frame – it’s also the trees, the flowers, the birds, the sky. It’s all around you. 

Thank you, Miss Daisy, for taking the time to speak with us about your artwork showcased in the Black Dreams and Aspirations exhibit. You can find Miss Daisy’s art in the West Wing of Union Station from now until May. Stop by today to experience it yourself. 

Click here for more information about Union’s Black History Month exhibit.