Join author Sheila Murray and community archivist Evelyn Auchinvole for a conversation in the exhibition What Matters Most: Photographs of Black Life, featuring photographs from the  AGO’s Fade Resistance Collection. Assembled by Zun Lee, the collection gathers Polaroid instant prints of African-American family life from the 1950s to the early 2000s. Murray and Auchinvole will explore the role of photographs in creating and maintaining a sense of Black identity and the importance of safeguarding visual culture. 

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition What Matters Most: Photographs of Black Life.

Evelyn Auchinvole has actively and at times vigorously involved herself in community building and organizing activities to support human rights and violations of; social injustice claims; and inequities before the legal/justice system on an individual basis and at community level. A mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, now Evelyn acts as historian, griot, and archivist for St. Paul's A.M.E Church at Stewart Memorial Church (Est.1830-present) and makes herself available as a Black Community Resource Person. Evelyn identifies as she/her who is "sage-in-training" and community elder.

Sheila Murray’s articles and short fiction have appeared in Canadian magazines and journals including Descant, The Dalhousie Review, and The New Quarterly. Her debut novel, Finding Edward, has been nominated for the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Awards. Sheila’s writing has been supported by the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council.

Sheila has worked as a documentary filmmaker and television sound editor. She moved to the non-profit sector in 2009, and now leads an award winning, grassroots, volunteer-driven initiative that engages urban residents in adapting to local climate change impacts. Sheila has a BA in Journalism and MA in Immigration Studies. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario.