CINCINNATI — If done correctly, art can help people and communities address cultural and worldly issues. One arts grant is helping a Cincinnati musician address discrimination against indigenous people.
Erin Fung is professional clarinetist who has been playing since the tender age of 9. She said music is such a powerful medium.
“It really creates that sense of community and belonging and as a universal language music appeals to everyone and I think that’s a part of its magic,” said Fung.
This beautiful music is a traditional Chinese pastoral song. It’s a part of her newest project called “Regeneration in the Shape of Water.” Through a collaboration with an indigenous filmmaker, she will help share the story of indigenous children whose bodies were found in mass graves across Canada last year.
“This systemic racism and this discrimination against indigenous people is people is not given enough attention in the media, and I think it really deserves to be at the forefront,” she said.
The Ohio River is one of the focuses of her project. That’s because she said indigenous people believe water is a spirit and is deserving of respect and honor. The river is the dividing line between enslaved and free states, representing the toxic relationship people have with each other, she said.
“It’s really reflective of how the negative thoughts can trickle down through society and pervade our culture,” she said.
Fung is able to make this project possible through funding from the second round of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown grant. The nearly 300,000 grant is helping 22 artists across Cincinnati create projects to uplift the artistry and experiences of people of color.
The projects focus on anything from the African American experience to the Native American Heritage.
“Making space for indigenous Black and brown artists is part of the healing process of just involving everybody, collaborating together to create unity and a more just and fair society,” she said.
