MONTREAL – By creating a logo for the Canadiens’ Black History Night at the Bell Centre, Kezna Dalz’s goal is to highlight the growth, kinship and richness of her community.
The logo appears on all online and in-arena branding related to the Feb. 21 game, as well as on limited edition merch benefiting The Round Table on Black History Month and the Côte-des-Neiges Black Community Association Inc (CDNBCA).
Dalz has always created things her own way. Originally a student of fine arts at CÉGEP de Montréal, she has since pursued an education in political science, but affirms the crossover between the two subjects allows her to tell a story through her work.
“I work a lot with my emotions, and with situations that I have lived through, or that those around me have experienced, what’s happening in the world, my values, and so on,” explained the artist over a telephone interview. “Francorama, who collaborated on this same project with the Canadiens a year ago, and Niti Mueth, a Montreal-based visual artist and multidisciplinary designer, also inspire me a lot with the beauty shared through their work.”
Despite being a sought-after artist, look no further than her collabs with OSHEAGA and the Montreal International Jazz Festival for proof, Dalz’s most recent association is her first with a pro sports team – a fact that is not lost on the Montrealer with Haitian roots.
“I think it’s so important for an organization like the Canadiens, who are so big here in Montreal, to highlight Black History Month because the influence of Black people in the city and in Canada is unquestionable. There is such a rich Black History story to tell in Canada and around the world, and all institutions should take part,” continued Dalz, who also works under the moniker Teenadultt. “There’s still a lot of work to do in telling our story; there’s an awareness to raise especially in hockey, which is principally white. A lot of racialized people don’t see themselves on the ice, so a simple gesture of, ‘Hey, we see you, we’re working with you, and we’re going to continue raising awareness with you,’ can go a long way in my opinion.”
Here is a brief explanation of the elements that went into her design:
