This is Brenda Joy Lem...
The first time I saw Brenda Joy Lem, she was drumming with students from her all-female taiko drumming school (Inner Truth Taiko Dojo) at Artrageous 2005 at Dovercourt House. A tiny, slightly shy-seeming woman went to the microphone to introduce the group, then donned a traditional Japanese mask depicting a saucy, winking drunk and danced around the stage as her students set the scene for 'Matsuri' (which means 'festival'), a rollicking and adrenaline-inducing drum song.
When Brenda picked up her 'bachi' (which means 'big friggin' wooden sticks'), I couldn't take my eyes off her.
She was transformed into a graceful, powerful ball of pulsing joyful energy. As she danced effortlessly from drum to drum, beating out soul-shattering rhythms and shouting encouragement to her students, I fell head-over-heels for her and the drumming and swore I had to become her student.
Brenda started the Inner Truth Taiko Dojo in 2004. She began drumming in 1986, studying under Shinobu Homma as a member of the famed 'Wasabi Daiko'.
In 1998 Brenda became a founding member and teacher to members of RAW (Raging Asian Women). Brenda integrates her knowledge of yoga, tai chi, kung fu, modern dance and Asian philosophies to create a body-centred, spiritual drumming practice. She is living proof that you can create enormous sounds with strength found within oneself, rather than by use of sheer upper body muscle.
Brenda marches to the beat of more than one drum, however. Google her and page upon page of hits lead you to well over a decade's worth of community and cultural activism and evidence of a prolific career as a writer, filmmaker and visual artist.
A third-generation Chinese Canadian, Brenda has lived her entire adult life in the NFZ. She says that she stays in the neighborhood because she values proximity to Chinatown and Kensington market - she finds it essential for her family to remain close to this Toronto bastion of Chinese culture. Now that she has a child, she adds Dufferin Grove Park to her list of reasons to live in the neighborhood.
Never content to lie fallow in any one discipline, Brenda has been studying jazz drumming and vocals and has been merging these newfound rhythms and musical flavours back into her Taiko practice. She celebrates and actively seeks out opportunities to collaborate with other artists. At upcoming performances (which include Pedestrian Sundays at Kensington Market on August 13th and September 24th) you may be able to see the results of some of these bizarre and fabulous collaborations - as the Dojo has been working on a Taiko/Jazz number and a Taiko/Tapdance number!
Brenda is currently working on her first big art show since becoming a mother. Watch the Gadfly for more details in November.
If you are aware of a potential rehearsal space/studio in the NFZ which would be receptive to VERY LOUD drumming for a short period once or twice a week or if you would like more information on upcoming Taiko workshops, email Brenda at the Inner Truth Taiko Dojo at innertruthtaikoATgmail.com.
Brenda Joy Lem
Title: Water
28" x 22"
Silkscreen