Mirror Stars Unveil Quebec's Hidden Black History

An art installation by Montreal artist Stina Baudin, titled "The Sky Still Carries the Stories," is illuminating the Eastern Townships' overlooked Black history. Baudin used black and indigo fabric and tarps, along with 2,000 hand-stitched mirrors resembling stars, to create a celestial canvas on a 19th-century barn roof.

This eight-month project, completed by dip-dying and waxing cotton fabric, offers a unique perspective on the past. Baudin was inspired by the Black migratory population from America to Canada and the journeys of those escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad, referencing the "drinking gourd" in the sky.

The artwork is displayed at Adélard, a contemporary art center in Frelighsburg, Quebec, until November 2, 2026. Visitors can view the piece from an observation tower and experience an accompanying soundscape featuring music and readings of names of Black residents found through research.

Baudin's installation aims to serve as a monument to early Black residents of the Brome-Missisquoi region, about whom little is known. Through her work, she highlights the challenges of uncovering this history, noting that only 15 names of Black residents were found in ledgers and records, with many more unknown individuals represented by random numbers in the soundscape.

Local historian Heather Darch confirmed that Cato Gilles was a known slave and later freedman in the area. However, historical records offer limited information on other free Black individuals, making it difficult to ascertain their past. Experts emphasize that slavery existed in Quebec, with Indigenous and Black slaves forming a significant portion of the enslaved population from the 17th to 19th centuries.