We’re delighted to introduce Tasneem Dairywala, another one of our talented Northbound Gallery Program Artists! 

Tasneem is a new-generation emerging artist living and working in North York. Her work is inspired by her role as an art educator, her training at OCAD University, and traditional Pakistani art aesthetics.

Keep reading to learn more about Tasneem’s art process and her upcoming exhibition, Metamorphic Reflections. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your arts practice.

For me, art has always played an important role in understanding and decoding the complexity of human identities and relationships. In the last year, I have gotten more involved in my community, Flemingdon Park, as an artist and educator, and have started to collaborate with community members to create art. This has strengthened my belief in art’s power to break through social isolation and overcome the ethnocultural boundaries that divide us. 

Describe Metamorphic Reflections and your processes behind each portrait.

Metamorphic Reflections is a series of portrait paintings inspired by stories of Toronto residents from diverse demographics. Each painting is started through a question that encourages interviewees to self-reflect on how they define and value themselves. The photos taken during these interactions capture the subjects’ expressions as they speak and serve as inspirations for the paintings. The life-sized portraits are painted on mirrors and aim to capture the subjects’ presence and aura as they share their stories. 

What was your thought behind using mirrors as a medium?  

I wanted to paint on mirrors so that viewers could see other people’s portraits changing because of their reflections, changing how they see themselves and others. 

What do you hope people take away from the exhibition?

Through this installation, I hope to have viewers think about the similarities between themselves and the painted individuals, why it is so uncomfortable to connect with people and have meaningful conversations, and what can we do to overcome this discomfort and the social isolation it causes.

Metamorphic Reflections will be on display at the Toronto Centre for the Arts from September 25 – November 24, 2019. The exhibit will be open to the public Tuesday – Friday from 1-6 PM. For more information, click here.

North York Arts is thrilled to be working with Timea Wharton-Suri this year! Timea is an arts and entertainment professional who grew up right here in North York. Having studied and worked all over the city and in various disciplines, she has gained a thorough perspective on art and community. We asked her about her passion for the arts, her current projects, and her take on the future of arts and culture in North York. 

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your passion for the arts? 

For 20 years, I have been either performing, teaching, administrating, consulting, programming or producing the arts. Many of these roles have been undertaken simultaneously – the artist’s life! I was born and raised in North York and have since worked all over the city, mostly within dance, music and literary forms. I am a quiet, shy person and the arts have always allowed me to express myself. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to weave the arts into every aspect of my life.

What projects are you working on that you are excited about?

I have a few irons in the fire, including curating the Uptown Moves dance series and a new discussion series for TO Live. Right now I’m deep into production of a new children’s literary event for North York Arts at the North York Central Library. For this free September 28th Culture Days event, the incredible Toronto Comic Arts Festival is programming renowned kid-focused comic artists and authors to present to and engage with kids and their parents. There will be feature artist presentations and workshops to get the kids creating their own stories.

In your opinion, how are art and community correlated? 

For me, the arts and healthy communities go hand-in-hand. Engaging with the arts provides community members with powerful tools to articulate their thoughts, emotions and concerns. The arts bring people together to both preserve past and create new experiences for growth. The arts are a means to community dialogue, to better mental and physical health, to greater mobilization, and to greater understanding. 

How would you describe North York’s art and culture community and how do you hope to see it evolve in the future?

Given the size and diversity of North York, I view local arts as having multiple communities of participants. And I mean that in a good way. We have the knowledge of so many cultures to be shared, and the artistic creation and sharing is necessarily done in numerous ways and spaces. These distinct arts communities can come together in parks, community centres and theatres to share their work. In future, I am hoping to see more diversity in the audiences of these distinct public expressions of culture. Why waste the beauty of having so many cultures in North York by only engaging with the art of your own?

For more information on Timea, you can visit her website at https://timeawharton.ca/. For more information about the Culture Days event with Toronto Comic Arts Festival and North York Arts visit northyorkarts.org/programs. 

We love learning more about our talented Northbound artists! This month, we had the chance to talk to artist Emma Lau about her exhibition, A Quiet Mind II. 

A Quiet Mind II showcases Emma’s paintings, all of which translate her meditation practice into fine art. Keep reading to learn more about Emma’s artwork, her meditation experience, and the role meditation plays in her art-making process! 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your artwork?

My name is Emma Lau and I was born in 1979, London, England. I have lived in London, Hong Kong, and Toronto, having immersed in both The East and The West. My artwork explores visualizations of my meditation experience. My artwork is predominantly painting in abstraction using acrylic on canvas. The scale of my work varies from small canvases to canvases as tall as I am.

Can you tell us about your experience with meditation?

I had read a lot of spiritual books and books on Eastern philosophy and they all emphasized the importance of meditating as well as reading – that it was not enough to simply have the knowledge from reading – one must meditate too. In 2009, I found a group that believed, as I did, that the way to achieve a sustainable world peace was through individuals experiencing their inner peace and the way to this was through meditation. Through this group I was eventually invited to Thailand in 2010, where Buddhist monks who have mastered meditation guided me to meditate at a deep level. This had a profound effect on all aspects of my life and my subsequent artwork.

How does your meditation experience influence or guide your art-making process?

I meditate before each painting session. The meditation that precedes the beginning of a new painting is especially important. After meditation, I begin to paint. Part of my mind is still in the depths of the meditation and that affects the composition of the painting. I paint in abstraction, but there is an element of description to my work. As though of a place familiar though never visited. Sometimes there is a sense of an opening or gateway, perhaps to another dimension or a deeper level within meditation.

What do you hope people will take away from your exhibit? 

At the least, I hope people enjoy the experience of the exhibition and viewing the paintings. At most, I hope people (who do not yet meditate) may be inspired to try meditation some time in the future. I hope people further question the belief that there is something greater in existence than what we currently perceive.

A Quiet Mind II is on display from August 14 – August 29 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Public gallery hours are from Tuesday to Friday, 1-6 pm. There will be extended gallery hours on August 22 (5-8 pm) and August 24 (1:30-5 pm). 

An opening reception for Emma’s exhibit will take place on Thursday, August 15 from 6-9 pm. This event is free to attend! Click here to RSVP. 

To learn more, visit https://www.northyorkarts.org/project/lau/.

We’re excited to introduce Mika Babineau, one of our 2019 Northbound Gallery Program artists! In her self-portrait series, Ace and In Your Face, Mika beautifully showcases different aspects of asexuality, such as coming out, belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, and acceptance. 

Keep reading to learn more about Mika’s arts background, her Northbound exhibition, and what she hopes people will take away from seeing her work!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your arts background.

I am a Toronto based painter who was originally born in Moncton, New Brunswick. I moved to Ontario to go to college, but ended up staying here in order to seriously pursue my art career. I graduated from Sheridan College with honours, and I’ve been a practising artist for 3 years now. In that time I’ve exhibited at a variety of galleries and libraries, plus a few art fairs. I specialize in portraits and landscapes, both encompassing vibrant colour energy.

What can you tell us about your exhibition? 

My exhibit is meant to both empower asexual people by talking about their experiences, while also informing and educating allosexuals (non asexual people) about an aspect of the LGBT+ community they may not know much about. Each self portrait explains a different aspect of my journey of coming to terms with being asexual. There are 8 paintings in total, each with a passage which explains different aspects of asexuality to the viewer, with themes of coming out, representation, and belonging.

What does the title of your exhibition, Ace and In Your Face, symbolize?

The “Ace” in Ace and In Your Face is the fun nickname asexual people have given themselves (“aces”), while the “In Your Face” is for the uncompromising and overt themes I am educating my audience about. I really want to be in the viewer’s face about asexuality, telling my story with conviction and confidence. Aces are very seldom given the spotlight, so it is finally our time to shine, and time for me to be unapologetically myself in this series.

What do you hope people will take away from seeing your exhibition? 

I hope people will take away a better understanding of asexuality, and of the queer community as a whole. There are so many different sexualities and gender identities out there, and I want people to be willing to learn about all kinds of different people’s experiences. Aces are not understood very well by the general public, or represented very well in many spaces; I want to give a voice to their struggles and their lives. I want people to come away feeling more accepted, and feeling more acceptance for other people. And ultimately, I don’t want any ace to ever feel broken or unaccepted ever again. 

Ace and In Your Face is currently on display at the Toronto Centre for the Arts until August 24. The exhibit is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 1-6 PM. To learn more about Mika’s exhibit, click here.

For over 15 years, Brant Matthews (a.k.a. Fireguy) has had a burning desire to entertain the world with its most fascinating element. Based in Toronto, he has performed in countries all over the world, and we were lucky to have him bring the heat to Cultura Festival last month! 

Keep reading to learn more about Brant and his fiery skills, his experience working with Toronto performers, and his thoughts on arts and culture in the North York community. 

Can you tell us about yourself, your interests, and what you do? 

I’m a Guinness World Record Holder in Fire Eating and have been performing fire and glow shows at various events for over 20 years. 

How and why did you get into fire performing? 

I learnt how to juggle for a play and wanted to learn fire juggling. Then I figured I should learn how to fire eat. Following that I started busking on the streets of Montreal. It’s been a slow and steady rise from gig to gig where I now travel the world with my show. 

What is it like getting to work with so many talented performers in Toronto?

I started a talent agency called Dispatch Talent that had a training space in North York. I now book many performers for events and enjoy mentoring up and coming acts. It’s very cool to see people grow their talent and become self sufficient artists. 

How do you think organizations like ours can work together to increase the arts and culture profile of North York?

We need to get more people on the street with their art. I feel that the street can teach people about dealing with rejection. Rejection is the best way to learn what isn’t working and what is. I would love to see streets filled with artists of all types adding to the culture of North York and the GTA. Mel Lastman Square is such a nice area for shows and events like Cultura Festival, which really makes use of the space with music, food, and an outdoor movie (and of course, there were some fantastic buskers brought to you by Dispatch Talent!)

We’re excited to announce that Brant will be hosting North York Arts’ inaugural fundraiser on October 24th! To learn more about the event, visit northyorkarts.org/fundraiser. To learn more about Fireguy, visit fireguyshow.com and to learn more about Dispatch Talent visit www.dispatchtalent.com. 

It’s hard to believe that the fourth and final night of Cultura Festival is this Friday – time really does fly when you’re having fun! 

To close off this year’s festival, we’ve got a spectacular group of performers lined up, including live music from The Arsenals and Charmie! Want to learn more about each artist and get a sneak peek of their music? Keep reading! 

If you like what you hear, make sure you join us this Friday, July 26 from 6 – 11 PM at Mel Lastman Square to catch their free performances at Cultura. 

The Arsenals

The Arsenals 100% Kick-Ass Ska, a.k.a. The Arsenals, is a 6-piece Toronto based band that blends Jamaican Ska, Rockysteady, Reggae, and “Ska-terized” Pop music. They play the history of Jamaican Music, from authentic Studio One Ska and Rocksteady to classic Reggae! 

Charmie 

Charmie is a passionate 23-year-old singer-songwriter based in Toronto. She plays a unique contemporary fusion of Rhythm, Blues, Pop, and Soul music. As a self taught musician, Charmie excels at playing guitar, piano, bass, and drums!

Photo by: Jeff Sun

We can’t wait for the musical performances at Cultura Festival this Friday, July 19! We are very lucky to have two incredibly talented bands taking the stage: Delhi 2 Dublin and Moskitto Bar. 

Keep reading to learn more about each band and check out our suggested playlists to get a sneak peek of each group’s unique sound! 

Love the music and want to hear more? Stop by Cultura this Friday evening from 6 – 11 PM at Mel Lastman Square to watch both bands play LIVE (and for free) right here in North York! These are going to be two showstopping performances you won’t want to miss! 

Delhi 2 Dublin

Delhi 2 Dublin is a Vancouver-based electronic ensemble that brings South Asian influences into the world of Western pop music. They play a fusion of Bhangra, electronic, funk, dub, reggae, hip hop, Celtic music, and a mashup of other genres!

Moskitto Bar

Moskitto Bar started with the connection of three talented artists playing in the woods at Ontario’s OM Festival, while mosquitoes fed on them. Since then, more musicians have joined, sharing their passion for music and mixing cultures. Moskitto Bar’s sound combines Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi, Middle-Eastern, and French Celtic music.

Photo by: Shoeb Kadri

The first night of Cultura Festival is this Friday! Get ready for 4 unforgettable nights of live music, delicious food, exciting buskers, interactive art activities, animated movie screenings, and more!

Never been to Cultura before? Not sure what to expect? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading for a list of must-have items that will help ensure you have the best possible experience at the festival! 

1) Comfy shoes

With so many different activities and performances going on, you’re going to want to explore every corner of Mel Lastman Square – so don’t forget to wear your comfiest shoes! 

2) Sunscreen

Even though Cultura starts at 6 PM, the sun doesn’t set until later in the evening. If it’s a sunny day, make sure you apply lots of sunscreen! 

3) Your appetite (and cash!)

There are a ton of delicious food trucks coming to Cultura this year! From wood oven cooked pizza to authentic Caribbean cuisine to Korean BBQ (and much more), there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Grab a bite of your favourite dish or try something new! 

4) A reusable water bottle 

Stay hydrated (and help save the environment) by bringing your own water bottle! We will have a water station on-site where you can refill your bottles. 

5) A hat

Cultura Festival is an outdoor event, so bring your favourite hat to keep cool from the sun! 

6) A cushion or a blanket

Each night, we’ll be screening a different animated movie. Bring a soft cushion or a cozy blanket so you can get comfy and enjoy the movie!

7) A Camera

Cultura showcases the beautiful and vibrant cultural community of North York, and there are so many fantastic photo opportunities and great moments to capture (be sure to stop by our tent to take a Polaroid picture in our photo booth)! Share your photos on Twitter and Instagram with #CulturaToronto and tag us @NorthYorkArts! 

8)  Your friends and family

The more the merrier! Make Cultura a night to remember and spend it with the people you love.

We’re excited to introduce Banafsheh Erfanian, one of our Northbound Gallery Program artists this year! To get to know Banafsheh, we asked her a few questions about herself, her art, and her exhibition with Northbound. Read below to learn more!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your art practice?

I am a Toronto based painter, illustrator, and educator. I was born in Tehran, Iran and graduated from Tehran University of Art with a Bachelor of Graphic Design. I also hold an MFA in Illustration. I have been painting and illustrating for 15 years; during this time I have illustrated 30 books and magazines, written more than 25 articles in art reviews, exhibited around the world, and have won several international awards. The stories I have illustrated such as, Arabian Nights, Ardavirafnameh (Zoroastrian Paradise, and Inferno), Shahnameh (The epics of Iranian kings), convey mythical themes and share their messages through magical realism or surrealism that stimulate my ideas. I find these stories to be a platform through which I illustrates what is beyond reality.

What can you tell us about your exhibition?

 The sparks of an individual’s identity can be found in their background. Their identity means the ground that holds their roots, the land where they came into existence, the land where they saw four seasons; the taste of their food and water, the costumes they wear, their sun and rain, their mountains and seas, their looks, their language and accent. Shahnameh is one of the most important tales about Persian epics that has been passed down from generation to generation during centuries. It has had such importance that has been patronized by Persian kings to be produced as picture books. My roots as an Iranian-Canadian artist can be found in my culture and Shahnameh is an undeniable part of my culture. Persian literature conveys Philosophical implications and is a window to the Iranian body of wisdom and collective psyche and an endless source of information and creation for an artist with Persian background. This exhibition is a contemporary visual read of Shahnameh addressing the younger Persian generation. I hope I can be a link to this cultural chain and encourage the younger generations of my community to know more about their cultural roots and history.

What do you want people to take away from the show?

This exhibition aims to give the audience a grasp of Persian history and culture through the poet of Shahnameh and the illustrator’s point of view. I hope this will help the Persian younger immigrant generations that have not lived in Iran, but have Persian blood in their veins to know more about Persian literature and have a deeper sense of a part of what it means to be Persian. It would also be an opportunity for youth to enrich their imagination and for Canadians from diverse background, to learn about the Persian literature and art through Shahnameh’s whimsical narratives and my visual interpretations

To you, what role does art play when understanding a culture’s history?

If you take a retrospective look at the history of art, you will interestingly find out that art has been used by the powers as a tool of power reinforcement. For instance, In the Medieval times, illuminations were made to make people have a stronger belief in Christianity. Persian kings used architecture and colossal sculptures and reliefs to show to the nations how powerful their empire was at the time. In Sassanid time, A prophet emerged who was entitled ‘Mani, The Painter Prophet’ because he was a talented painter himself and his followers were attracted to his ritual through painting and music. In fact, art was a magical tool as it is today in the same way. Any form of power has taken advantage of art as capitalism does through commercials today. Apart from the power discourse, I believe any type of art reflects a great deal about the culture of the time they belong to. Artworks are the purest documents of their time through which you can explore people’s look, costumes, rituals, politics, architecture, nature, and the collective insight of the peoples that used to live in the ancient times.

For more information about Banafsheh and her upcoming exhibition, click here.