May/June 2009
Surface & Symbol May/June 2009 Features:
Celebrating 30 Years of Community & Culture
Art is Everywhere in Scarborough!
Reflecting on the Past… Looking Toward the Future
Green-Spiration
Do You Believe in Magic?
From Our Ears to Our Eyes: A Radio Play Takes the Stage in Toronto
Celebrating 30 Years of Community & Culture
By Diana De La Cruz
Scarborough Arts Council (SAC) turns 30 this year – a milestone that offers the opportunity to gather and celebrate, but also to pause for a moment and consider the perseverance, commitment and adaptability necessary to stay relevant for three decades.
Thirty years of service to the community through the arts is an emblem of longevity that SAC is extremely proud of.
“Turning 30 not only highlights the strength of the art community in Scarborough and east Toronto, but it also shows that our community is a great place to live; a place where creativity, culture and community connect,” says SAC executive director, Tim Whalley.
Founded in 1978 as Arts Scarborough, the organization was committed from day one to promoting the arts in the neighborhood.
This initiative marked the beginning of a long but rewarding journey during which the organization overcame many challenges.
As Joy MacFadyen, member emeritus and one of SAC’s founders conveys in her memoir, Recollection of a Joyful Life, about her initial years at SAC: “I was the Secretary and, among other things, cobbled together a newsletter. With no permanent address for the arts council, my home telephone number was used as a contact, so I was literally run off my feet answering the phone until an office was established in the Ellesmere Statton School one year later.”
During those early years, it was the dedication of many volunteers, artists and community members that nurtured the Arts Council into true existence. And over that time, many great initiatives to connect artists and the community have come to life – initiatives that are still fresh in the memory of many Scarborough artists and present in the heart of those who contributed to their materialization. TV programs that aired on Scarborough Cable TV, a Multicultural Week with dancers from China, Greece, Scotland, Armenia, and many other countries, the well-remembered Fanfare 84, numerous concerts at the Civic Center, Arts Week, and being part of Canada Day Parades are all great examples that speak volumes about the organization’s efforts to cultivate arts and maintain a sense of belonging in the community.
In 1989 the organization became officially known as Scarborough Arts Council. Throughout the years, thanks to the perseverance of staff and board members, the endless dedication of volunteers, the feedback of members, and support of the community, SAC has seen its number of programs and services grow.
Today, with a permanent address in a friendly venue located on the Scarborough Bluffs, SAC provides a space for artists to display their artwork, to share ideas, and to network. They also offer 2 off-site exhibition spaces for artists, at the Toronto Public Libraries at Agincourt and Cliffcrest.
Eugenie Shehirian, a long-time member of SAC, acknowledges that her involvement with the organization has supported her career trajectory as a writer: “In the fall of 1989, SAC founded the Scarborough Writers’ Association and for the first few years (they) granted a hundred dollars a year to encourage us to continue our endeavors,” she says.
“I am grateful to Scarborough Arts Council for the encouragement and support of the writers. Had it not been for the existence of the Arts Council, quite a few writers who have been associated with Scarborough Writers would not have had the opportunity to be published.”
When talking about the role of the SAC in the community, Shehirian says, “I can’t emphasize enough the necessity of an art council in a community to inspire and encourage people of all ages to practice artistic endeavours.”
As SAC proudly proclaims on its website, “Scarborough Arts Council serves and respects the full continuum of artists from youth to seniors, emerging to avocational and full time professionals.”
This mandate to serve the needs of various audiences is reflected in programs such as the Youth Scholarship Award for the Arts, which focuses on secondary school students; Art in the Park, that provides space for visual artists to sell their work and connect with the local community; the annual Professional Practices Series, a lecture series designed for emerging artists to learn details about the business of art; Scarborough CARES, a mobile after-school digital arts program; and many other programs and services that aim to empower the artistic community.
In supporting artistic creativity in Scarborough for 30 years, SAC is passing on a legacy that is very meaningful to a lot of people.
“It is important for us to acknowledge the work of SAC founders, members, volunteers and staff, and to appreciate how everyone has contributed to the success of the organization,” says Whalley. MacFadyen also offered her thoughts about the significance of this anniversary: “I am gratified to realize that an organization, started a lifetime ago, still exists to further the arts in Scarborough. While administrators of the arts council have changed several times over the years, I believe their purpose still holds true… As one of the founding members of the first Board of Directors, I congratulate the current Board and staff for their commitment to the arts and wish them much continued success during the next thirty years”.
The next thirty years will surely bring more growth and change, with the common thread of exceptional community outreach and programs to support local arts.
“We will continue delivering innovative programs and services but we will also be working to make those programs accessible to communities that we haven’t worked with before,” says Whalley.
To commemorate its heritage, SAC will hold a special 30th Anniversary Celebration event in June. Current and former employees, as well as volunteers and board members will be present at the event, which will reflect the memorable history of the organization and celebrate its future. This celebration promises to be one of the greatest events ever organized by SAC. The celebration not only represents one more year of its existence, it also represents the perseverance of the artistic community and the organization to maintain a local legacy and to foster arts as part of the neighborhood’s cultural life. These 30 candles mark a celebration of success over the challenges commonly encountered by arts organizations.
For the 30th Anniversary Celebration, SAC members, guests, partners and supporters will come together in mutual appreciation of local arts.
The event will include eclectic performances, door prizes and a silent auction. In addition, renowned guest speakers such as Farley Flex (of Canadian Idol fame), Juno Award winner Simone Denny, and 17-year-old 3PK Plasma recording artist Daniel Panetta, will entertain the crowd.
At the silent auction, art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to bid on original artwork made by their favourite local artists, such as Louisa Lau, Istvan Lendvay, Catherine X Blank, Barbara Laplante, Joanne Doughty, Nancy Converse and Joanna Marcinenas, among others. For SAC, a registered not-for-profit, this event will help raise funds to improve the quality of its diverse programming and its continued efforts to foster a vibrant cultural scene in east Toronto.
Most importantly, this cocktail reception will be an opportunity to mix and mingle, to support the arts and to connect with people who share a common interest in the arts. Long-time members who believed in the project right from the start, and new ones who have joined in to support the cause will come together to celebrate. It is also an invitation to art lovers, who are a key element in stimulating the inspiration and work of creators, and to the general public who, just like the organization, recognize the cultural and social significance of art in our life.
Tickets are available at a cost of $35 for the general public, and $30 for SAC members, students and seniors. The price includes live performances, complimentary beverages, snacks and cocktails. A special $55 package is also available, and includes a ticket to the event and a first-time one-year membership at SAC.
The SAC 30th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Thursday June 4, 2009, at the Centennial College Centre for Creative Communication, located at 951 Carlaw Ave. (South of Mortimer, one block west of Pape). Doors will be opening at 6:30 pm. To purchase tickets or to learn more about this event, please contact Scarborough Arts Council at 416-698-7322, or email info@scarborougharts.com.
Art is Everywhere in Scarborough!
By Libby Peters
Those of us who are involved in the arts scene in Scarborough know the myth is not true, though we hear it so often: some say that east Toronto is devoid of valuable arts programming.
I’m all for offering MORE arts opportunities in Scarborough – bring on the programming… bring on the funding! – but let’s not ignore the positive work that is already happening here.
Magic at the Intersections at UofT Scarborough recently (page 6) showcased a selection of artists, art-interested community members, and excellent programs happening locally.
Young people involved with these programs and projects will surely become leaders in their communities in this capacity!
Leaders like Vishalinee Barendra (page 3). Her Greenspire project – soon to become an empire, we’re certain! – can only inspire the rest of us.
And if you’re looking for inspiration, just notice the legacy of organizations that have been established in this area for decades now! The Scarborough Theatre Guild this year turns 50! Our friends at the Scarborough Writers Association will celebrate their 20th anniversary this fall!
Congrats to both of these wonderful groups!
Of course SAC is celebrating our own landmark this year: I hope to see you out on June 4th to help us recognize 30 years of community, culture and connection!
Reflecting on the Past… Looking Toward the Future
By Tim Whalley
Now that I am approaching the end of my first year as ED at Scarborough Arts Council, I am particularly excited about Community Culture Connection: Celebrating 30 Years of Scarborough Arts Council, when we will not only get an opportunity to honour an important milestone, but also celebrate the vibrant communities that make up Scarborough and east Toronto.
Celebrating 30 years since incorporation, the event on June 4th provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
Looking back, we see countless volunteers, SAC members, staff, artists and community representatives who committed themselves to founding and supporting a successful community arts organization. We see programs and events that brought people together and performances, festivals and exhibitions that showcased the diverse talents of members of our community. We are honoured that many of the same people that played such a key role in the early years of SAC continue to support what we do. In fostering the arts in their own neighbourhoods, supporting artists and programs that benefited communities, they left a legacy that we strive to carry forward each and every day. So, a big ‘thank you’ is first and foremost in our minds as we celebrate this landmark.
Looking forward, we see exciting new programs and initiatives, partnerships that build community and opportunities for growth and development. SAC continues to embrace new art forms, support emerging artists and work in communities across Scarborough and east Toronto. In recent years, we have seen new digital arts programs, urban music workshops, podcasts that captured important arts-related discussions and new exhibition opportunities for local artists. In the coming months, we will officially launch a new on-line resource for artists and the community, East End Arts Portal, expand our urban music program for youth, The Borough Most Thorough, to three Scarborough neighbourhoods, and welcome visitors from across the GTA and beyond to Art in the Park, our popular outdoor art show and sale. And this is just the start!
We hope that you – SAC members, artists, community members, residents of Scarborough and east Toronto, arts & culture-lovers and community builders – can all join us on June 4th!
Green-spiration
By Althea Manasan
Floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a swirling pool of litter, debris, and waste known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It formed gradually over the years, the result of natural ocean currents and unnatural pollutants; today it’s about twice the size of Texas.
When Vishalinee Barendra first learned about the garbage patch in her Environmental Resource Management class, she felt compelled to take action. The R.H. King student had an idea: she wanted to promote environmental art in Scarborough.
“I thought that recycled art would help minimize the impact of garbage,” says Vishalinee.
Last year, wedding dresses crafted entirely from toilet paper, glue, and tape became a popular art project. In fact, in June 2008, Charmin hosted a toilet paper wedding gown contest in New York City’s Times Square. While most people would likely see such pursuits as nothing more than entertaining bridal shower activities, Vishalinee realized that this form of art had the power to make an important statement about how our actions—and our garbage—affect the environment. But while Vishalinee was excited about recycled art, she noticed a lack of awareness about the movement among fellow Scarborough residents.
So Vishalinee organized Greenspire, an exhibit showcasing artwork made from recycled materials. It was held at the Malvern Library on March 20th — the same day as Earth Hour — and featured 15 sculptural and 3D pieces by student artists. Each piece was constructed from items you would find in a garbage dump: water bottles, newspapers, old pieces of wood, bent nails and wires, paper towel tubes, and old fan covers. Among the works was a toilet paper wedding dress made by a Wilfred Laurier student.
The planning and preparation for Greenspire began in October 2008, but the process proved to be more difficult than Vishalinee anticipated. The ambitious teen had originally envisioned a large-scale show spanning across 7 or 8 Toronto libraries.
“It was hard to get support,” Vishalinee recalls, because the libraries preferred to work with organizations rather than individuals. In the end, however, Malvern library decided to take a chance and agreed to host Greenspire.
Admitting that she is not an artist herself, Vishalinee hit the streets searching for artwork to feature in the show. She sent out flyers, posted calls on online event calendars, contacted artist friends from other high schools, and received donations of old, discarded works from former students.
Vishalinee’s enterprising spirit led to another component of the Greenspire project: recycled art workshops for youth. Influenced by her previous experience presenting environmental workshops in elementary schools as an EcoMentor, Vishalinee created her own series of workshops designed to teach primary grade students about environmental art. During February and March, Vishalinee traveled to elementary schools and ran workshops during her own spare periods. Each classroom collaborated on one or two pieces made from materials that the students had collected from home, including newspapers, egg cartons, and cardboard tubes. The finished products were eventually displayed at the show.
The Greenspire exhibit was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. The public was invited to choose their favourite piece in the collection and 130 people voted.
The winner was a bird sculpted from shredded pop cans and wire, made by a former R.H. King student.
More importantly, the exhibit seemed to spark genuine interest and conversations about recycled art. Curious visitors asked the show’s volunteers to explain the artwork and its meaning.
“People started to realize that there’s an impact to the things we do everyday,” Vishlinee says.
Now that the Greenspire exhibit is over, Vishalinee hopes to expand her idea and eventually start an organization under the same name. Her next big project is already in motion. Thanks to the success of the original show, Greenspire has won the support of several other libraries, and Vishalinee is now organizing a citywide recycled art show scheduled to take place this August.
In September, Vishalinee will begin her first year as a student at York University pursuing Environmental Studies. One of her goals is to continue educating people about environmental art. She also aims to inspire a sense of action among her peers; another event she hopes to spearhead in the future is a conference called Stop Apathy.
“You never see activism or support for any issues in Scarborough—people just live here,” Vishalinee says. “I want to bring that [activism] here.”
Do You Believe in Magic?
By Aasana Sri
Do you believe in magic?
This was the theme of Magic at the Intersections, a southeast Scarborough community showcase at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus that used a creative approach to community building in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhoods.
As Toronto Mayor David Miller – who spoke at the event – explained, the Kingston Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood is a priority for investment in the city. This area has faced negative attention as a “high risk” community due to social and economic challenges that have pervaded the area.
But all that is changing now due to efforts by the City of Toronto, community development programs, and of course, the communities’ residents.
“This kind of work to me is kind of Toronto at its best… It welcomes everyone,” said Miller, speaking about the Intersections event.
Many of the events at Magic at the Intersections involved neighbourhood youth, who showed great enthusiasm to join in the efforts for community building.
There was rapping, and a protest song, “Wasted,” about young people smoking weed, was performed by a talented female artist known as “Passions”.
A group of teens performed a skit to send the message that there are exciting community programs that are available for youth – programs that were highlighted at Intersections.
A few of those community programs and organizations included Project Random, Youth Arts, and East Scarborough Storefront. Project Random engages youth by focusing on their creative talents with activities such as mask making, photography, mural painting, and other art forms.
The Youth Arts program, also known as Youth for Human Rights, have created a mural that surrounds the apartment building at 4301 Kingston Road.
The East Scarborough Storefront first opened in 2001 to bring services and resources to the community, especially those who had been marginalized and living in poverty. Today it works in collaboration with Residents Rising and Neighbourhood Action to create a thriving neighbourhood. As Anne Gloger of the East Scarborough Storefront explained, “It is important to listen to the voices of young people because it is the generation that is going to help create the vision that we all share.” This vision is one of the young and old taking initiatives to bring about positive changes in the community.
Liz Briggs of Native Child and Family Services presented a traditional native song with a drum as it would be performed in a Pow Wow: “The drum is the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The Pow Wow is a time for sharing,” said Briggs.
This was certainly true of her music, which was like a soothing lullaby. The audience was certainly mesmerized, and many children held hands with the Mayor as they danced in a circle.
A personal favourite was the guerilla gardening project by a local basketball team: a group of young people who came up with the idea to plant daffodils in areas around the community – bright yellow flowers in the dividers on the road, for cars driving by, and regular community members, to admire. A simple act of community beautification that is quite literally magic at the intersection, and an example of this encouraging pride in one’s neighbourhood.
From Our Ears to Our Eyes: A Radio Play Takes the Stage in Toronto
By Nora Ohanjanians
Emil Sher must have grappled with Marshall McLuhan’s famous assertion: “The medium is the message”, when he first tried to adapt his radio play to stage. What if you want to change the medium, but keep the same message?
Sher was commissioned to write his radio play, Mourning Dove, when working as a story editor for CBC Radio’s Morningside show. The play was based on Robert Latimer’s story — the Saskatchewan farmer who killed his 12-year-old severely disabled daughter, was on trial for years, always maintaining he made the right decision, and was eventually convicted and jailed.
In Mourning Dove Doug and Sandra have a severely disabled daughter. Tina is 12, weighs 38 pounds, and after undergoing numerous operations, is scheduled for another one.
None of the previous surgeries have made Tina’s life any easier. She lives in constant pain. Both Mom and Dad dread her upcoming operation, but whereas Sandra’s approach is practical and matter-of-fact, Doug is reluctant and reticent. In the end only one parent has the courage to save Tina from further suffering Sher does not take sides on the issue. He presents and explores many practical, moral, social and philosophical issues on euthanasia, but does not judge anyone. Keith, a developmentally challenged teenager who’s a family friend, represents the views and feelings of the afflicted, whom their healthy and able-minded relatives consider euthanising.
Being familiar with the radio play, I thought I knew what to expect from the stage version. But I was in for a big surprise.
The stage version is a dramatically different. The only elements resembling the radio play are the four main characters, the basic storyline, and the message that there is no right answer for this controversial situation. Everything else is completely reworked for the stage.
Gone are the numerous scene changes, signaled by initial background sounds, like questioning reporters, the judge’s gavel, outdoor noises, domestic sounds, muffled chatting, and Tina’s breathing and crying. Gone are the numerous characters such as witnesses, prosecuting and defense attorneys, doctors, and various people expressing their views on mercy-killing. Gone are the flashbacks and the reverberations of important words.
Although the stage has a lot more performance potential, there’s the limitation of funding to consider. So there are only four actors and one set for the 90-minute play. Sher chose Doug’s woodworking workshop at home as the single location where Doug, Sandra and Keith interact. All offstage action, such as the doctor’s diagnosis, the trial, and the gossip are reported through the three characters in cleverly written dialogue.
Presenting Tina on stage was a major challenge for Sher. How do you depict a 12-year-old physically underdeveloped and disabled girl on stage? Working with Richard Rose, a director with the Necessary Angel Theater, Sher came up with more than one creative solution. In the Vancouver production of the play in October 2008, Tina was represented by a pool of light, accompanied by off-stage sound effects. In the Toronto production staged by the Ark Collective in April 2009, Tina was portrayed by an adult actor, sitting in a chair off-set, but on stage, filling the scenes with her presence and agony through laboured breathing and amplified guttural sounds. The actors looked into the centre of the audience when addressing her.
The radio play is fast paced due to the variety of scenes and the rapid scene changes. In the stage version the scene changes are signaled by the lighting, and the presence or absence of Tina’s sounds.
But Sher has made up for static scene changes on the stage by adding humour.
Whereas the radio version is completely serious, the stage play has many funny scenes. Sher has made the heavy content easier to digest by interjecting a healthy dose of comic relief, mainly through the character of Keith, and his literal interpretation of the world.
The stage version of Mourning Dove has been performed in Ottawa, Kitchener, Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto.
The award-winning Emil Sher, originally from Montreal, has taught English in Botswana, has written radio plays, stage plays, screenplays, essays and fiction. He’s often commissioned to write plays on the basis of real-life news stories that pertain to current social and psychological issues. His collection of three radio plays, entitled Making Waves, which includes Mourning Dove, is based on true stories and tackles contemporary social issues like euthanasia, the tainted blood scandal, and racism.
Now based in Toronto, Sher is currently working on a play about wrongful convictions, commissioned by Studio 180, where Sher is the playwright in residence.
For more information on Emil Sher visit: www.emilsher.com.