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Weekends at YZD – Fall Residency with Kat Singer

Weekends at YZD – Fall Residency with Kat Singer

Weekends at YZD with Kat Singer

Weekends at YZD – Textile Workshops with Kat Singer

On September 22, October 20, November 10, and December 1, from 1pm to 3pm join North York Arts and Weekends at YZD with textile artist Kat Singer for creative monthly workshops including needle felting, tree sculpting, and pompom making!

To register for these workshops, there is a fee of $5, which will be donated to North York Harvest Food Bank. If this fee is a barrier, send us an email at info@northyorkarts.org for a promo code that allows free access any of the four workshops.

We’re thrilled to join the exciting activities of Weekends at YZD, happening every Sunday from 10 AM – 4 PM with free events, programs, and pop-ups at the YZD Plaza. Dive into YZD’s community spirit and enjoy complimentary mini-golf, interactive playscapes, lawn games and more!

Check out all Weekends at YZD events
Weekends at YZD - Sep 22, Oct 20, Nov 10, Dec 1. Textile Workshops with Kat Singer

Sunday October 20 |1pm to 3pm | Halloween Pompom Making

Join our Halloween Pompom Making Workshop and craft spooky, fuzzy decorations!

Learn to create vibrant pompom ghosts, pumpkins, and bats using easy techniques. Perfect for all ages, this fun and festive event will leave you with unique, handmade Halloween decor to brighten up your celebrations. Supplies provided.

All materials are provided, this event takes place indoors – rain or shine. The workshop is open to participants of all age, younger participants are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult to help them out.

Registrations for the workshops allow priority access to those who book in advance with drop-ins welcome based on availability.

Register Now
Halloween Pompom red black and blue with googly eyes

Sunday November 10 |1pm to 3pm | Tree Sculptures

Join our Tree Sculptures Workshop and create intricate, handmade tree art out of wire and yarn!
 
Craft beautiful, detailed trees with a variety of artistic styles. Perfect for all skill levels, this engaging event provides all materials and guidance needed to make unique, decorative sculptures for your space.
 

All materials are provided, this event takes place indoors – rain or shine. The workshop is open to participants of all age, younger participants are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult to help them out.

Registrations for the workshops allow priority access to those who book in advance with drop-ins welcome based on availability. 

Register Now
Four Tree sculptures made of felt and yarn. One in each season.

Sunday December 1 |1pm to 3pm | Winter Pompom Making

Join our Winter Holiday Pompom Making Workshop and create festive, fuzzy decorations!
 
Craft cheerful pompoms shaped like snowmen, reindeer, and Christmas trees using simple techniques. Ideal for all ages, this merry event will help you make unique, handmade ornaments to add a personal touch to your holiday decor. 
 

All materials are provided, this event takes place indoors – rain or shine. The workshop is open to participants of all age, younger participants are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult to help them out.

Registrations for the workshops allow priority access to those who book in advance with drop-ins welcome based on availability. 

Register Now
Four Tree sculptures made of felt and yarn. One in each season.

Sunday September 22 |1pm to 3pm | Felted Fall Leaves

Join our Felted Fall Leaves Workshop and craft vibrant, autumn-inspired decorations!

Learn the art of wet felting to create stunning, colorful fall leaves perfect for seasonal decor. Suitable for all skill levels, this hands-on event provides all materials needed to make unique, handmade accents for your autumn displays.

All materials are provided, this event takes place indoors – rain or shine. The workshop is open to participants of all age, younger participants are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult to help them out.

Registrations for the workshops allow priority access to those who book in advance with drop-ins welcome based on availability. 

A maple and a birch leaf made by needle felting. Both are red orange and black.

Meet the artist: Kat Singer 

Kat Singer (they/them) is a multimedia artist and educator living and working in Toronto. They are passionate about social justice and equity, maker culture, and sustainability. They are a textile enthusiast with a passion for felting. For Kat, the softness of the material, the repetitive motion of the needle, and the gentle rhythmic sound this activity produces combine to induce a relaxed, mindful state.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Creative Minds Summer Programming

Creative Minds Summer Programming

Creative Minds – Summer Series

Creative Minds is a program series offered in partnership with North York Arts and Workman Arts. Each season, North York artists facilitate programming with a unique focus that prioritizes wellness through thematic explorations, the the presence of an active listener, and accessibility accommodations available upon request within capacity.

 
Scroll below to see what programs are available this summer! 
therapeutic dance - a fusion of cultures - creative minds summer 2024
Creative Photography Storytelling - creative minds 2024

Creative Minds – Therapeutic Dance Movement

Through the means of Cultural Dance Movement and Therapy, (Indian and Latin styles), dance therapy will be explored for the purpose and joy of pursuing a hobby as opposed to merely replicating choreography.

Join Ishaa during this 6 week program divided into 3 parts to explore various dance styles and increase in difficulty to challenge your growth.

Session 1 & 2: Explore Latin Dance rhythms in a ‘Zumba’ style to explore beats. Dance styles will include: Salsa, Bachata, Flamenco.
Session 3 & 4: Explore Folk Dances of India such as the North Indian Bhangra (From the state of Punjab), Ghoomar (Rajasthan), and Gujarati folk music. We will be utilizing a combination of Bollywood and Pop Music for the classes.
Session 5 & 6: Experience a short introduction of the Indian Classical dance form of Kathak focusing primarily on swift pivots or ‘Chakkars’, footwork or ‘Taatkaar’, and various ways of using numbers and division in aspects such as “Ginti” or ‘counting’.

therapeutic dance - a fusion of cultures - creative minds summer 2024

Dates: Tuesdays July 2 to August 6

Time: 5:30PM-7:00PM

Attendance Policy
Please let us know well in advance of a session if you have to cancel your participation. You have 15 minutes into your program session to arrive until you are marked as a no-show and a waitlist registrant is able to take your place. If you are a no-show or cancel for any 2 program sessions this season, you forfeit your ability to pre-register for available slots next season (Fall 2024).

Where: Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge Street, North York. The lobbies of Meridian Arts Centre are barrier free for patrons using wheelchairs or similar assistive devices, with the upper lobby accessible via elevators on the main floor. Accessible washrooms are located on all levels.

Price: Free

Register Now

Program Lead: Ishaa Vinod Chopra

Ishaa holds a degree in Performing Arts in the North Indian Classical Dance form of Kathak. She is also a trained Latin dancer and has previously taken part in National level dance competitions and done several performances in India as well as in Germany, Spain. After moving to Toronto, her focus as an artist shifted from that to a Dancer to an Early Childhood Educator/Mental Health Advocate and Author (Memoir titled #FindingOrderinDisorder).  

She finds that utilizing her dance form served as a catharsis in form of Dance Movement and Therapy. It took her into a peaceful state of mind and this is exactly what she desires to share with the community. 

“Dance is like meditation where the dancer is free of all worldly thoughts and transcends into another world. The world of a dancer doesn’t have abnormalities or normalities in it… It is this world that I want to live in- devoid of any judgments or labels. The chaos of our thoughts can be silenced in order to soak in the beauty of world’s creation , achieving stillness.”- a quote from Ishaa’s memoir #FindingOrderinDisorder

Creative Minds – Creative Photography Storytelling

Registrations are now closed for Creative Photography Storytelling

Photography is an art form that captures the beauty and meaning of the world around us. But to master this art, we need to learn its language and grammar. Without knowing the basic elements and principles of photography, we cannot create compelling images. That’s why this workshop with 

Hamed will teach you how to use your camera and your creativity to produce stunning photographs. You will learn how to see the world differently and how to adjust your camera settings to suit different situations by learning how to use different lenses, filters, and flash modes to enhance your images. 

You will also learn how to analyze and interpret the visual elements  in a photograph, such as shapes, colors, lines, textures, and patterns. These skills will help you to compose your shots with balance, harmony, contrast, and emphasis. You will be able to capture the essence and emotion of any scene or subject and discover how to use your camera as a tool for expressing your vision and creativity.

  • Session 1: Introducing basics of photography, cameras, and cellphone photography. Different techniques in different photography lighting conditions such as natural light, artificial light, low light, and backlight. Making familiar the importance and value of photography in our era by reviewing photography’s why, what, when, and how.
  • Session 2: Learning about exposure setting and exposure triangle, Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO. Analyzing their impact on photos including motion blur and noise.
  • Session 3: Analyze shapes, forms, and textures (visual elements) in various compositions that support a story behind photographs.
  • Session 4: Reviewing, troubleshooting, criticizing some popular photographs technically and aesthetically based on course contents.

 

Creative Photography Storytelling - creative minds 2024

Dates: Tuesdays June 11 to July 2

Time: 5:30PM-7:30PM

Attendance Policy
Please let us know well in advance of a session if you have to cancel your participation. You have 15 minutes into your program session to arrive until you are marked as a no-show and a waitlist registrant is able to take your place. If you are a no-show or cancel for any 2 program sessions this season, you forfeit your ability to pre-register for available slots next season (Fall 2024).

Where: Online via Zoom

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Stay tuned for the next Creative Minds Workshop!

Program Lead: Hamed Tabein

Hamed Tabein has been involved in the learning and teaching of photography for the past fifteen years. He graduated in architecture, and has been involved in numerous arts and photography projects, including workshops, and group as well as individual exhibitions, participating as artist, instructor and executive manager of photo festivals. These include over 35 exhibitions in three continents and collaboration with photography associations as a photography instructor.

In 2011, Tabein’s photos of the Island of Hormoz located within the Persian Gulf received recognition from the Heidelberg Library in Germany and were subsequently displayed in a group exhibition in Germany. To date, three of his photos have been published on the official website of the National Geographic. These include one photo from the Afghanistan photography project. In 2016, Tabein, was invited by the Montreal House of Photography to take part in the “Residency project”, a project involving social portraits, the exhibition for which will be held in Montreal in February 2017, followed by other exhibitions in other major cities throughout Canada.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

The Animation Project

The Animation Project

The Animation Project for Seniors

Are you passionate about animation and storytelling? Do you want to explore the fascinating world of animation through an engaging and dynamic workshop program? Look no further! The Animation Project is back, and we have exciting changes for the 2024 edition that you won’t want to miss!

What do I need to know about the program?

Workshop Modules: The program consists of 3 modules running from September 10th – October 12th (Cohort 1) and then repeated from October 22nd – November 23rd (Cohort 2).  Please sign up for just one of the two cohorts.

You will have the flexibility to sign up for all 3 modules or focus on a single one. The online sessions will be 2 hours long and the in-person sessions will be 4 hours long.

The program will conclude with an in-person session to celebrate the end of the program and give participants the opportunity to connect across both cohorts.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to delve into the world of animation, learn from expert facilitators, and connect with fellow animation enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned animator or just starting your journey, The Animation Project 2024 is the perfect platform for you to explore, learn, and create! 

Attend our Animation Program Final Celebration!
Module 1: Foundations in Technology + Animation

Module 1: Foundations in Technology + Animation 

Online |  Max 20 participants 

1) Digital Literacy + Me (Online)  

Cohort 1: Tuesday September 10th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Tuesday October 22nd, 6-8pm

This workshop is all about getting comfortable with a virtual community and environments.  We will explore different platforms/ terminology, file sharing spaces and review best practices for photo and video capturing on a smartphone.

2) Introduction to Frame by Frame Art Making (Online)

Cohort 1: Thursday September 12th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Thursday October 24th, 6-8pm

We will begin to explore the wonderful world of Stop Motion Animation in this introductory workshop.  Covering the history, terminology and basics of this diverse and unique medium where the possibilities are endless.

Module 2: Storytelling

Module 2: Storytelling

Online |  Max 20 participants 

1) Deconstructing Stories 

Tuesday September 17th, 6-8pm

OR

Tuesday October 29th, 6-8pm

To become better storytellers first, we must understand what different types of story structures are out there.  In this class we will explore different narrative/ non narrative storytelling formats.  We will then explore how language can connect to colour, texture, movement and composition to help drive our visual stories forward.

2) Sound for Animation 

Cohort 1: Thursday September 19th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Thursday October 31st, 6-8pm

Music and Sound effects play an important role in animation.  In this workshop we will dive into the use of sound in various animations, and how to capture tone, and mood when pairing movement with sound.  We will also review how to source or create your very own sound effects.

3) Storyboarding 

Cohort 1: Tuesday September 24th, 6-8pm

OR

Cohort 2: Tuesday November 5th 6-8pm

In this workshop we will learn the ins and outs of what makes a good storyboard.

4) Drawing in Animation

Thursday September 26th, 6-8pm

OR

Thursday November 7th, 6-8pm

Through a hands-on approach, in this workshop we will explore different animation techniques. Participants have the opportunity to create their very own expanded flipbooks and animated sequences using hand drawn techniques.

Module 3: Mixed Media Animation

Module 3: Mixed Media Animation 

In-Person | Max 12 participants

All in-person workshops in this module will be at TAIS:
Located at 1411 Dufferin St Unit B, Toronto, ON M6H 4C7

1) Animation Principles 

Cohort 1: Saturday October 5th, 1-5pm

OR

Cohort 2: Saturday November 16th, 1-5pm

No matter what type of animation you are interested in, understanding the 12 principles of animation will help elevate your skills by creating smooth, engaging and interesting movements.  Through discussion and practice we will discover what the principles are, and how they work together.  

2) Collage + Paper 

Cohort 1: Saturday October 12th, 1-5pm

OR

Cohort 2: Saturday November 23rd, 1-5pm

Through a hands-on approach, in this workshop we will discuss and explore the wonderful world of collage/ paper animation.

Final Session and Celebration!

This is an in-person session to celebrate the end of the program and give participants the opportunity to connect across both cohorts.

The exact date and time will be shared with participants once finalized, it will take place at  between Dec 2-5. 

All registrants and participants are welcome to join the session! Food and drink will be provided.

Check out the final projects from our previous participants!

2023
2022
2021
2020

Meet your Instructor : Cristal Buemi

About Cristal Buemi, Lead Facilitator

Cristal Buemi is a Puerto Rican-Canadian, award-winning multidisciplinary artist (stop motion animation, video art/installation, collage and digital design) and educator (OCADU Experimental Animation).  Her work pushes frame by frame boundaries by exploring the diaspora through land and its relation to the body, materiality and inherent beauty found in the minutia.  Through a mindful, feminist, experimental, and ecological lens, Cristal focuses on abstract storytelling, sustainability and texture.  Her works have been exhibited worldwide including: The NYC Independent Film Festival, Yonge-Dundas Square, Animac, Harbourfront Centre, Fashion Art Toronto, Cardiff Animation Nights and broadcasted on AMC, MTV, BellMedia and HBO.  Cristal most recently co-founded Frame by Frame, a research and programming initiative that through the magic of stop-motion animation creates flexible and adaptive artistic opportunities accessible to participants of all abilities.

For more information about Cristal visit her website: https://www.cristalbuemi.com/

 

Meet your Program Lead : Julian Carvajal

Julián Carvajal (he/him) is a Toronto-based award-winner creator & producer of experiences. This Queer Latinx Colombian Canadian Arts Manager/Producer has over 21 years of experience managing, curating and delivering arts festivals and cultural events. He is the Event Producer of the largest PanAmerican Food and Music Festival in Canada, Mentor in Residence at the Neighbourhood Arts Network while working at North York Arts, StreetARToronto and producing “In My Element(s) Symposia” for ArtWorkxTO.

Julián has collaborated with organizations and artists from 5 continents on multiple artistic projects. He has mentored over 400 self-identified artists for the past 10 years. He is passionate about building meaningful relationships; helping others to navigate the art sector in the city while collaborating with others to co-create an anti-oppressive and more diverse and inclusive vision of the art sector in Tkaronto.

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My Safe Place – Creative Minds

My Safe Place – Creative Minds

Creative Minds – My Safe Place

This mixed media painting workshop is called “My Safe Place”. In every session, participants start by learning how to make imaginary houses using basic perspective tricks.

Once they’ve got that down, they start painting the houses using watercolour/acrylic paints. Then, they add cool patterns and nature designs to their paintings with markers.

Picture this: colourful houses with cool designs and touches of nature, like flowers or trees. Each house becomes a unique story waiting to be told, turning a blank surface into a lively, imaginative safe place. It’s all about having a blast while creating your own special piece of art!

Dates: Tuesdays Mar 5, Mar 12, Mar 19, Mar 26, & Apr 2, Apr 9, Apr 16

Time: 5:30PM-7:00PM

Where: Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge Street, North York. The lobbies of Meridian Arts Centre are barrier free for patrons using wheelchairs or similar assistive devices, with the upper lobby accessible via elevators on the main floor. Accessible washrooms are located on all levels.

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Stay tuned for the next Creative Minds Workshop!

Program Lead: Yasaman Mehrsa

Yasaman Mehrsa is a Toronto-based visual artist with a focus on public art. Born and raised in Tehran/Iran, she was exposed to art from a young age. She completed her studies with a Bachelor of Visual Communication in Iran and later achieved a Bachelor with honours in Visual Arts from Canada. 

Yasaman’s work is illustrative in style with a focus on storytelling and exploring all facets of life and being human in a natural environment. Her work is often representative of awareness of the human-nature relationship. She uses both digital and traditional mediums.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Creating through Curiosity – Creative Minds

Creating through Curiosity – Creative Minds

Creative Minds – Creating through Curiosity

This virtual workshop is an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create from a place of curated curiosity. Whatever medium you wish to express yourself in (writing, painting, sketching, etc).

Sessions will be structured towards creating from curiosity – a conscious method towards unconscious points of inspiration. We’ll facilitate processes and share exercises that work against perfectionism, and towards encouraging a practice of honing and recognizing your artistic voice.

Through facilitated exercises and group sharings – participants will experience new tools, resources and tips tailored to their artistic practice. Join award winning artists Pierre Poussin and Jeff Ho as we dive into the messiness of artistic creation, and to the detailed process of revising. Join us each week as we create, laugh, share, and connect over the curiosities that spur us to create.

Dates: Tuesdays Feb 13th, Feb 20th, and Feb 27th 2024

Time: 5:30PM-7:30PM

Where: Online via Zoom. Please note that we will have closed captioning and transcriptions available to send to participants. 

Price: Free

Register Now

Program Leads: Pierre Poussin & Jeff Ho

Pierre Poussin (he/him) is a Mauritian-Canadian large-scale sculptor. His most recent work includes: Brick Obelisk, for The City of Toronto, Cascades, for The City of Ottawa, Esprit, for The City of Edmonton, and Ursa, for North American Development’s One Water Street Tower, Kelowna, British-Columbia. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with various clients including: The 2010 Winter Olympics Games, The City of Vancouver, Sheridan College, Princeton University, McMaster University, Nienkämper Furniture, Concord Adex Developments’ Panorama, Quartz & Lumen Condominiums, Pinnacle International Developments’ Uptown Mississauga Complex, Diamante Development’s Florian Tower.  Pierre studied Biochemistry (Ottawa University) and Furniture Design (Sheridan College).

Jeff Ho (he/him) is a theatre artist, originally from Hong Kong. As an actor, he has toured as Ophelia in Why Not Theatre’s Prince Hamlet across the country and the US over the last five years. As a playwright, his works include: cockroach, the LAMBDA Award winning and Governor General’s Literary Award Finalist Iphigenia and the Furies (on Taurian Land) and Antigone, and trace. You can find his plays published by Playwrights Canada Press. He is currently the Associate Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Memoria: Photography and Digital Scrapbooking – Creative Minds

Memoria: Photography and Digital Scrapbooking – Creative Minds

Memoria: Photography and Digital Scrapbooking – Creative Minds

Memoria: Photography & Digital Scrapbooking is a virtual course happening via Zoom with Workman Arts and  North York Arts. Registration will be open during the duration of the course. Please note there is a 15-person limit on participants. 

What would it feel like to be nostalgic for our present, not just our past? Memoria is a beginner-friendly digital media program for those with no formal training in photography.

Participants learn referencing and the basics of dissecting art direction, and with journal prompts and discussion reflect on what themes resonate with them based on the images they are intuitively drawn to. Using this as a framework, participants will document elements of their environment via photos, videos, and/or soundscape recordings and leave with an assembled digital scrapbook memorializing a period of being.

Dates: Tuesdays Oct 17, 24, 31

Time: 6:00PM to 8:00PM

Where: Online via Zoom. Please note that we will have closed captioning and transcriptions available to send to participants. 

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Stay tuned for the next Creative Minds Workshop!

Program Lead: Pam Lau

Pam Lau is a photographer, director and educator. Recipient of the Applied Arts Young Blood Photography Award and named a photographer to watch in a 500px spotlight on Asian Heritage Month. Co-founder of Ecru; a grassroots educational initiative for those facing cultural, financial, and institutional barriers to entering creative industries. Past clients include PUMA, American Express, General Motors, Microsoft, Shopify, Refinery29. Ambassador for Canon Canada.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Introduction to Needle Felting – Creative Minds

Introduction to Needle Felting – Creative Minds

Introduction to Needle Felting – Creative Minds

Introduction to Needle Felting is an in-person course happening at the Meridian Arts Centre in partnership with North York Arts and Workman Arts and TO Live. Registration will be open from Sept 11 to Oct 3, at which point accepted registrants will be contacted. Please note there is a 15-person limit of participants.

Felting is a process of mechanically bonding fibres to create garments and household objects that predates knitting. Through exploring felting together, we will discover ways to soothe the nervous system while learning the forgiving medium of fibre art. Kat encourages learners to connect to the materials they are using as well as each other, listen to their bodies, and approach creative challenges with curiosity and compassion.

In this class, you will:

– learn about felting tools, materials & safety practices for 2D and 3D design & embellishment
– harness focus, planning, and creative problem solving skills
– develop a soothing arts practice with repetitive hand movements and quiet tactile sounds.

Dates: Tuesdays Oct 10, 17, 24, 31 & Nov 7, 14, 21.

Time: 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Where: Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge Street, North York. The lobbies of Meridian Arts Centre are barrier free for patrons using wheelchairs or similar assistive devices, with the upper lobby accessible via elevators on the main floor. Accessible washrooms are located on all levels.

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Stay tuned for the next Creative Minds Workshop!

Program Lead: Kat Singer 

Kat Singer (they/them) is a multimedia artist and educator living and working in Toronto. They are passionate about social justice and equity, maker culture, and sustainability. They are a textile enthusiast with a passion for felting. For Kat, the softness of the material, the repetitive motion of the needle, and the gentle rhythmic sound this activity produces combine to induce a relaxed, mindful state.

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Art Connects Community Mural

Art Connects Community Mural

Art Connect Mural Unveiling Gibson House 12pm to 3pm

Art Connects is an ongoing initiative that started in 2019 to address North York Arts’ role in Truth and Reconciliation. As North York Arts builds programs, partnerships, and relationships, we continue to ask ourselves “As a non-Indigenous organization, what can we do to support the process of decolonization and build the right relations with Indigenous communities?” Art Connects has consisted of multiple components and phases, all of which center Indigenous experience and teachings. To learn more about this project click here.

Our 2024 Community Mural, skyworld and beyond will be unveiled on April 20th, from 12pm -3pm, along with exciting Earth Day activities and an artist talk from artist Mo Thunder. Join us to be among the first to witness this spectacular new artwork, and to participate in the celebration. 

Attend the Unveiling!

Indigenous Community Mural Space

Visit The Gibson House at 5172 Yonge Street to see rotating community artworks on display in this space, designed and led by Indigenous Artists.

2023/24 Art Connects Community Mural

skyworld and beyond
Designed by Mo Thunder

Join us for the unveiling of skyworld and beyond! This is a collaborative mural piece created by Indigenous Artist Mo Thunder. During two interactive art-journalling workshops led by Mo, North York community members had the opportunity to contribute to the creative brainstorming process that inspired the artwork.

Art Connects is an ongoing initiative to address North York Arts’ role in Truth and Reconciliation. As North York Arts builds programs, partnerships, and relationships, we continue to ask ourselves “As a non-Indigenous organization, what can we do to support the process of decolonization and build the right relations with Indigenous communities?”

Mo Thunder

Artist

Learn more about Mo Thunder

Mo is a nonbinary/fluid, neurodivergent multidisciplinary artist and facilitator who grew up in a small town along the St. Clair River, they currently live in T’karonto, which has been home for over a decade. They are Haudenosaunee (Oneida Nation of the Thames), French-Canadian and Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang First Nation). Mo holds a BFA in studio art with a focus on drawing, silkscreen printing, photography and video from Fanshawe and Lethbridge University, however, they are also self and community-taught. In June 2022, Mo graduated from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. Through their multidisciplinary art practice (painting, murals, mixed media, beading, journaling, poetry and textiles), they create visual stories about their lived experiences in connection to their personal healing. Mo is also inspired by intergenerational connections and healing, family and memories, personal and collective empowerment, and all of creation, especially skyworld.

2022/23 Art Connects Community Mural

Two-Row Wampum Belt

Designed by Lindsey Lickers

In 2022, North York Arts hosted seven Indigenous talks about Treaty, the geography of North York, our responsibilities to Water and Land, and Indigenous Stewardship, Symbolism, and Art. This series was curated by Lindsey Lickers, and featured Jason Mercredi, Chyler Sewell & Daniel Rotsztain,Carolyn King, James Carpenter, & Raiden Levesque.

Inspired by these talks and teachings, community members and program participants were invited to come together to create a collaborative mural led and designed by lead artist Lindsey Lickers.

This piece depicts the Two Row Wampum, being restored in collaboration with the broader community, supported by the inclusion of participants’ visual responses to the truths shared within the Art Connects, I-Talks series. The wampum beads, stories, and commitments are framed by Lindsey’s stylized interpretation of spirit world above, with land and water below. Watch the mini-documentary below for a closer look into the creation of this project and mural.

Lindsey Lickers

Multi-media Artist, Arts Facilitator and Program Developer

Learn more about Lindsey

Lindsey Lickers is a Haudenosaunee/ Anishinaabe multi-media artist, arts facilitator, and program developer originally from Six Nations of the Grand River with ancestral roots to the Mississaugas of the Credit. Her traditional name is ‘Mushkiiki Nibi Kwe’, which translates to ‘Medicine Water Woman’ and she is of the turtle clan. Recently, she was awarded a commission to create a permanent public installation for the Region of Waterloo’s light rail transit system that will speak to the historical stewardship of the land base of Waterloo and the importance of agriculture from a First Nations perspective.

Watch the Mini-Documentary

North York Arts is committed to continue working along Indigenous peoples to deepen our understanding and to bring truth to our programs.

 

In Partnership with The Gibson House Museum

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Dibaajimowin – Indigenous Storytelling Workshop

Dibaajimowin – Indigenous Storytelling Workshop

An image of the mural created in partnership with Lindsey Lickers, with 4 icons on the sides, and a translucent image of a strawberry heart and a willow tree.

Art Connects – Dibaajimowin

(Deh-bah-je-mo-win)

Dibaajimowin is an Indigenous Knowledge and Zine making workshop series where participants will have the opportunity to learn about the art of Indigenous Storytelling through various art forms, such as dance, visual arts and oral storytelling. Participants will get the chance to participate in a talking/sharing circle and have the opportunity to share stories through their art by creating a collective zine.  Over the course of  3 weeks, participants will have created a mixed media piece of artwork. Participants will be able to take home a copy of the collective Zine they created with their peers.

Audience:

Groups of 20 to 30 participants that meet in North York

*This workshop can be tailored to various age ranges as well as accommodate varying abilities. 

Delivery Method: Option of either an in person session or a  virtual session over zoom to accommodate accessibility needs

 

What will participants gain from this program:

  • Participants will gain knowledge about Global Indigenous histories, decolonization and the various contemporary art forms that are used today to transmit oral history.
  • Participants will also gain new knowledge of traditional Indigenous stories that are shared in many communities today
  • Participants will learn how to make their own Zine.

 

Art Connects is an ongoing initiative that started in 2019 to address North York Arts’ role in Truth and Reconciliation. As North York Arts builds programs, partnerships, and relationships, we continue to ask ourselves “As a non-Indigenous organization, what can we do to support the process of decolonization and build the right relations with Indigenous communities?”

Through the Art Connects program NYA has presented a series of workshops, art installations, talks and tours that aims to connect the local North York Community with both the environment and the history of the land that we live, work and play on. Our free public programs in 2023 will have a focus on environmentalism and building positive relationships with the Indigenous community.

To bring this workshop to your organization, send us an email to info@northyorkarts.org

Cara smiles at the camera in a pink dress on a white background.

Cara McArthur - Workshop Facilitator

Cara McArthur was born and raised in Downtown T’karonto. She is of Trinidadian, Nehiyawak (neh-HEE-oh-wuk), Nakoda descent and is an enrolled member of the White Bear First Nation on Treaty 4 territory. 

Cara is an Interdisciplinary Artist, Public Speaker,  Land Based Educator, Community Development & Engagement Specialist who is passionate about public art and its power to positively impact communities; She has also developed and facilitated traditional knowledge workshops and programming that is rooted in Indigenous Cosmology and Indiginization.

This workshop was designed by Cara for NYA during her tenure as NYA’s Indigenous Program Coordinator & Arts Facilitator. 

To learn more about Art Connects click here!
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Around Art & Land

Around Art & Land

Around Art & Land

NYA is a proud partner of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art!

The year of Public Art has chosen the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action as the main theme for the next 10 years of art programs/exhibitions in the city. Western knowledge is based on an egocentric model while Indigenous peoples have the land as the epicentre of everything they do. After visiting Downsview Park and its hub, we realized that there are a lot of opportunities to connect to the land by curating a series of activations that will happen from April 2022 to October 2022.

We are delighted to present to you a series of intergenerational programs that respond to the needs of the Land to acknowledge it, celebrate it and also commit to it. We all as human beings play a role in the climate change crisis and as artists, we also need to be mindful of the waste we create while creating art.

North York Arts celebrates communities, artists inspire us and the land allows us to be able to share it with all! Every creation of the land is a piece of art itself, for that reason, we have called our core programs for ArtworxTO Around Art and Land.

image graphic for i-talks

We hope you can join us for any of the following programs:

   an icon of a spray can  We CAN do it

  an icon of a sketchbook   Around my Words

  an icon of two people dancing Let’s Dance!

  an icon of a branch with many leaves  What is Around is Alive

  an icon of a kite   Elevating my Dreams

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We CAN do it:

growing healthy relations with the land –

Community Interactive Art Installation

In this activation, participants will be invited to paint empty spray cans that will culminate in an exhibition taking place at the Downsview Hub.

In partnership with Juan Cajiao, participants will paint images on each spray can with the theme of environment in mind, and will consider ways to recycle and repurpose some of the daily objects around us that directly harm the environment. Each can will also have a message for Mother Earth and a personal commitment to the environment from each participant. 

Once all cans are painted and all messages are written, the empty spray cans will be exhibited in a tree formation at the Downsview Hub, where visitors will be encouraged to see the cans and to consider their own commitments and wishes for the environment. 

an icon of a spray can

Schedule

Painting Cans Activation
Saturday, July 9 from 10 am to 4 pm

Exhibition Launch
Thursday, August 11th from 5 pm to 6:30 pm

Exhibition Hours Thursday August 11th to Sunday October 2nd: 

Wednesday to Friday: 11 am to 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12 pm to 5 pm

Location

Painting Cans: Downsview Hub – 70 Canuck Ave

Exhibition: Downsview Hub – 70 Canuck Ave

Meet your Artist:

Juan Cajiao

Born in Colombia, raised in the US and now living in Canada, Juan has been an artist from the day he was born. He grew up painting and drawing, took his passion to the next level by studying Industrial Design and Architecture, he then applied his creativity in the advertising world for many years, he then quit his corporate job to pursue his dream of being a stand up comedian.

Juan now has done over 500 shows in 12 countries and co-founded MalPensando, a bi-lingual comedy club and school that empowers people to become confident and funny speakers.

Parallel to his comedy business, Juan is also an artist who’s done commissioned work (paintings & drawings) that are currently exhibited in 5 countries. Juan also started a new art brand called @ArtedByJuan which aims to make any object (chairs, shows, jackets, teapots… anything) into a unique art piece.

Juan has a variety of workshops, from public speaking & comedy, to free-hand drawing & painting.

Juan will always combine art and comedy in everything he does.

Connect:

@juan_cajiao | @artedbyjuan | @malpensando

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Around my Words

During this activation, participants will have the opportunity to work in collaboration with spoken word poet Patrick Walters to create a series of poems around the theme of nature and their commitment to the land. Then they will collaborate with visual artist Paddy Leung to embed those poems into wooden crates. Participants will be provided with individual crates they can take home while collaborating on the creation of one of the installation components of the Community Interactive Art Exhibition, We CAN do it!

DATES

COHORT I

Spokenword Component led by Patrick Walters

● Tuesday, August 2, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
● Tuesday, August 9, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Visual Component led by Paddy Leung
● Wednesday, August 17, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
● Wednesday, August 24, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

COHORT II
Spokenword Component led by Patrick Walters
● Thursday, August 4, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
● Thursday, August 11, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Visual Component led by Paddy Leung
● Thursday, August 18, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
● Thursday, August 25, 2022 | 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Deadline to apply: Sunday, July 31st, 2022
Spots Available: 24 (12 participants per cohort)
Venue: Downsview Park (70 Canuck Ave.)

NOTE:
Lunch, snacks, and light refreshments will be provided.
Community and volunteer hours are also available upon request.
TTC will be available for participants.
Certifications of participation will be also given to participants.

For any questions or if you need assistance to fill out this application please email Julián Carvajal, julian@northyorkarts.org 

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Let’s Dance!

Get ready to move your body! During this program, Mafa Dance Village (@mafadancevillage.ca) and Capoeira Bamba Toronto, (@bamabtoronto)  will teach participants the basic fundamentals of South African Beats and Capoeira! These sessions will be fun, interactive, and high-energy as you’ll learn some new moves, kicks, and escapes to music.

While these workshops are open to all, some movements in the Capoeira workshop may be challenging to those with limited mobility.  This program is for ALL ages. 

an icon of two people dancing

Schedule

Sundays, May 15 & 22

11:00 am to 12:00 pm | South-African Beats

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | Capoeira Dance

Location

Downview Park Orchard Location HERE

Thank you for joining us!

Meet your Instructors:

Mafa Makhubalo

Movement poet trained in folk forms from the Regions of African tradition, African contemporary, and Western-Contemporary. Mafa Dance Village is influenced by an understanding of dance as an accumulation of memory and the history of my culture. Dance is an invisible evolution that becomes visible through movement, music, and singing.

Connect: To learn more about Mafa, visit mafadancevillage.ca

Capoeira Bamba

Capoeira Bamba is Toronto’s 7X award winning Capoeira School. Capoeira is an Afro Brazilian Martial Art that incorporates Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Music, Dance and Culture all in one! From Kicks to Flips, this Martial Art has it all!
We take great pride in educating our community about the Afro-Brazilian culture and Martial Art. We are Toronto’s only full time Capoeira Academy hosting classes for Minis, Kids and Adults of all ages. We are also a performance team, performing Capoeira, and other Afro-Brazilian cultural dances for audiences and events of all sizes all over the GTA.

Connect: To learn more about Capoeira Bamba, visit bambatoronto.com

Capoeira Bamba - Mississauga

Join us on Sunday May 20th to dance with Mike Pulga of @bambamississauga!

Capoeira Bamba is Toronto’s 7X award winning Capoeira School. Capoeira is an Afro Brazilian Martial Art that incorporates Martial Arts, Acrobatics, Music, Dance and Culture all in one! From Kicks to Flips, this Martial Art has it all!
We take great pride in educating our community about the Afro-Brazilian culture and Martial Art. We are Toronto’s only full time Capoeira Academy hosting classes for Minis, Kids and Adults of all ages. We are also a performance team, performing Capoeira, and other Afro-Brazilian cultural dances for audiences and events of all sizes all over the GTA.

Connect: To learn more about Capoeira Bamba, visit bambatoronto.com

 

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What is Around is Alive

In this two-part activation, participants will first be invited to tour Downsview Park by foot with Alan Colley of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours, then will create inspired illustrations and photographs from the walk. Together with Alan Colley, participants will discover and observe the local flora and fauna, and leave with a newfound understanding for all that is alive around us. Art pieces created during the session will be displayed publicly in the Downsview Hub, unless participants would prefer to take them home to display there instead!

Schedule

Saturday, June 4 | 10 am to 1 pm

Saturday, June 18 | 10 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 6 pm

Location

Walking Tour: Downsview Park – Meet at the Orchard Pavillion

Art Creation: Downsview Hub – 70 Canuck Ave

 

Meet your Instructor:

 

 

Alan Colley - Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours

Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours has been a passion and dream of mine for a long time.

I have designed a company which honors our traditional way of life – but also allows for mainstream concepts of tourism and experiential learning.

I believe we are at the point in history where we are able to teach and share with the next generations how to have a sustainable relationship with the environment. This is the focus of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours.

My goal is to bring together our beautiful community in a way that allows elders, adults, youth and children to connect and make a difference with actions based on the ground principles of the 7 Grandfather Teachings, 13 Grandmother Moon Teachings and Medicine Wheel Teachings.

I am looking forward to sharing information regarding history, the plants, the animals, the fish and the insects so that we can start looking at a healthy future that we are planting seeds for in the present.

Every time a participant resonates with a teaching provided on our tours, the Indigenous knowledge of my ancestors and the ancestors of all Aboriginal peoples is honored because it has a chance to expand into future generations.

Those who had no idea of the sustainable lifestyles and understanding that the First Peoples of what is now Toronto had, can carry with them a new connection to the natural world they live in – even if it is surrounded by a concrete jungle.

I hope to meet and share cultural understandings and environmental respect while also learning something new from each and every participant of a Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tour!

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Elevating my Dreams

In this activation, participants will create kites with messages that they would like to share with all flying creatures. By incorporating different upcycled materials, and applying the R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) each participant will create an environmentally friendly artwork that can fly through the sky.  Participants will be encouraged to fly their kites at home after the activation and share photos and videos on social media!

Schedule

Saturdays, July 9, 16, 23 | 11 am to 12:30 pm

Location

Downsview Hub – 70 Canuck Ave

Meet your Instructor:

Orfelina Millán

I am an environmental artist and creator/facilitator of an eco-friendly community art program for children, Orfe Eco Art Program. My passion for art, environmentalism, and community engagement, along with my arts education experience with the TCDSB and the TDSB, have strengthened my motivation to engage young people in protecting the earth through participatory community arts.

Orfe EcoArt Program is a social enterprise that aims to stimulate creativity and environmental responsibility in children and youth through its ecological art program, understanding that a creative mind and responsible attitude are key to becoming an active member of society and contributing to the health and safety of one’s community.

Connect:

Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Website

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About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

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