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Program Without Walls Every year Art Starts offers a wide variety of creative programs to mothers & caregivers with children aged 0-6. The caregivers and the children work with artists to create using all artistic media. During some programs we develop and perform our own theatre productions. At other times we might do clay work, batik, toy-making or basketry. During all PWW programs, the women work together with a professional artist while the children are in another room engaging with a children's artist and child care staff. Programs are multicultural and multilingual and are held in different locations throughout central northwest Toronto. From February to April 2007 women worked with Yvette Martin in Creative Expression Drama Workshops that led to a public performance event called ‘Passage’ |
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Glendower Programming Between September and December of 2006 we began our adventure with the Glendower community. We hired two local youth to assist at the program, partnered with the homework club, joined the Glendower Joint Services Committee, had meetings with the most actively engaged residents, etc. When it came time to make art, we delivered a cornucopia. Artists Clifton Joseph (dub poetry & life’s lessons), Dean Ifill (improv. Theatre & making something of yourself), Bruce Brown (clay & sculpture), Fatima Kazmi (felt quilt), Minnie Jonga (mask-making), Petra Sandescu (zine), Yvette Martin (forum theatre), and Red Pepper Spectacle Arts (mosaic) gave these kids a taste of the arts – in its many and varied forms. We are working with the community to develop programs for 2007. |
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Voyages & Vessels – Lotherton Pathways Art Project
Click here for the program flyer
North York Community House and Art Starts welcomes children and their families to our community art project at Lotherton Pathways (Caledonia and Lawrence Ave W.). We meet every week after school to make art on the theme of vessels and voyages. We are working in clay sculpture, weaving, basketry and storytelling. We’re hearing each other’s stories and creating a map of the community’s aspirations. We’re making art together and you’ll see our group installation, coming in June to a place in our neighbourhood.
Fallfest & Winter Solstice
Our ongoing partnership with nearby library, Oakwood Village Library and Arts Centre, continues. Every year since its inception Art Starts has provided the art-making component at their popular Fall and Winter Solstice celebrations. The projects vary from year to year and from one artist to another, making for quite an interesting long and short-term process.
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World Drumming Click here for the program flyer For the past 12 years we have offered African Drumming with master drummer Mutahdi. Every Fall Art Starts offers a series of workshops that provide students with an introduction to the djembe drum as they learn West African drumming techniques and rhythms as well as derivative Caribbean and South American rhythms. Mutahdi is consistently praised as an excellent teacher and a spirited musician. |
In The Hood – Oakwood Ave. Area Click here for the program flyer In the Hood kids will participate in fairly simple creative workshops, exposing them to a variety of artistic media and disciplines (e.g. stilt-walking, clay work, collage, basketry…). Led by artist Katherine Earl, these workshops will build trust and help to begin the process of conceptualizing the project. The Project Coordinator will talk to the kids about the kinds of initiatives they would like to see happen in their community. In the ‘hood will then take shape -- based on the children’s ideas. This project will culminate in artwork that is created by local children and publicly displayed within their community: Oakwood-Vaughan. The children will express and celebrate as a community, working collaboratively on a positive, constructive project that will beautify the neighbourhood. A celebration will be held to unveil the final masterpiece(s). |
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Graffiti Transformation Project This year Art Starts expects, once again, to offer the Graffiti Transformation Project. We hire emerging neighbourhood artists between the ages of 15 and 20 to work with professional artists to conceptualize, design and produce the creation of a mural. The emphasis of the workshops is on a) understanding the history and the role of graffiti, b) mural design and painting/mosaic, c) public art issues and d) making it as an artist. |
Open Mic, Zine, and Poetry Slam Click here for the program flyer - Open Mic is the most hip, happening thang to hit the Art Starts hood in years! Launched by Art Starts and the Maria Schuka library, Open Mic celebrates the diverse talents of local youth and established artists alike. On the second Wednesday of each month youth (must be aged 13+) are invited to share their poetry, songs, stories and moves in a friendly and creative atmosphere. Become an Open Mic friend on Faceboook…search for ‘Art Starts’ on www.faceboook.com |
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Open Mic ZINE
In combination with Open Mic, Art Starts will create an Open-Mic Zine (publication) and produce a Poetry Slam. The Zine will include illustrations, poetry, musings, works and stories by our Open Mic participants.
Poetry Slam
In 2005, as an offshoot of Open Mic, Art Starts hosted a Slammin’ Contest. Performances included dance, poetry, spoken word, freestyle and music. All performers received prizes including coffee with an established artist, a stint on CKLN, tickets to various events, etc. Building on that success, we are planning another Slam for 2007.