Saturday, November 24th, 2018 @ 9pm
Enter at 325 Front Street West, Toronto
Theme: intersections
Date: Saturday, November 24th, 2018
SKETCH is a community arts enterprise based in Toronto. We engage diverse young people, ages 16-29, from across Canada, who are navigating poverty, living homeless or otherwise on the margins, to:
– experience the transformative power of the arts
– build leadership and self-sufficiency in the arts
– cultivate social and environmental change through the arts.
Toronto, Indie Soul Performance Artist
Toronto-based songwriter, vocalist, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist Maylee Todd is best known for music that incorporates elements of disco, funk,soul, electronic, and experimental sounds. Her previous two albums Choose Your Own Adventure (2010) and Escapology (2013) brought her on tour across North America, Europe and Asia, charting worldwide, and establishing her as a breakout Canadian indie artist.
Her third studio album Acts of Love sees Maylee wholly embracing technology and taking on the role of producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, recording and playing the bulk of the music in her home studio. From a sonic standpoint, the new album marks a departure from the harder-edged sounds of her previous work, boasting a more stripped down, synth-based production approach, with hypnotic beats and undeniably poppy hooks.
Latest Press: NPR First Listen, MTV Japan, recent performances include Billboard Live Tokyo, Fringe Philippines, and Pop Montreal
“sleek, downtempo R&B, occasionally suggesting the sophistication of Sade, to chilly industrial dance-pop, all the while beckoning the listener into an intimate space where daydreams can go undisturbed.” – Jewly Hight, NPR Music
“On Acts of Love, Todd has found herself — not committed to any particular genre, but to music highly rooted in authenticity, integrity and emotional complexity.” – Ryan B. Patrick, Exclaim!
“Something for the night time, the right time and those tranquil moments between” – Zo, Okayplayer
Moskitto BAR in Kensington Market earlier today. Next set at 7:30 at the Cocktail Emporium.
Posted by Michael Zender on Sunday, May 27, 2018
Artist, Illustrator and Muralist. Currently residing in Toronto Canada.
Amos has been an accomplished graffiti artist or “street artist” since first discovering the art form in 1992 in his hometown of Victoria B.C. Under the assumed moniker Sight1(aka- Insight one). Amos has painted and designed murals all across Canada and the United States. Amos has shown work in galleries in solo and group Exhibitions in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, New York, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Portland Oregon, Nashville Tennessee, and Oakland California. Amos’ work has also been on display in group exhibitions at the AGO on more than one occasion and his artwork is held in private collections.
Insta @Scieter
Since graduating from Sheridan College’s animation program, Elliott has amassed a collection of murals and public artworks that have come to help define Toronto’s cityscape. Moving beyond notions of the streets being his only canvas, Elliott has exhibited works at The Art Gallery of Ontario, The Royal Ontario Museum, and LE Gallery. Elliott has also acted as an arts educator working with the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Free After Three youth arts program, and the Toronto Jazz Festival, teaching youth aerosol paint techniques.
Elliot’s most notable works can be described as a highly improvised collage of soft characters and organic shapes, layered and blended through transparencies. His character work is often mediated by past experiences and relationships while also drawing on the likeness of passers-by to complete his community-based murals.[7] Elliot has also illustrated and produced a small run of books titled “Know Love”.
In 2011 Elliot met with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to advocate for the significance and vibrance of graffiti murals as public art. At the time Councillor Cesar Palacio had advocated for more street art as part of combatting blighted urban communities.
Erica EGR Balon is a visual artist who began her career in ’98 as a regular illustrator for The Globe & Mail newspaper’s Facts & Arguments page, which meant frequent train trips into the city for work, concerts and events; inspired by music and the graffiti visible along the way into the city. Pop culture and social themes abound as her work challenges one’s views of fine art vs. street art and the dichotomy between nature and our industrialized world. The female figures represented in EGR’s work explore themes of determination, female empowerment and acknowledge women’s ever-changing roles, while her fairies and angels represent her little sister who passed away as a young child.
Known for her custom artwork and live painting at international events, EGR’s art, from illustrations to full blown murals, have appeared in print, music videos, album covers and everything in between. She’s created artwork on just about any surface you could imagine, combining her flair for impressive large scale paintings and murals with her passion for music.
Both Graffiti Women and Graffiti World hard cover books feature the art of EGR. Her work was included in Canada’s first national exhibition of street art at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) at the Institute for Contemporary Culture; the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO); painting live at Toronto’s Luminato, Montreal’s international Under Pressure event and even Van’s Warped Tour events, in galleries and events worldwide including countless city walls and collections in North America, Australia, UK, Brazil and Italy.
Clients include Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), MUCH Music, L’Oreal, Luminato, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Boy Entertainment, Toyota, VW, BOSS Roland, Fender, Revolver, XXL, Honey, Blaze and Elemental magazine, UK’s Graphotism journal, IRS, Afu Ra, Naughty by Nature, Classified, BrassMunk, Holt Renfrew and Urban Decay cosmetics.
website: EGRart.com
twitter: @EGRart
facebook: EGRartist
instagram: @EGRartist
Dina Roudman is a model/actress and visual artist residing in Toronto. Dina travelled the world for the last 10 years modelling, learning new cultures and being inspired by the art and life around her. She finally decided to move back to Toronto to pursue her art career and channel herself into acting. She recently produced her first solo art show and short film “process” that focused on mental health awareness and the process of an artist who struggles with mental health. She continues to work on developing a new style and new techniques and growing as a self-taught artist.
David Strickland; known as one of the most successful Indigenous audio engineers in North America working behind the boards with some of the most celebrated artists in hip hop and R&B over the past 25 years including EPMD, Redman, Method Man, Keith Murray, Sade, Glen Lewis, Jay Z, and Drake to name a few. David has always gravitated towards drum programming over the years without really understanding why. He began to have multiple “A-ha” moments when he subsequently made his first hand drum amidst the throes of fasting and ceremony six years ago. This re-opened his creative and artistic talents but this time in the form of painting.
His paintings – many of which present time-honoured symbols of “Canadiana” both Native and colonial, depicted in garish, street-savvy 21st-century contexts are currently on display at the McMichael in the exhibition: …Everything Remains Raw: Photographing Toronto’s Hip Hop Culture from Analog to Digital. The teachings, the art, the traditions, the music. It’s all come back around. And The Spirit of Hip-Hop persists in the background.
Experience in studying various theories and expressions of creativity. His focuses are mainly directed towards modern and new wave creations various styles of urban mixed media compositions. Specializing in coordinating and executing large-scale aerosol mural projects with the city and private commissions in homes and businesses. Participated in projects with Canada Arts Council and worked with award winning Directors in the art department. David is proficient with sound design and acoustic treatments as well as sound production/engineering with various musical facets.
Insta @Madewithcans
Twitter @DjFathom
Christina Mazzulla is a Toronto based multi-disciplinary artist who specializes in spray paint and mixed media work. Well known for her paintings comprised of intricate cut outs and exploration of combined media. Her artwork is heavily informed by psychedelic imagery, incorporating wildlife, fantasy landscapes, and electric colour abstractions.
Toronto based illustrator and painter, born and raised in south Europe, Vlad K was involved with art since the early 80’s and was heavily influenced by Italian graphic novel artists and still is to this date. Relocating in Toronto in the 90’s Vlad K continued to pursue visual arts being involved in graffiti street art and enrolling in Sheridan College Illustration program. Aside from doing local exhibits, Vlad did graphic work for street wear labels and clients such as Nike, Timberland and animation works for Vice Canada. After two successful solo exhibits in Torontos Cooper Cole gallery, Vlad currently works on personal projects and production design for animation studios. In his spare time Vlad K enjoys taking photos and listening music.
Insta @Vladkato
www.vladkato.com/
At the tender age of nine, Toronto-based illustrator Adrian Hayles discovered the expressive nature of the visual arts. With his continued artistic development, illustration became his deepest passion and talent. His desire to learn and absorb from his surroundings led him on a personal creative journey. As a graduate of the Graphic Design program at Humber College with over 10 years of working experience behind him, Adrian has established his place in Toronto’s modern art community. His style is provocative and inspiring and defies categorization.
Blurring the lines between graffiti and ultra realism, Adrian’s voice and vision is instantly identifiable. His works include countless portraits and illustrations for various magazines and collaborations with the City of Toronto to develop murals for vacant community spaces.
In the past Adrian has painted complete buildings and city blocks, designed award winning video games and animated television shows. He has also successfully developed patented the Stud Horse Foldable Artist Bench and is the Principal and Founder of Behind the Front Visual Arts Studio.
www.adrianhaylesproductions.com
#adrianhayles
Gabriel Graham is a native East Yorkian currently practicing in Toronto. His practice is commissioned and gallery presented installation art with interventionist themes and repurposed material application. A wide-ranging catalogue from display art in retail environments, to installations in various venues and for special events, to digital illustration and formal poster and graphic design to spatial design and specialty finishes for restaurant venues.
Gabriel Graham’s quilt series is an approach of integrating repurposed textile and formal painting practice, to achieve a depth and tactility or surface. The very source of our beginning or identify based on covering our flesh, out of shame, then cultural identity, then subcultural sociological stratification.
A love for the elevation of perspective on fabric, it’s innate utility and comfort, to its use in conspicuous consumption and as a visible demonstration of one’s global or cultural subset awareness. Gabriel Graham juxtaposes popular cultural reference with the very fabric of our times.
Jennifer Toole is a Photographer & Director best known for her medium format fine art nudes. Her portrait process stems from the cultivation of an organic and unadulterated relationship with her subjects. From that raw point of connection, the tension or energy of the photograph, timeless images are made. In actress Caitlin Stasey’s words, “Have you ever had to ease someone’s essence out of them while they’re stark naked on a frosty Toronto morning? She is a true wizard.”
Jennifer’s warm and endearing rapport translates to her commercial, lifestyle, fashion, talent, event, & travel photography. Her eye is well balanced, flattering, & attentive.
Jennifer’s photography work has been published by: Vogue Italia, People, Glamour, Huffington Post UK, The Daily Mail, Toronto Life, ELLE Canada, i-D, Complex and more.
In January 2015 Jennifer launched feminist website Herself.com with Caitlin Stasey to worldwide acclaim. Jennifer’s photos of the initial ten participants were all shot on medium format film with natural light and without retouching. Her photos from the project went viral.
Jennifer’s current project ‘The Goddess Array’ breathes new life into ancient goddess archetypes. The work aims to create a space laden with large, strong, free, & contemporary goddess iconography for viewers to revel within. A show of the first ten completed goddess works was on display at Only One Gallery in Toronto for one night only in January 2016. A second showing of the series at twenty goddesses strong took place at Milk Glass Co. in Toronto October 2016. A photo book of the completed series of all forty goddesses is in the works.
In a recent foray into the medium of video, Jennifer has begun directing short films and music videos. A trained writer (Concordia Class of 2007), Jennifer is moving toward writing and directing films with a social consciousness.
View Jennifer’s latest portfolio of work at: www.jennifertoole.com
Sang has been behind some of the most iconic modern Asian restaurants in the city of Toronto. He was profiled in the New York Times #1 bestselling business book, Better and Faster, by Jeremy Gutsche, for his innovative approach to restaurant marketing and Asian cuisine. He operates Canada’s most popular sushi and gimbap making school, Sushi Making For The Soul, with over 19,000+ “graduates” since its inception in 2010.
He has been featured as CNE celebrity Chef and LCBO’s Chef Of The Month and served as “Keynote Chef Ambassador” for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Government of South Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), at various events. He is the regular Asian food correspondent on CTV’s popular national daytime talk show, The Social and national breakfast show, Your Morning. He makes regular appearances on Breakfast Television; CBC TV and others. His own cooking talk show, Dishing It with Chef Sang launches in Fall 2018 on TAG TV.
He is an award-winning author of two books. He has won the Gloria Vanderbilt Prize for Short Ficiton, Third Prize for Grain Magazine’s Short Grain Fiction Contest, finalist for the CBC Short Story Competition. His next two books, Woody Allen Ate My Kimchi, a memoir about his restaurant and food journey, and his collection of short stories, Eating Dogs, will both be released in 2019-2020.
He is the recipient of the North York Civic Award; York West Centennial Award; Push Food Forward’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to food and issues around food literacy and childhood poverty.
He has given keynote talks at TEDx; SIPO Foundation; IMPACT Entrepreneur Conference; enRoute/ING Talks; Toronto Foundation For Student Success; Toronto Garlic Festival; Toronto District School Board; Toronto Public Library; Passages Canada, and many others.
The 4th Poet Laureate of Toronto (2012-15) and the 7 th Parliamentary/Canadian Poet Laureate (2016-17), George Elliott Clarke is a revered artist in song, drama, fiction, screenplay, essays, and poetry. Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1960, Clarke was educated at the University of Waterloo, Dalhousie University, and Queen’s University. Clarke is also a pioneering scholar of African-Canadian literature. A professor of English at the University of Toronto, Clarke has taught at Duke, McGill, the University of British Columbia, and Harvard. He holds eight honorary doctorates, plus appointments to the Order of Nova Scotia and the Order of Canada at the rank of Officer. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. His recognitions include the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellows Prize, the Governor-General’s Award for Poetry, the National Magazine Gold Award for Poetry, the Premiul Poesis (Romania), the Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction, the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Poetry (US), and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. Clarke’s work is the subject of Africadian Atlantic: Essays on George Elliott Clarke (2012), edited by Joseph Pivato. Finally, though Clarke is racialized “Black” and was socialized as an Africadian, he is a card-carrying member of the Eastland Woodland Métis Nation Nova Scotia, registered under Section 35 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He is, at last, a proud Afro-Métis Africadian.
Danny Thrax is an award-winning musical artist and producer. His sound has been described by Respect magazine as “big, grimy, hectic, infectious”, with The Grid calling out his trademark “wall-shaking, fuck-the-neighbours bass”. As a DJ, he has shared the stage with artists as diverse as Gucci Mane, Ghostface Killah, Machinedrum, Killer Mike, and A Tribe Called Red. His eclectic style has rocked crowds from warehouse raves to festivals across the ocean; from concert halls to notorious block parties shut down by the police.
Jayda Marley is a spoken word poet based in Toronto from the Jane and Finch area. She has been writing and performing spoken word poetry since 2014. Jayda shares her experiences with homophobia, rape culture, and growing up as a young biracial woman in Canada. In 2015 Jayda was awarded the Toronto Black Student Recognition Award after performing one of her earliest slam poems, “They Underestimate.” With the West End team Jayda holds the “Voices of Today” national championship, her poetry has also been published in the nationally distributed West Enders magazine.
Fey Sky is a young spoken word poet that is known to beautifully uncover some of the darkest secrets this world has to offer. Understanding the importance of shedding light on these stories, this poet does so with raw talent and unedited brilliance. She is a 3-time member of the BAM! Toronto Youth Slam team and has performed on countless stages around North America.
Patrick de Belen is a rare breed of artist. This Toronto-based Filipino spoken word poet, performer, speaker, host and educator is one whose formidable acclaim as a performance artist and writer is equaled by his commitment to his community, and his status as an enduring source of insight, energy and mentorship for young poets across North America. As a performer, Patrick has garnered praise and admiration for his ability to blend sharp social commentary with an exhaustless wit, charm and creative candour. This combination of talents has made him a national slam champion, as he was at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and a performer of note on such platforms as CBC, TED Talk, NEXE and others. He is also the first ever recipient of the Spoken Word Poet of Honour award at YouthCanSlam–Canada’s national youth poetry festival, an award he won on the basis of his dual talents as a poet of remarkable ability and an educator of enduring devotion, passion and intelligence.
Off the stage, he is committed to his work in arts education/mentorship; involved in partnerships with a long list of institutions and organizations including jails, schools, health centres, libraries and more. He is also the director of BAM! Toronto Youth Poetry Slam and the facilitator of the Filipino Storytelling workshop series, “Poetry is Our Second Language”.
Gillian is Toronto based photographer, artist and educator. After developing her first photograph, Gillian discovered her love for photography in the darkroom at the University of Guelph. Since completing her BA Studio Art, she has continued to work as a freelance photographer and artist educator with with non-profit arts organizations. Her photography work has been show as a part of Contact Photography Festival, Queen west art crawl and Culture days.
Punch and Judy
Punch, the hand puppet of British and Continental fame, claims to be the greatest actor of all time. So does Judy, his counterpart. Together they destroy any who dare attempt to oppress them. And what could be more oppressive than prohibition?
Warning: the rough social justice of this highly moral tale could sometimes be mistaken for violence.
Akil is an embodiment of what lyricality means to hip hop. Using an eye for direction and visual aesthetics; he pairs this with his ability to tackle all rounds of hip hop with. From 1990 to two thousand and whatever, he experiments with styles and sounds that please crowds no matter what. With such proof of hip hop being an art form, Akil embodies that and brings it to every crowd he comes in contact with.
Born and raised in Toronto. Artchild graduated with honours from Sherdian College and thereafter worked professionally as both an animator, graphic and freelance artist. This show is all original works using mixed-media in an array of applications, from figurative to abstract and everything in between. Artchild is currently a member of the New York City based, TM7 graffiti crew while enjoying his independence, living in Toronto working on private commissions as well as a few new projects he looks forward to sharing soon.
You can follow him @artchild416 and @arcance_romance
www.ARTCHILDHSA.com
