Video: “Kutz & Dawgs” a Play for Children & Youth on Anti-Bullying (Miscellaneous Productions, Vancouver)

“This video is the document of the 45-minute play featuring youth from the community as alley cats and junkyard dogs. It is a strongly anti-gang, anti-violence, anti-bullying and anti-racism work. This community-engaged theatre creation was directed by Elaine Carol. It is suitable for ages 9 and older. We have also had many children age 5 – 9 that enjoyed the work immensely. It is up to their parents/guardians if they think it is suitable as there is simulated violence in the play.

MISCELLANEOUS Productions‘ “Kutz & Dawgs” – set in the Fair Verona Junkyard at the end of the world – is an original hip hop musical based on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Broadway’s West Side Story.

“It is an excellent educational tool and we are very proud of it! The production values are excellent – best sound ever on a theatre documentation video and wonderful cinematography.”

Video “Kutz & Dawgs” was commissioned by and had its World Premiere at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and went on tour in November 2012.

This video document was recorded with three cameras and two camera operators in front of a live audience at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford, BC and Heart of the City Festival in Vancouver, BC.

Elaine Carol served as head writer and the script was co-written by Jorge Escobar, Godfrey Cheng, Silvia Leung, Jorge Alcala, Laura Contreras, Cecilia Cui, Gustavo Diaz de Leon, Marchel Eang, Astrid Herrera, Tim Mok, Chloë Macdonald-Chow, Clarita Ritchie, Rowan Sylvester and Agnes Szenàki.

Featured performers are Jorge Alcala, Christina Cuglietta, Cecilia Cui, Lena Dabrusin, Gustavo Diaz de Leon, Roy Dilbert Jr., Marchal Eang, Jorge Escobar, Tim Mok, Murry Peeters, Alan Pronger, Clarita Ritchie, Rowan Sylvester.”

-submitted by Elaine Carol, Artistic Director, MISCELLANEOUS Productions

Read ArtBridges’ profile on MISCELLANEOUS Productions.
Find MISCELLANEOUS Productions on ArtBridges Google map.

For ArtBridges/ToileDesArts sponsorship opportunities: Simon Constam, Sponsorship Director, simon.constam@gmail.com, 905-537-7227
Return to ArtBridges/ToileDesArts homepage

Anti-Bullying Campaign: Kool To Be Kind (Resolute & Grise Fiord, NU)

BluePrint For Life has just launched an anti-bullying campaign in the Arctic called “Kool to be Kind” to find out  more about the campaign, please contact  BluePrint For Life for more details.

–Posted with permission from Stephen Leafloor, BluePrint For Life

Read our previous posts on BluePrint For Life: Profile (part 1), Profile (part 2) and Profile (part 3)

Check our ArtBridges Google map for more contact information.

Video: A Community Story / Blue Print For Life in Kugaaruk, Nunavut in partnership with Pauktuutit

Buddha from BluePrint For Life shared with us a video about their project in Kugaaruk, Nunavut (in partnership with Pauktuutit): 

“We got to work alongside the Inuit youth as well as the parents and elders of the community. The work primarily focused on group activities, group discussions, stories, and also learning about hip hop, and teaching breaking. It was also awesome how we got the parents, and elders involved in the hip hop routines over the course of the week, and finally showing/performing to the entire community.” (From Youtube description)

– Posted with permission from Buddha

Read our previous posts on BluePrint For Life: Profile (part 1), Profile (part 2) and Profile (part 3)

Check our ArtBridges Google map for more contact information.

 

Art Starts Video Series: 20 Years, 20 Stories #16! (Toronto)

“This fall Art Starts is celebrating 20 years of using the arts as a vehicle to encourage social change in Toronto neighbourhoods. In honour of this anniversary Art Starts approached some of the talented individuals who have contributed to their success and asked them to share their favourite Art Starts story. The result is this series of 20 videos featuring those stories, past and present, produced by the very talented Monica Gutierrez. Over the course of the next 20 weeks, Art Starts will release these stories to you one by one, leading up to their fall celebrations.”

-posted with permission from Liz Forsberg, Art Starts

Here is the 16th  installment of Art Starts’ 20 years, 20 stories video series where Art Starts talks to “Jinai from Lawrence Heights about coming to terms with the misconceptions of her community, having an outlet for creative expression in Art Starts Programs and how it’s brought her and her friends closer.” 

To view other videos from the Art Starts’ “20 Years, 20 Stories” series, please visit their Youtube Channel and subscribe! You can also subscribe to Art Starts’ newsletter to keep up with the upcoming videos (subscribe here!).

-Lisa, ArtBridges

For more information on Art Starts, read their profile.
Please see ArtBridge’s Google Map for contact information.

1000 Acts of Art! (Online project)

Commit an Act of Art!

“1000 Acts of Art aims to challenge individuals to engage with Etobicoke’s vibrant arts community by commiting an act of art. Whether it’s painting a mural, taking photographs or making jewelry, 1000 Acts of Art wants people in the community to get inspired, involved and engaged.”
“This project was spearheaded by Lakeshore Arts to celebrate our artists, our arts organizations and people, like yourself who understand the importance art plays in our everyday lives.

By interacting with this site you’ll be able to discover a multitude of arts activities that you can do, set goals and log your acts, upload and share your activities with others and connect and interact with Etobicoke’s arts community.

This initiative will also build and strengthen Etobicoke’s community spirit while highlighting Etobicoke as a place rich in art and culture.

With recent funding cuts in grant programs and with a diminishing commitment to arts at the elementary and secondary education level, it is important to promote the arts as a valuable and essential foundation in building healthy and vital neighbourhoods and to get people involved.

Our goal is to stimulate economic revitalization, foster civic pride and capture imaginations in our community, the Lakeshore.”

-submitted by Lakeshore Arts

Read ArtBridges’ profile on Lakeshore Arts.
Please see ArtBridges’ Google map for more information.

[VIDEO] Arts & Health Project: Healthy Aging Through the Arts (Vancouver)

video by Lemongrass Media

This inspiring video features The Arts & Health Project, which “brings together seniors and professional artists to build social connections, develop artistic skill and creativity and facilitating their ability to age in place.”

Here’s an excerpt from their recent ArtBridges profile:

“The long term goal of the project is to facilitate strong and healthy communities that engage seniors as full and active participants in the arts, and that value the arts as a key contributor to the health of all people.
The project strives to maintain and improve the well-being and health of vulnerable seniors through active, ongoing participation in community-based arts practices facilitated by professional artists from different arts disciplines.
The expansion of the site delivery program and the development of on-line resource packages over the next few years will support healthy aging and professional development across BC.”

To read the rest of the profile on The Arts & Health Project on our ArtBridges blog,  click here.

-posted with permission from Margaret Naylor, Project Coordinator

Please see ArtBridges Google Map for more information.

Art Starts Video Series: 20 Years, 20 Stories! (Toronto)

“This fall Art Starts is celebrating 20 years of using the arts as a vehicle to encourage social change in Toronto neighbourhoods. In honour of this anniversary Art Starts approached some of the talented individuals who have contributed to their success and asked them to share their favourite Art Starts story. The result is this series of 20 videos featuring those stories, past and present, produced by the very talented Monica Gutierrez. Over the course of the next 20 weeks, Art Starts will release these stories to you one by one, leading up to their fall celebrations.”

-posted with permission from Liz Forsberg, Art Starts

The first  installment of Art Starts’ 20 years, 20 stories video series features Elizabeth Cinello, one of the co-founders of Art Starts. To view other videos from the Art Starts’ “20 Years, 20 Stories” series, please visit their Youtube Channel and subscribe! You can also subscribe to Art Starts’ newsletter to keep up with the upcoming videos (subscribe here!).

-Lisa, ArtBridges

For more information on Art Starts, read their profile.
Please see ArtBridge’s Google Map for contact information.

Project Highlights: ArtExpress’ Nautilus Mural project

“Nautilus Mural” at the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, a collaboration of students from J.L.Ilsley High, Rockingstone Height and Team Possibles with the artists Miro Davis and Renee Forrestall. (Photo collage by Tim Simony)

“Youth on the Radar” (Graphics and photos by Paige Cameron)

“The Arts Express Program was established specifically for the 10 schools feeding into J.L.Ilsley High School in Spryfield, Halifax, in order to allow for a stronger arts support within this unique family of schools.”

For more information about ArtsExpress, please read ArtsExpress’ profile on ArtBridges and see ArtBridges’ Google Map.

Art Exhibition: Collaborative Connections, TDSB Aboriginal Youth Leadership Education Project (Toronto)

Photo used with permission from Tanya Senk, Toronto District School Board

Collaborative Connections is an art exhibition featuring the work of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students from the Toronto District School Board’s Aboriginal Education Centre. The students, from grades 8 through 11, had participated in the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Education Project earlier this year. The exhibition debuted at City Hall as part of their National Aboriginal Day celebrations and it will be on display at the Toronto District School Board building at 5050 Yonge St. starting in September.

- Cora-Rae Silk
Indigenous Community Arts Coordinator & Communications Assistant
ArtBridges / ToileDesArts

“Historic Indigenous leadership was for and about the community. It was about a leader caring and loving the people in his or her community, and about leaders using their imaginations and creativity to gather and move the people together to find their life.”
– Cajete, Indigenous Scholar

The rationale for the work by twelve Aboriginal youth leaders was to look at issues of identity, stimulated by Aboriginal community members that inspire them. The central panel contains writing and images of these Aboriginal role models.

In a one-day studio session students were introduced to the visual arts photo-transfer process, and the students learned how to transfer photographic images onto plexi glass. Their self-portraits and hand images holding significant objects such as an i-pod, bracelet, sweetgrass, a turtle, corn, and a Métis sash personalize the open hands in each student’s work. The overarching intent of the work is a celebration of self. Students asked themselves: Who Am I? What do I value? What are my aspirations? Their writing forms an integral part of the work, together with the text in the central panel.

In this contemporary artwork, TDSB First Nation, Métis and Inuit students worked collaboratively using their imaginations and creativity to create a mixed media installation. They combined photography and text as they braided and wrapped the threads, beadwork and tobacco pouches to reference Traditional Teachings in honour of their identities and cultures. Careful stitching of their own ideas created a collaborative work that is at once deeply personal as well as a story of youthful ideals, aspirations and thinking.

Aboriginal youth artists: Emily Bennette – Toutant, Chantelle Breen, Dakota Jacobs, Christopher Landry, Chantel Linklater, Cohen Pinkoski, Justice Ryan, Bradley Sophocleous, Jasmin Sophocleous, Eithne McPherson, Jesse Migwans, James Migwans

Sumbitted by Tanya Senk, Coordinator
Aboriginal Education, Toronto District School Board

Photo used with permission from Tanya Senk, Toronto District School Board

Photo Story: ArtsExpress (Halifax)

Many thanks to Sabine, who generously gave us a treasure trove of wonderful photos of ArtsExpress collaboration projects to show to our readers! We love hearing about thriving community arts initiatives, but it’s even better to see them! So send us photos/videos of your community art initiative–we’d love that! As promised, here are a few more from ArtsExpress:

“Feather Project” Collaboration with ArtReach , art installation about the evolution of flight created by students from J.L.Ilsley High School’s class of Bonita Aalder with artist Miro Davis, here on display at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and now in at the Boardroom of the Minister of Education. (Photo by S. Fels)

“Brain Print” by students of the Youth Health Centre at J.L.Ilsley High under the artistic guidance of Melissa Marr. This project was a partnership with the AGNS and Stan Kutcher, Sunlife Finacial Chair of the IWK, and was on display during Nocturne 2011 and part of the exhibit ‘Synaptic Connections: Art and the Brain’, at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia during the winter of
2011/2012. The art work has been donated to the IWK Children’s hospital. (Photo by AGNS)
“The making of a traditional birch bark canoe with artist Todd Labrador in partnership with Viewfinders.
“Building Legends – Mi’kmaq Canoe Project” a collaboration of Viewfinder Film Academy , Mi’kmaq Liaison Office of the NS Department of Education and local youth. (Photo by Viewfinders) “Youth on the Radar Courthouse Mural”, funded by a Lighthouses Grant and on display at the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia. (Graphics and photo by Aaron Jeffrey)

For more information about ArtsExpress, please read ArtsExpress’ profile on ArtBridges and see ArtBridges’ Google Map.