Nia Centre's July 2015 Newsletter

be. belong. become.

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July Newsletter Summer is here and Nia Centre has all the artistic events, programs and excitement you need to stay fresh all season. We're pleased to recap our successful B Side Festival, launch into Gallery 44's showcase, support Power to Girls' summer camp program. Take in the rays and stayed tuned for updates on our building and see all Nia Centre has to offer!

be. belong. become.

Early Architect Images As many people know Nia Centre is currently under renovation as we continue to build a multi-

disciplinary art space in the heart of Oakwood Village. We would like to thank all those that came out on June 27th to the open house at 524 Oakwood.

Last Saturday, we announced to much excitement of our planned 170 seat performance venue on the upper floor. Together with Oakwood Vaughn Economic Revitalization Strategy, we are working to ensure Nia Centre's vision complements Councillor Colle’s extensive plan to renew the cultural vitality in Ward 15.

We welcome the Ontario Ballet school to the Oakwood neighbourhood and look forward to working with Sergeant Chambers, the Toronto Public Library and the City of Toronto. More building updates to come, check out our website for ongoing details.

B Side Festival Event Recap

Last month Nia Centre for the Arts embarked on new territory by hosting an event series called B Side Festival. From June 18th to 20th we celebrated Black Music Month through three distinct events across the city that reveal how literary arts, dance, performance and visual arts are deeply connected to Black Music.

WRITING WHILE BLACK: Songwriting Edition

To kick-off the third edition of Writing While Black led by writer and community organizer Whitney French and producer and facilitator Chris Ak. This intimate workshop was a creative hub for black songwriters interested in meeting other artists, creating new works and collaborating with other musicians.

We were excited to receive coverage from CITY TV on our workshop, but once the cameras were put away, the artists gathered together at Harlem Restaurant and got to work.

Part workshop, part discussion, part incubator space, Writing While Black: Songwriting Edition touched on multiple aspects of creating music. Artists listed artists of influence, shared favourite lyrics and of course, wrote original works.

Much respect and love to all the people who made Writing While Black intentional and meaningful.

The range of artistry, backgrounds and generations allowed for a strong community event. Be sure to check out our website for our video that captured the essence behind this powerful evening.

AfroSonic Vol. 1: Portraits of a Musician

The following day Friday June 19, Nia Centre presented AfroSonic, a solo exhibition by awardwinning photographer Michael Chambers' stunning collection of musicians portraits. This intimate collection included images of Maestro, Salome Bey Molly Johnson, Divine Brown, Haydain Neal (of JackSoul) and Saidah Baba Talibah to name a few.

The artists showcased in this exhibit are a celebration of an era, the early 1990's that including disc jockeys who helped promote gifted musicians. These musicians gave Toronto a style, an identity and a sound. AfroSonic Vol. 1 is an opportunity to celebrate and document Toronto’s musical history and Michael Chamber’s photographic presence in its development.

Some highlights include an exclusive artist tour by the Michael Chambers and Nia Centre's Executive Director Mark V. Campbell died all evening long! Thank you to the Nia Centre team and Alumni who made this event memorable.

MASTERS AT WORK: Rock the Mic with Michie Mee

As part of Nia Centre's on-going Masters @ Work program, Saturday June 20th the B Side Festival concluded with a phenomenal intensive stage performance professional development seminar with the award winning hip hop legend Michie Mee. The full day program took place at 918 Bathurst.

Emerging artists of various levels registered for a chance to learn from Michie on various techniques around stage performance. From voicing, projecting, professionalism and overcoming stage fright, Michie Mee coached young artists on the art of performing.

Once equipped with practical skills, each participant took to the stage performed bravely! With Michie Mee as main judge, artists received feedback on how to command the stage in the spotlight.

After a full day of rich advice, incredible performances and positive vibes, the Masters @ Work event closed with an impromptu cipher! The high talent in the space was unbelievable. Much appreciation to all the volunteers and staff who made B Side Fest a success!

AFRO Highlight Mr. Fresh

It is with great joy that I introduce to you one AFRO’s founding members, Mr. Fresh. Mr. Fresh is a dynamic young man with a knack for business and an appreciation for heritage. As a former Identify n’ Impact Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner and a City Leaders graduate, Fresh is all about leaving a legacy for the next generation of AFRO members. In the near future, Mr. Fresh plans to engage the youth of Nia by encourage them to tap into wealth with their talents through mastermind groups. All this before the age of 25. Even more amazing is that with his ever popular Mr. Fresh Air Fresheners, a green product that he visualized as a young kid. Mr. Fresh is in the midst of launching an online store and is currently working on writing a book that speaks to how he overcame his rough Jane and Finch environment and entered the supply chain industry by using the power his mind to create success. This month we pay homage to Mr. Fresh and we are proud to call you our own! Please give it up for our AFRO Highlight of the Month for July!

Recognized by Andrew ‘Jaydahmann’ Cox Nia Centre for the Arts, Program Coordinator

On the Move with AFRO Ryerson Imaging Centre

On Saturday June 27th, 2015 AFRO went on their second annual private tour of the Ryerson Image Centre’s spring/summer exhibitions. This year the team enjoyed the exhibitions titled: Michèle Pearson Clarke: Parade Of Champions, Scott Conarroe: Canada By Rail And By Sea and Scotiabank Photography Award: Mark Ruwedel. It was a fun day as usual, hanging out with the Ryerson Image Centre’s Youth Outreach Coordinator, Elle Alconcel; food, laughs and art history — all packaged the right way!

AlumNia B Side Mixer

On June 19, Nia Centre invited all alumni members to a private AlumNia Mixer during our B Side Festival as a way of connecting members together.

There was so much love in the room as artists from various programs such as EXPOSED, Art of Facilitation, AFRO and others gathered and reasoned.

We encourage all AlumNia members to stay connected with us as we develop and strengthen our Alumni program. As Nia Centre continues to move and grow in connections, collaborations, internal projects and staffing, it is critical that our Alumni members need to be integrated and kept abreast along the journey. It was incredible reconnecting!

My Art is Me Summer Camp Program

Power To Girls Foundation and Nia Centre for the Arts presents My Art Is Me Girls Summer Program This 5 week project will engage girls from 11+ in self reflection activities, leadership, swimming, weekly trips and wellness through different art forms such as photography, media arts and many more.

Location: St. Dorothy's Catholic School 155 John Garland Blvd.

Dates: July 13th - August 14th 2015 Monday to Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm $25.00 Registration fee

Space is limited so be sure to register online : http://www.jotform.ca/form/51530938614254

Poverty Reduction Strategy Nia Centre Civic Engagement

On June 24th, the City of Toronto made their TO Prosperity: Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy public. This document utilized the voices of thousands of Toronto residents from all parts of the city discussing ideas and solutions to tackles poverty in our city. The hope is that the actions outlined in this strategy will set up equitable change that will make Toronto a city with opportunities for all by 2035. The Interim Strategy can be found here.

For the second time, Nia Centre for the Arts had the privilege of working in collaboration with the City of Toronto to curate the photography and artistic components of the initiative.

Below are the artist featured in this year's strategy: Gervais Nash Candace Nyaomi Leilah DhorĂŠ Anthony (Tony) Gebrehiwot Farhia Jama Faduma Mohamed Paul Ohonsi RenĂŠ Dhinsa Simon Yohannes

All poetry and stories were edited by Whitney French Please see the website www.toronto.ca/toprosperity for more information.

South North Griots Summit Event Recap

Back in May, Nia Centre's alumni performers came together to put on an incredible show for the first ever South North Griot Summit, an international festival celebrating spoken word and the legacy of the griot. Hosted by Jaydahmann, the AlumNia were certainly a highlight of the weekend of performances. Below are images capturing the magic and electricity from the event.

Special thanks to Mali aka Docuvixen for shooting and sharing these photos with Nia Centre.

Gallery 44's Outreach 2015 Witness Feature Event

Mark your calendars for July 17th for the launch of Gallery 44, Outreach 2015 -- Witness. Many Nia Centre participants will be displaying their original film photography pieces. OUTREACH breaks down barriers to the arts and encourages youth to develop their creative voice and understand the power of the photographic image. Join us at Gallery 44, 401 Richmond Street West, #120, 6pm to 8pm for the opening!

This exhibit gathers artists from not only Nia Centre photographers but artists from Eva's Phoenix, PEACH, Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and Urban Arts. Lead by facilitator and AlumNia member Ebti Nabag, this showcase promises to express captivating, creative and vivid images on the theme of WITNESS.

Image: Untitled by Setti Kidane

From Life Exhibit Feature Event

The Onyx presents From Life, a solo exhibition of recent work by multimedia artist Sandra Brewster, curator of Nia Centre's Exposed 2014.

Aptly titled, Brewster is an artist of contemporary life, her visual practice exemplifies a commitment to being both socially and politically engaged as well as exploratory, pushing to experiment within the genres of portraiture and pictorial conventions related to the figure. Comprised of drawings, paintings and mixed-media montages, her imagery is inspired by overlooked narratives (both individual and societal) related to the diasporic experience of African/Caribbean populations and their migration to metropolitan centres. Brewster’s immediate family came from Guyana to Canada in the 1960’s, settling in Toronto, where she currently lives and works.

Join us for the closing reception July 9th at The Onyx Gallery space, 482 Richmond East from 12pm to 5pm. For more info click here.

Through a Lens Darkly

Film at the ROM

If you are interested in photography from the black perspective, be sure to check out this FREE screening of the documentary Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People. On July 18th the ROM will showcase the film from 2:00pm to 4:30pm and director Thomas Allen Harris will be present.This documentary explores how African American communities have used the camera as a tool for social change from the invention of photography to the present. This epic tale poetically moves between the present and the past, through contemporary photographers and artists whose images and stories seek to reconcile legacies of pride and shame while giving voice to images long suppressed, forgotten and hidden from sight. RSVP to reserve a seat, for more details click here.

Events JULY 9 FROM LIFE EXHIBIT

The Onyx presents From Life, a solo exhibition of recent work by multi-media artist Sandra Brewster.

The Onyx Gallery Space, 482 Richmond Street East, 12pm-5pm

JULY 10 & 11 TORONTO PEOPLE'S SOCIAL FORUM

The Peoples' Social Forum is back and this time it's in Toronto! During the forum we'll have a personal space for racialized communities to come through and destress. There'll be workshops and an open mic, Ryerson Studen Centre, 55 Gould Street, FREE

JULY 17 GALLERY 44's OUTREACH 2015 -- WITNESS

Photography exhibit featuring young artists including Nia Centre members. The David Barker Maltby Award will be announced during the opening reception.

Gallery 44, 401 Richmond Street West #120, 6pm to 8pm

JULY 17 & 31 EGLINTON AVENUE FARMER'S MARKET

The first ever Eglinton Farmer's Market takes place at 1607 Eglinton (near Oakwood) highlighting some of the best fresh produce and healthy foods that the Eglinton strip has to offer, every other Friday.

JULY 18 THROUGH A LENS DARKLY

The ROM Presents a free documentary screen of Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People, ROM (100 Queens Park), 2pm - 4:30pm.

JULY 18 & 19 WHEN THE ARTIST LEADS

An intensive Leadership Training weekend led by Toronto's YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts d'bi.young anitafrika using her wholistic human development framework, the SORPLUSI METHOD, 10am to 5pm, $275.

JULY 25 BLACK CREEK COMMUNITY FARM FESTIVAL

Black Creek Community hosted its 3rd Annual Farm Festival included healthy lunches, activities, mini workshops, produce for sale, face painting and more, 4929 Jane Street (near Steeles), 12pm - 4pm, FREE.

Feel free to contact us to add your event to our newsletter listings: info@niacentre.org

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