BIG ART BOOK 2016: Spectacular Celebrations

big art

book ISSUE 5

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big art book ISSUE 5

Spectacular Celebrations

About Scarborough is a diverse community with a creative pulse. Scarborough Arts has been serving the Scarborough community by developing, delivering and promoting arts programming and cultural initiatives for almost 40 years. As one of the City of Toronto’s Local Arts Service Organizations, Scarborough Arts brings artists to the community and community to the arts.

Each year, Scarborough Arts produces its Annual Juried Exhibition, an exhibition of art created and curated in response to a themed call. All visual and literary artworks accepted by the jury are published into the BIG ART BOOK’s anthology with “Juror’s Choice” pieces additionally showcased within the Annual Juried Exhibition.

THE BIG ART BOOK...

• Crosses creative boundaries • Blurs lines to link people together through original artwork and writing • Opens a broad cultural conversation • Samples a fresh assortment of creativity • Is about the power of expression and the celebration of ideas The BIG ART BOOK and other Scarborough Arts projects similar to this are made possible in part through membership and generous donation from people like you.

To learn more about Scarborough Arts, become a member or contribute to your favourite projects, visit our website: www.scarborougharts.com

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Premier of Ontario - Première ministre de l’Ontario

January 26, 2017 Message from the Premier

A PERSONAL MOntario ESSAGE FROM THE Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Premier of Ontario - Première ministre de l’Ontario

PREMIER

On behalf of January 26, 2017

the Government of Ontario, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to participating 31stI am Annual Juried Oneveryone behalf of the Governmentin of the Ontario, delighted to Exhibition by Scarborough Arts.

A Phosted ERSONAL M ESSAGE FROM THE P REMIER extend warm greetings to everyone participating in the 31st

Annual Juried Exhibition hosted by Scarborough Arts.

OnThe behalf of the of Government of Ontario, I am delighted to extend theme this year’s exhibition, ‘Spectacular Celebrations,’ is warm greetings to everyone participating in the 31st Annual Juried especially fitting in this year of Ontario’s 150th anniversary.

This , The theme of this year’s exhibition, Spectacular Celebrations Exhibition hosted by Scarborough Arts. anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ontarians to come is especially fitting in this year of Ontario’s 150th anniversary. together celebrate pride and optimism in our province, foster The theme ofto this year’s exhibition, ‘Spectacular Celebrations,’ is This anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a especially fitting in this year of Ontario’s 150th anniversary.

This greater understanding of our shared history, and build a shared vision Ontarians to come together to celebrate pride and optimism in our province, foster a anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ontarians to come for the future. greater understanding of our history, andprovince, build a shared together to celebrate pride andshared optimism in our foster avision for the future. greater understanding of our shared history, and build a shared vision I thecommend Scarborough Arts for helping to build our creative for future.

I commend Scarborough Arts for helping to build our creative community, and for

community, and for highlighting the vibrancy that comes from shared

the vibrancy that comes from shared stories and experience. I also want Ihighlighting commend Scarborough Arts for want helping build creative stories and experience.

I also totothank allour those who worked hard to thank alland those worked the hard to make this exhibition possible, including the community, forwho highlighting vibrancy that comes from shared to make this exhibition possible, including the participating artists, jury stories and experience.

I alsomembers, want to thank all those who worked hard participating artists, jury and hard-working volunteers. members, and hard-working volunteers. to make this exhibition possible, including the participating artists, jury members, and hard-working volunteers.

Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable and inspiring exhibition, and for much

Please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable and inspiring exhibition,

continued and success.

Please my best wishes forfulfillment an enjoyable andsuccess. inspiring exhibition, and accept for fulfillment much continued and and for much continued fulfillment and success.

Kathleen Wynne Kathleen Wynne Kathleen Wynne Premier Premier Premier 11

Foreword Jen D. Fabico, Program Director, Scarborugh Arts

As the big day encroached upon us, my mind was filled with thoughts, my

heart was filled with emotion and my belly was just plain full. A few weeks late and anxious beyond belief, I anticipated my very own reason to celebrate. When the day finally arrived, we anticipated for what seemed like yet another set of endless hours. Yet, when that tiny little body finally touched my own for the first time, my heart was filled with overbearing love and elation, clearly, worth the wait and effort.

Celebrations can be small or big, an everyday occurrence or a once-in-a-lifetime event; regardless, it’s usually a moment or event that makes a profound impact on us one way or another. Like many of you reading this, and the artists included in this year’s collection, 2016 was a groundbreaking year, paving the way for many great things.

As I returned to Scarborough Arts and we neared the end of 2016, we placed

the Canada-wide call for Spectacular Celebrations and what returned to us was an array of works, varying in medium, style, and narrative. As we collected the pieces over the weeks, I was fortunate enough to witness the many approaches and stories of our artists, each piece taking the theme in its own respective direction—some through the witnessing of a celebration, others through a celebration of self or someone dear, and others again on profound, personal and life-changing moments.

As each New Year commences, we as a staff and community of artists

are thankful for the many opportunities and celebrations that our organization has provided the previous year. Last year, 2016 marked the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Annual Juried Exhibition and this year, 2017 marks the celebration of our 5th issue of our BIG ART BOOK publication. In addition to these project anniversaries, we celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. In micro and macro measures, as individuals, communities and a country at large, we recognize the small and big events that shape us, from celebration of one form to a celebration of many forms in unity with one another.

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In many ways, this edition calls for us to celebrate the past as well as our future.

The BIG ART BOOK, Issue 5 boasts spectacular celebrations in itself, each

with its own perspective, interpretation, and artistic execution of the called theme.

This year, we were grateful to welcome Ann MacDonald, the Director and Curator of the Doris McCarthy Gallery at the University of Toronto Scarborough to jury our visual art submissions and Ashleigh Allen, poet, writer, educator, and facilitator to jury our literary submissions. In addition to the selection made by our jurors, we are also thrilled to celebrate the many successes that we had in our programming and exhibitions, which you will also find in the pages of this year’s edition. As you view this new collection of visual art and written pieces, we hope that you find delight in the many celebrations highlighted by our participating artists, the jurors, and our community.

Thank you to everyone who had participated and a large congratulations

to our very deserving award winners. Also, many thanks to the individuals who supported and assisted in this year’s Annual Juried Exhibition and BIG ART BOOK and those who continue to enjoy and share our fabulous projects. May your year be filled with creativity, discovery and more reasons to celebrate!

Jen D. Fabico Program Director, Scarborough Arts

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The Jurors V I S UA L A R T S J U R O R

Ann MacDonald Director/Curator, Doris McCarthy Gallery University of Toronto Scarborough

L I T E R A RY A R T S J U R O R

Ashleigh Allen Poet, Writer, Educator, and Facilitator

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Award Winners S C A R B O R O U G H A R T S V I S UA L A R T S AWA R D ( A D U LT )

Jennifer Toffoli Undress Your Soul

N I K I TA M A R N E R V I S UA L A R T S AWA R D ( YO U T H )

Callum Donovan-Grujicich The Juggler

M O N I C A L A D E L L L I T E R A RY A R T S AWA R D ( A D U LT )

JC Olsthoorn hiraeth

E U G E N I E S H E H I R I A N L I T E R A RY A R T S AWA R D ( YO U T H )

Kevin Ramroop Poortrait 19

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YOUTH

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Kevin Connery Lights

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Kevin Connery Lights

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Shayne Darling Golden Monkey

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Shayne Darling Canada Day

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Callum Donovan-Grujicich The Performer

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Callum Donovan-Grujicich The Juggler

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Jayden Duggan Hope

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Zoe-Theodora Kolonelos Affinity for Music

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Rukhsar Jaffer 3 Cheers for 308

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Alan Lo FISH!

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Vincent Mak Piecing Cultures Together

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Hannah Nie The Call

“Kara!”

I fumble with the handset in futile attempts to turn the volume down.

“Is this Kara?”

“Hi, grandma —” “Oh, you are so tall now!”

“You can’t see me, grandma.”

“No. I can see, you are very tall, your mama sent a picture. But don’t wear that big coat next time, ah? Makes you look even chubbier.”

“Grandma, it’s Canada. Everyone wears big coats.”

Laughter and static echo in the receiver. “Canada, yeah, yeah. Visit sometime, ah?

It’s too cold there.”

I give a laugh, too. “I have to go, I still have homework.”

“Right. Happy birthday, Kara! From grandpa and me.”

“Oh — is grandpa there?”

The line cracks. “Hospital, still.”

“Oh.” A Chinese talkshow plays somewhere in the static. I picture grandma sitting alone, in front of the TV. “You ate already?” she asks. “Mama cooked your favourites today?”

“Yes, yes she did. Thank you, grandma.”

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Kevin Ramroop Poortrait

Sordid Sorted by the words and their - formant i let them - ferment into swords slaying I stay this sordid distorted Cast your maimed delights and they sing under haze of night’s disguise till all that remains, the stage is chaste chased Dim lights so I’m Sorted Sordid by the curtains of each performance see they run like horses curtailed in mazelike courses Sor(did/ted) by the pain of whats important So I did I departed Sordid

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Vickie Vainionpaa Untitled

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Aniqa Rahman Mirpur Light

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Aniqa Rahman Mirpur Light

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ADULT

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Susan Aarons Celebrations

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Susan Aarons Spotlight on Success

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Farooq Ahmed Holy Are You

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Farooq Ahmed Skylines

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Deon Best Wild At Heart

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Wendy Carmichael Bauld Rhapsody

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Michel Blondeau SAME/DIFFERENT

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Michel Blondeau Smithereens

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David Brandy Harvest

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JUROR’S CHOICE

David Brandy Wassail

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Mike Callaghan Orange Erased de Kooning Drawing (1953)

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Ken Chan We’re Soaring High

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Margaret Chown Anniversary

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Anne Crisell Debris Field # 4

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Tiffany Dawe Dance Passion Joy

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Maria Drazilov High Spirits

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Janice Hardacre A New Beginning

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Cheryl Duggan Pow Wow Movement

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Inga Gircyte The Best of 1989

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Jennylynd James Celebration Time

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Jennylynd James Flame Dancer

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Jennylynd James Show Time

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Stacey MacNevin Spirit of Celebration: GlobalFest Community Mural

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Manivillie Kanagasabapathy Sisters

I am blessed for I have many sisters.

Sisters of the blood, herstory linked to mine through generations of love and sacrifice.

Her name surrendered to family lines, a ghostly presence, which weaves the family story.

Sisters of the soul, Who chose to connect their story to mine.

Trusting I will remember, that life existed before they became daughters, wives and mothers.

Sisters of the body, defined and bound by words of who we should be and not who we are.

Sisters I have yet to meet, their voices and lives, reflected in the eyes, of my strong and wise sisters.

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Susy Martins Vividly

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Teresa Mellors Citrus Sunrise

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Maria Modopoulos Bouzouki Legend

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JUROR’S CHOICE

George Novotny Bath Time

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Shawn Morrel Urban Moment # 4 — The Gig

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Shawn Morrel Urban Moment # 9

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Jordan Nahmias Fireworks

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JC Olsthoorn Run or Dye

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JC Olsthoorn Talking Circles

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JC Olsthoorn hiraeth

bangs and fizzles quietly shut bedroom door a glass of wine time on a wheel roll it everywhere antimacassar is lace breach between noise and hush deep longing beyond place or time pour more wine presence of absence no one else is here carpets are thick shark-grey clouds chase rain bright-dark sun a flip-switch margins of history earth grows damp as sun fades unlit driftwood fireplace landscape cracked open hills’ treelessness revealed land’s geographic bones sentient beings bedrock merge belongs on someone else’s map home as home of others

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Jane Orr-Novotny Echoes

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Jane Orr-Novotny Solar Flare

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Malinda Prud’homme Cheeky Beauties – Silly Goose

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Malinda Prud’homme Cheeky Beauties – Old Soul

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Malinda Prud’homme The 20’s Reborn

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Thiviyaa Sehasothy Heartbeats in the Amazon

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Wendy Sinclair PiĂąata

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Wendy Sinclair Black Lives Matter

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Wendy Sinclair Desire

I want this body. Exactly this one Not two inches taller Not five inches smaller I want these thoughts. Exactly as now Not a mind without sorrow Not a mind without daydreams I want these gifts. Exactly as I hold Not two children more Not two children less I want this past. Exactly how it has been No heartache I would take back No blunders I would do over I want this life. Exactly this one There is no life more rich There is no such thing

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Grazyna Grace Stryjek White Umbrellas

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Jennifer Toffoli Undress Your Soul

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Sheila White Why Not Celebrate

Is there no occasion we cannot celebrate?

Be it life or death, sombre or spectacular?

We delight while reflecting joy.

With reverence we mark the bitter bite of sorrow’s whip.

We celebrate a life lost, a battle won, a milestone, or completion of a hard-done task.

Not always candles and flowers, crepe paper and shiny wrappings, the bell-like ring of champagne glasses and the pop of a cork, not always exuding perfumed tinges of a party proper, sometimes just a quiet nod to self, affirming the worth and uniqueness, the usefulness of each life change.

When each effervescent stage blends to concoct one, huge special event, is there no time we cannot celebrate, any reason why we shouldn’t?

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JUROR’S CHOICE

Barb Williams Flo and Bert at the Dance Hall

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SCARBOROUGH ARTS EXHIBITS

Highlighting the best visual art and literature from Scarborough Arts’ 2016 Bluffs Gallery exhibitions

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Fidaa Al-Afandi Untitled

From JAYU’s iAM Galler y exhibition at the Bluffs Galler y September to October 2016

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Reese de Guzman Scarborough’s High School Yearbook Covers, 1920 – Present

From the Yearbook exhibition March 2016

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Janos Buda Royal Regiment Band Concert — July 18, 1977

Part of Scarborough Arts’ Permanent Collection Showcased at the Lost and Found exhibition July 2016

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Jennylynd James Master of the Yard

From the Holiday Dreams exhibition December 2016

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Marita Engel Rooted

From Art in the Park August 2016

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Joan Kehoe Before the Show

Birds Twittering in mass choruses Timeless tuning up For the show Wind Bustling through budded trees Snapping discarded branches Setting the stage in order Sun Unsure of its place Dodging behind jostling cloud clumps Sliding into line Silver yellow scrim All the shades of green Dazzling bouquet colours Waiting in the wings Ready excited Before the ecstasy of the show SPRING!

From Spring Forward: Spring Members’ Exhibition April to May 2016

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Nadine Stermole Places

Places piece you together Places tear you apart Places make the heart ache Places warm memories Places bind and rebind Wind and unwind.

Places stamp your soul For better or worse Places bring comfort and familiarity Places evoke fear and hesitation.

Time changes places.

Places change people People change places.

From Spring Forward: Spring Members’ Exhibition April to May 2016

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Mohamad Lazakani Untitled

From JAYU’s iAM Galler y exhibition at the Bluffs Galler y September to October 2016

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Aniqa Rahman

From the EAST Animating Democracy exhibition June 2016

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Aniqa Rahman

From the EAST Animating Democracy exhibition June 2016

Thank you to our funders

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