WIAprojects

Food=Need our big fall event concluded this week. What can I say, it was wonderful! Margaret Dragu our visiting artist from BC made this video from stills & video from the community home bread-making kitchen party and also from the Thurs evening dinner, reception and performance event at the DPNCHC.  Comments from some of our participants: Jay Smith (technician): Thank you for inviting me to be involved in the Food=Need project. It was a valuable and memorable experience for me. I enjoyed meeting the artists and community members and helping to make the event a success. It was a pleasure working closely with each of you and I would love to do so in the future. claude wittmann (artist) …. Something about "the chicken will arrive at around 2:30pm" THE HEN. When Ron arrived with one of his hens, he suggested that she be in the big fence-like animal cage that he had brought. So, we transferred her from the cat carrier to the cage. She became quite nervous. I fou

  EXHIBITION POSTPONED DUE TO LABOUR ACTION BY ONTARIO TEACHERS I Belong, You Belong, We Belong: Challenging Intersectionality in Modern Society  (Oct, 1 - 26, 2012)  is a drawing- and painting-based exhibition that investigates and challenges the “isms” present in modern society. Under the direction of Ashley Taylor and Mallory Diaczun, both artists and educators, select students in grades 6-8 from Earnscliffe Senior Public School have reflected and responded to the social injustice they have seen or experienced related to gender, sexual orientation, race, faith, ability, age, and class. By examining the interconnectedness of their own identities, the students hope to confront the viewer and suggest ways in which to create and maintain more welcoming, equitable, and inclusive environments. CWSE Hallway Gallery, Oct, 1 - 26, 2012 252 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor Opening: Oct 1st 5.30-7pm. Screenings begin at 6pm.

The book Border Crossings: An “Erotic” Affair?   provides access to some of most challenging cultural work being done by women artists & writers. The title alludes to the complexity of “diaspora” as a gendered-cultured-raced space.  Come for yummy treats and espresso at the  TWB Café and Patio. Buy your signed copy of Border Crossings: An “Erotic” Affair?   (only $10!), hear a short reading by Dina Georgis, and view an artist presentation by Meral Pasha. It’s a “launch” party! All proceeds support the Toronto Women’s Bookstore. When? Oct 2 nd , 6.30 - 8pm, 2012 Where? Toronto Women’s Bookstore 73 Harbord Street, Toronto tel: 416-922-8744 email: info@womensbookstore.com                        FREE & Wheelchair Accessible

50 Shades of Grey – from http://www.hercircleezine.com/2012/05/02/anti-feminist-ideals-in-fifty-shades-of-grey/ “These books tell women that they want not only to be objectified, their bodies ravaged by objects and men for whom they will attach themselves to the rack to please, but also that they want to be dominated—in the bedroom and outside of it. It’s pornography in its purest form, and pornography thrives because men demand it. In this case, both Meyer and James are helping to the contribution of it, enabling the industry and patriarchy, and indoctrinating the idea that women want to be subjugated for the sake of love. One mom said to me, “This book has saved my marriage,” which proves that women now must bring handcuffs to the bedroom and assume the submissive and servile position in bed to keep the romance alive in their marriage. These books are not helping us form our own identities as women, or helping us locate our own sexual desires exclusive to what pleases men in bed…

WIAprojects  housed at the Centre for Women’s Studies in Education at OISE, University of Toronto provides individualized arts internships* for women to gain work experience for future employment and post-secondary school admission. Interns are paired with a mentor and assigned a project. Each intern can participate as much or as little as she wishes in curation, production, design, publications, marketing, publicity, grant writing and/or publications. Advanced participants may devise a program or project of their own in consultation with WIAprojects ’ Director. Interns come to us from art history, women’s studies, arts management programs and also apply as artists, educators and academics. We still have sites available for 2012-13 for educational & programming interns. If you are applying to the BEd or Masters in Teaching programs come and get valuable teaching experience. We have one slot in elementary (learning through the arts) and two in secondary (design & visual art

On March of 2012, I was at the Women's Centre at OISE.  Jamie and I got into a conversation about the difficulties she faced in getting women to write articles about being a feminist in the ongoing  Anthology of "Why I Became A Feminist?"    We spoke further about the apparent spilt in the movement.  I promised Jamie I would talk to some women I know about the subject, including my oldest daughter.  Everyone I approached said no, they did not want to write about feminism or had no interest in what it has become or stands for now.   I was surprised at their response and had to reflect on what was wrong with Feminism? To answer this question, I thought back on two events.  The first was on November 3, 2011,  when I went to the Scarborough Campus of the University of Toronto to listen to a  WIAprojects  talk about  "South Asians in the Arts: Diaspora, Alliances and Collaborations Across Communities" .  What I learned and heard from that talk resonated wit

Well, what a gorgeous day for graduation! Congratulations to WIAprojects interns from UTSC in Visual & Performing Arts and Women's Studies: Charlene Smith, Jay Smith, Pailagi Pandya & Nicole Cajucum (in picture with Pam Patterson, Trisha Lamie, Connie Guberman & Erin Webster)

          Charlene Smith,  Curatorial /Production Intern: For many years, I have had an increasing passion for the arts in all its forms. Personally, dance has been my main point of focus, however, visual arts has held a close place in my heart. After participating in Prof. Patterson's Women in the Arts course at the University of Toronto, she was able to spark a great interest in visual arts for myself, leading me to become an intern for the non-for-profit WIA projects. Though school remained time consuming and lead me into a few financial difficulties, the time that I was able to spend taught me a great deal. Overall, I have come to a deeper level of understanding towards the difficulty of being a female artist and the importance of creating a network of allies to build a stronger foundation for future prospects. Structuring a community is essential to success of any artist and women are in need of all the help we can get. Emily Kakouris,  Curatorial  Intern,  For the 2011-

On April 26 from 5.30-7.30pm, WIAprojects is having a celebration! -  An art and performance event and potluck at the CWSE, OISE, 252 Bloor Street West 2 nd  floor, Room 2-227. Barbara Center ARTIFACTS  Vida Beyer Spring sometimes stands as a trope or metaphor for new beginnings. It can mark an emerging confidence, faith or sexuality, perhaps a shift into our crone years or, for some, a transition from university study into work life.  CWSE wraps up an exciting year of research activity, a highly successful Wellness Series and begins registering once again for the Women's Human Rights Education Institute (WHRI). At WIAprojects, a group of wonderful interns “graduate” as curators, educators, writers and overall great cultural producers as we end the busiest academic year-to-date presenting exhibitions, panels, conversations and publications sponsored by Cultural Pluralism and the Arts and the Jackman Humanities Institute Program for the Arts  at th

Artists Sylvat Aziz, Meral Pasha (Ontario) live cross border from Mesma Belsare (Boston). In complex ways, they interweave gender, sexuality and artistic practice as they confront how dislocation, and their longing for relocation, is mapped on their bodies: for Belsare it is the dynamics of gender in dance, for Aziz a cultural critique, and for Pasha the complexities around gender displacement, and cultural loss. The series Border Crossings: An “Erotic” Affair? brought these artists as well as academics, writers, and curators together this past academic year in conversation at the St. George and Scarborough campuses of the University of Toronto. This conversation will be extended and shared as a Roundtable with presentations by Dina Georgis, Pailagi Pandya, Emily Kakouris and Sevan Injejikian and moderated by Pam Patterson; the university community and general public are invited to join the discussion. April 10th at 12 noon -1.30pm in Room 2-225 at the Centre for Women’s Studi

Joanna Black & Miriam Cooley at CWSE by Hilda Hashimoto On January 18, 2012, WIA Projects held a seminar on curatorial collaboration in which curators and art educators Miriam Cooley and Joanna Black discussed their role as Canadian curators in the international exhibition Eksperimenta! held in Estonia, 2011. Contrary to the myth that an artist works alone and, creatively in isolation, fashions an individualistic work of art untainted by others and belongs to him or her alone, the execution and presentation of art needs more than just the artist. Curators and other collaborators, specific to an exhibition, are responsible for developing and presenting the display; providing information on the art and artists; and developing and shaping the concepts the curator, artist, and institution wish to convey. Estonia was chosen as the location for Eksperimenta! which is quite a distance to transport art and artists. The distance alone caused a strain due to the inadequate Canad

Guest Curator: Sevan Injejikian  Assistant Curator: Vida Beyer CWSE Hallway Gallery OISE/UT 252 Bloor Street West, 2 nd floor hallway Opening: April 2nd, 5.30-7pm Artist Remarks: 6pm Exhibit runs until April 27th.  Meral Pasha’s photographic works explore complex notions of racial, cultural and gender identity. Pasha utilizes digital photography and its infinitely manipulable electronic bit to address the tenuous relationship between identity and place and to posit a multi-locational sense of self. Her portraits and landscapes plumb fragments of personal narrative and unhinge stereotypical representations of South-Asian women and the migrant experience which have become a part of the Western cultural imaginary.  A recent graduate of OCAD University, Meral Pasha is an emerging Canadian artist whose research into feminist, queer, and post-colonial issues is an ongoing attempt to posit herself in the various stories that surround and inform her. She was raised Musl

CWSE, WIAprojects & The Jackman Humanities Institute present: An Exhibition: Sylvat Aziz : Sisyphus & Other Personal Matters Curators: Pam Patterson & Emily Kakouris CWSE Gallery, OISE 252 Bloor Street West, 2 nd floor hallway Opening: March 5th 5.30-7pm  Artist Comments: 6pm Exhibit runs until March 30th. The work engages with ‘social justice’ questions on how research is conducted in the making of art.  This is especially relevant when digital documenting is employed, which can manipulate information seamlessly and infinitely.  The questions rest primarily on the subaltern dynamics that come into play when roles shift and the subject/object and the ‘researcher’ replace participant/observer research models.   The work questions the privileging that assumes the researcher has the right to display without responsibly acquiring permission.     Sylvat Aziz holds Masters degrees in literature and in art. Her studies began in Lahore, Pakistan then on

The Postcard Project is a research initiative to connect young students in a suburban middle school with contemporary, Canadian artists. The project invites all emerging and established professionals from across the country to participate in a simple postcard exchange. It will begin as each student chooses an artist/artwork they like from received images and creates a postcard in response. The student's artwork postcard is made and mailed and then the Canadian artist is invited to send a postcard back in response. Through this project, I intend to facilitate cooperative learning and collaboration through an authentic dialogue between young and practicing artists. The Postcard Project will bring Canadian artwork into the public school realm, and help educate youth on different styles, media, and themes that artists are exploring countrywide. How to Participate as a Practicing Artist: Send ONE image of your work, along with your name, full mailing address, and a short bi

Date: Feb 8th, 2012, 12-1.30pm  Location: CWSE, OISE/UT, 252 Bloor Street West, Rm 2-227 Free and all are welcome. The Silent Book: Crafting Memories from a Life with Cancer is a visual and textual collaborative autobiography project that addresses several complex and perplexing questions pertaining to living in the postcancer body. Women’s experiences of cancer cut across so many levels of subjective and objective reality that they can only be articulated in a fragmentary manner, through a bricolage of discontinuous narratives and mixed images.  For this session, Patterson & Karpinski will discuss both personal cancer experiences and their associated politics. We invite participants to join us in making collages from found printed text and images. Readings may include: cancer journals; emails from friends and doctors; quotations from famous cancer survivors; citations from the popular scientific and medical lore on cancer; and statistical data. The event will engage multip