HIGHLIGHTS
Sound artist apè from electronic duo Phèdre highlights nine events you don’t want to miss. Scroll down further to see the full listing of over 35 upcoming events
Qanuqtuurunnarniq | Doris McCarthy Gallery, on until March 31, FREE
I always appreciate thoughtful pencil crayon works like these. Ilove seeing how Nunavut’s Shuvinai Ashoona’s large drawingsand bright colours really bring her personal stories of Northernexperiences to life. Artist and curator Naulaq LeDrew includesobjects from her own collection to complement the works andadd another dimension to the exhibition.
Another World That Sounds Like You | Gallery TPW w/ SAVAC, Bani Abidi, Nick Dourado, JJJJJerome Ellis, Urok Shirhan, Hong-Kai Wang, on until April 1, FREE
I am so thrilled about this exhibition. Rarely do we get to experience meaningful, durational, sound installations. The gallery has been transformed into a cozy listening salon, perfect for meditating alone or escaping with a friend. Being two and a half hours long, one can either be immersed in the sonic landscapes all afternoon, or make a few different visits to the gallery. I’ve been once already, and plan to go a few times more.
Convergent Divergency | Atri Nundy & Danah Rosales, Toronto Dance Theatre, Winchester Street Theatre, March 23-25 and March 30, Sliding Scale: $10-$45
This is a really exciting double dance bill that will be showcasingbrand new works: Choreographer Arti Nundy inBharatanatyam style and Mother of Kiki House of Siriano’sToronto Chapter Danah Rosales in Vogue/Ballroom. I don’t
usually have access to seeing performances in these styles, so Iam extra stoked about this one. It will also be the perfect energizingremedy to end-of-winter blues.
Magical Imperfection Screening + Artist Talk with Raymond Moriyama | Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, $10-$12
Despite enduring the traumas of living in a Japanese internmentcamp out in British Columbia, architect Raymond Moriyama
went on to design many important buildings, includingthe Ontario Science Centre, The Bata Shoe Museum and TheToronto Reference Library. He is 93 years old and will be presentat the film screening for a Q & A!
Drag Me To The Movies – Leprechaun 3 | hosted by Weird Alice, Paradise Cinema, March 17, 7 PM, $25.50
I cannot believe that I have not yet been to a Drag Me To The Movies event. This will be my first and I’m sure not my last. This is not just a film screening but also a drag show, movie bingo night, and overall an incredibly fun time. Drag artist Weird Alice hosts these nights, and this particular event features one of my favourite Drag Kings, Kreme Inakuchi.
When They Tell You To Be Good | Prince Shakur, Toronto Reference Library, February 28, 7 PM, FREE
When They Tell You To Be Good is a coming-of-age memoir. I have this book on hold at the library and I can’t wait to witness author Prince Shakur in conversation with Professor Rinaldo Walcott. Prince Shakur is a Queer, Jamaican-American author, freelance journalist, videomaker, and NY Times recognized organizer and through his work is committed to Black liberation, prison abolition, and Queer resilience.
Mutualism: Landscapes from Scratch | Morgan Paige, SlowPitchSound & Mo:delic Arts, March 4, 7:30 PM, Low Income/Members/Students $10; Advance $20; Regular $25
Inspired by nature, outer space and dystopian sci-fi, SlowPitchSound is one of the most forward thinking experimental artists I know. He expresses through Avant-garde turntablism, intertwining scratching, manipulated samples and captured field recordings. Mo:delic Arts will be generating psychedelic visuals to supplement the ambient compositions. The two will be exploring ecology and the natural world in Mutualism: Landscapes from Scratch. I’ve seen them both before in different iterations and they are not to be missed.
Of The Sea | Kanika Ambrose + Others, March 25 – April 1, $47 – $115
Sci-fi Black Opera?! I am so thrilled for this World Premiere of new Black Opera, Of The Sea. It has a powerhouse creative team and for the first time ever in a large-scale Canadian opera— an all—Black ensemble of performers. Of The Sea is about Maduka, his daughter Binyelum, and fellow Africans who live in a mythical underwater kingdom. I’m not usually one for the opera, but I know this is going to be a really good one.
Community Connects: Creative & Professional Workshop Series | Various, FREE
Scarborough Arts is offering the coolest free workshop series! The workshops are being taught and led by incredible artists. From crochet and doll-making with Chason Yeboah to Sustainable Resistance writing with Krystal Kavita Jagoo to Healing Through Feeling with Madura Siva, there is something for all ages and all skill levels.
MORE EVENTS
ART
Afrophillia | Frantz Brent-Harris
On until Aug 31, Black Artist’s Network & Dialogue Gallery, Toronto Sculpture Garden, 115 King St E, FREE
Afghanistan My Love | Artlords & Shaheer Zazai
On until April 10, Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive, Free for Members; Adult $20; Children $10; Seniors $15; Students $10
Qanuqtuurunnarniq |Shuvinai Ashoona
On until March 31, Doris McCarthy Gallery, AA304, Arts & Administration Building, U of T Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, FREE
The Counter/Self | Curated by Mona Filip; Various Artists
On until March 25 , Art Museum at the University of Toronto, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, 7 Hart House Circle, FREE
On until April 1, Gallery TPW w/ SAVAC, 170 St. Helen’s Avenue, FREE
DANCE
March 3 – March 11, 8PM, The Citadel, 304 Parliament St, Toronto, $27.50
Convergent Divergency | Atri Nundy & Danah Rosales
March 23 – 25 and March 30 – April 1,Toronto Dance Theatre, Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester Street, Sliding Scale: $10-$45
March 23 and 26, Aki Studio Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, 585 Dundas Street East, Suite 120, Sliding Scale: $10-$30
FILM
2SLGBTQ+ Chai, Crafts & Movie Night | Various
Every Wednesday, 5:45 PM, St. Jamestown Community Corner, 200 Wellesley Street East Toronto, FREE
February 19, 1 PM, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, 6 Garamond Court, North York, $10-$12
Maven Talk | Filmmaker Alicia K. Harris
February 23, 6:30-7:30 PM, Clark Centre for the Arts, 191 Guildwood Pkwy, Scarborough,
Bebe Zeva Movie Screening | Tao Lin and Megan Boyle
February 25, 7 PM, Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton St, $15
Hopped Up: 40 Years of Hip Hop Music History | David Dacosta
February 25, 2 PM, Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View Boulevard, FREE
New World Beat – Premiere | Featured Artists – Charlotte Cornfield, Mingjia, James Baley
March 4, 7 PM, Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, $12
Drag Me To The Movies – Leprechaun 3 | Hosted by Weird Alice
March 17, 7 PM , Paradise Cinema, 1006c Bloor Street West Toronto, $25.50
LITERARY
Jade is a Twisted Green | Tanya Turton
February 21, 7 PM, By the Lake Book Club, Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, $10-$28
Respect Our Canadian BlackLit Elders | Various
February 26, 7 PM, BlackLit Durham, St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture, 78 Church Street South, Ajax, FREE
When They Tell You To Be Good | Prince Shakur
February 28, 7 PM, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street Toronto, FREE
Nation Building Through Poetry | Titilope Sonuga, Randell Adjei, Rebecca Thomas
February 28, 7:30 PM, Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto, U of T Students FREE; General $15
MUSIC
Mavi w/ Cadence Weapon (hip-hop)
February 20, 7 PM, Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W. Toronto, $20
Homopop Dance Party Toronto Launch | HOMOPOP DJs (dance)
February 24, 10 PM, Homopop Dance, The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. W, Toronto, $26.70
Mutualism: Landscapes from Scratch | SlowPitchSound & Mo:delic Arts; Morgan Paige (experimental)
March 4, 7:30 PM, The Music Gallery, 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Low Income/Members/Students $10; Advance $20; Regular $25
Ilios Steryanis/Mike Freedman Quartet (jazz)
February 23, 8 PM, Hirut Café, 2050 Danforth Ave, $15
Women From Space Festival | Various
March 8 to 11, 918 Bathurst, 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Early Bird $30; Regular $45, Single Day $15
Spin Off | Feat. Negate Shachu, DJ Dopey, Konatsu & Onton
March 11, 8 PM Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto, $25-$45
Ancestor Song Album Release | Janice Jo Lee Ensemble (folk/funk/jazz)
March 18, 8 PM, Small World Music, 180 Shaw Street, Toronto, $22.60
Vicky Von Vicky w/ Graham Wright & The Hidden Meanings (indie rock)
March 24, 6:30 PM, Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave, Toronto, 19+, Early $10; Doors $15
Exit Points, Free-Improv Concert | Various
March 31, 8 PM, Array Music, 155 Walnut Ave, Toronto, $20
PERFORMANCE / THEATRE
Drag Brunch | Hosted by Erin Brockobić
Every Sunday, 11 AM & 2 PM, Glad Day Bookshop, 499 Church Street, $40
Mastering the World: Black Performance and European Empire| Dr. Kristen Moriah
March 2, 3 PM, Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies; Jackman Humanities Building, 170 Saint George Street, FREE
Of The Sea | Kanika Ambrose + Others
March 25 to April 1, Obsidian and Tapestry Opera, Bluma Appel Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St E, $47 – $115
WORKSHOPS
Ethics in Photography: Relationship Building | Jeff Bierk February 25, 1 PM, Gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Online,
Ethics in Photography: Relationship Building | Jeff Bierk February 25, 1 PM, Gallery 44, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Online, Members $20; Non-Members $25
Community Connects: Creative & Professional Workshop Series | Various
Various Dates, Scarborough Arts, 1859 Kingston Road, Scarborough, FREE
Film, Photography, Production, Writing Workshops | Various
Various Dates, Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, 1137 Dupont Street, $105 – $200
Speed History: Getting to Know Each Other | Youth + Elders
March 6, 6 PM Buddies in Bad Times, Online, FREE
Life Drawing | AGA Arts
Various Sundays until April 23, , 12PM, East End Arts, St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, 450 Broadview, 18+, $20, $15 w/ student card
March 17, 4 PM University College, 15 King’s College, Circle Room 140, FREE
This article appeared in the 2023 Feb/Mar issue.
