Tag: Art
-
Blog Series
My year as a Black punk-rock kid
‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
That Time I Wrote a Play About Consent and Didn’t Know It
Content warning: Discussions of consent and situations involving sexual abuse of minors About a year ago, a wondrous thing happened to me: a theatre company wanted to produce one of my plays. Scratch that: two theatre companies wanted to join forces and produce one of my plays. In the glamorous and lucrative world of playwriting, we call this “eating dinner”. I was thrilled. I love dinner! Scratch that: I was not thrilled, really I was terrified. … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Aboriginal and Native American People: How The Media Sees Us
To most people, Native people are majestic, spiritual and, sadly, a thing of the past. Most people who don’t live in America believe that Native people are all of the above, and with the representation we receive in the media - how could one not think that? And, adding to that, a lot of the media coverage we ‘receive’, half the time Native characters are not being played by actual Native people! Being a Métis … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Trust Your Audience and Write Well: Roxane Gay on Writing
Last month I saw Roxane Gay in an on-stage interview in Toronto, where she was discussing her newest book Hunger, a powerful memoir about trauma and living in an “unruly body.” Gay was fascinating, moving, smart, and funny (as her work always is). As a creative writing teacher, I was especially excited when Gay talked about how she approaches writing. Early on in the interview, Gay discussed one of the most important decisions a writer must … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
The Soundscapes of Self Care
As we continue to slip down the slope of sociopolitical turbulence, it is an act of self-care to reserve space for art that reminds us of gold beneath the rubble. It is important to hold space for art that invites us to rise. In September 2016, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles graced us with her third studio album, A Seat at the Table, and as a result, affirmed my presence during a time where I felt invisible … READ MORE
-
Blog Series
Rhythm & Flow: How Music Shaped My Blackness
‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE
-
Blog Series
Hijab: Subtle Exclusion Remains… And It’s A Problem
‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE
-
Blog Series
Black Canadian Childhood
‘Growing Up Black in Canada’ is a writers’ series brought to you by Black Futures Now Toronto in partnership with Shameless Magazine. The series is meant to bring forward local and personal Black histories that do not fit into mainstream narratives about what it means to be a young person in Canada. Throughout the series we will highlight the non-fiction work of five young writers from various backgrounds. Through their stories, we will explore what … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Secret Lives of Girls and Cats
A review of Panther by Brecht Evens (Drawn and Quarterly, 2016, $32.95) My cat Jasmine was a flouncy calico with celery-green eyes and a taste for yogurt and grass snakes. Her haughty manner and the roughly 40% of her that was ginger reminded me of the old movie star Rita Hayworth. When I was lucky, she’d anoint me with her presence on my bed. She was my buddy and secret-keeper for 14 years. When she died … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
On Femme Competition
Identifying as femme has never made navigating my community easy, in spite of this being the only label that has ever felt entirely right. Being a femme has often meant attending queer events only to be read as a tagalong straight friend, having to prove and reassert my queerness, and continually fighting for visibility. I cannot speak about femme invisibility without addressing the intersections between femmephobia and other oppressions like racism, ableism, transphobia, and fatphobia. As … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Sister Writes’ Creative Writing Bootcamp for Transwomen
An inclusive and enriching program, Sister Writes’ Creative Writing Bootcamp for Transwomen is a two-day intensive writing experience. Practice writing in a variety of genres, receive mentorship from professional authors, write and share stories in a supportive group environment, co-create a literary magazine, and collaborate with professional artists. Join Sister Writes on Saturday October 22 and Saturday 29th, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, at The 519. Register by writing to donna@sisterwrites.com. About Sister Writes: Since 2010, Sister Writes … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Take Back The Night 2016
I feel angry. I feel upset. I feel anxious (actually, I haven’t said that last one to Adli yet!) These are statements I make to Adli when I want to express my emotions. I want him - currently as a cisgender boy - to learn to express his feelings, however artificial it may seem at first. I also have been trying to talk about oppression. How do I educate and support the learning of my kid … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Caribbean Tales Film Festival: Queer programming
The Caribbean Tales Film Festival (CTFF) is presenting its 11th collection of films this year in Toronto from September 7-17th at the Royal Cinema (608 College Street). The films featured focus on those that represent Caribbean content and creativity from the region and the diaspora. This year, there are 5 films that take on queer realities, identities and experiences. They are: My Silky Blue Frog Shortz by Lezlie Lee Kam (Trinidad/Canada); Cold by Salvador Sol Valdez … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Five Shameless Things: Five things you might not know about freelance work
BY: Shannon D’Arcy in conversation with the Urban Worker Project 1. 9-5 jobs are disappearing It might be surprising to know that between 40 and 60% of new jobs in Canada are freelance or contract positions. While traditionally the work week was 9-5, Monday-Friday, in the new economy, shift work, freelance and contract positions will be the new normal. Whereas this means that there isn’t the same safety net for all jobs, it also means that there … READ MORE
-
The Journaling and Creativity Connection: 9 Reasons to Start Journaling Now
Recently I saw the handwriting of a friend I’ve known for many years. It was a bit surprising. Not because the handwriting was illegible or because they dotted their i’s with endearing little fish heads, but because I’d only ever seen their writing on a screen, in cool, detached 12 point New Times Roman. Seeing their physical handwriting, the saucy curls on their ts and ys, the fingerprint smudges of ink, seemed so intimate, kind … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
When it comes to the music industry, who are the feminists and who decides?
Feminism’s role in the music industry cannot, or at least should not, be discussed without drawing on Beyoncé and her 2014 VMA performance in particular. She included author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s definition of feminism into her song “Flawless.” She had the word “feminist” lit up on stage for crying out loud. Additionally, we can’t look at Beyoncé’s feminism without analyzing the reaction she has inspired among the general public. Moments after her publicly identifying as … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Redefining ballet: A queer feminist introduction
It had been a long February. I had powered my way through all three seasons of Dance Academy on Netflix in a single week. This voracious pace might explain why I couldn’t stop thinking about ballet. A few weeks later, at the age of 26, I bought the little pink shoes, tied my hair in a bun, and stepped to the barre for the first time. In those first weeks of “Ballet for Absolute Beginners,” I … READ MORE
-
In the Blog
WEEKLY ROUND UP: JUNE 10
Check out what’s making been making our headlines this week. READ MORE
-
In the Blog
WEEKLY ROUND UP: MAY 27
Check out what’s making been making our headlines this week. READ MORE
-
In the Blog
Inside Out Reviews Part 2
For more than two decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto’s LGBT community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world. The Inside Out Film Festival runs from May 26 to June 5. Tickets for all screenings are $11 for students with ID and $10 for youth under 18. Youth under 25 can attend all weekday screenings before 6:00PM for free. Part 2 of our series on Inside Out reviews Major and Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things. READ MORE