The Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) and community artists Liz Forsberg (MES ’07) and Laura Reinsborough (BES ‘05, MES ’07) along with members of the Jane and Finch Boys & Girls Club are inviting others to join in an arts-based exploration of Black Creek this Thursday. It is the culmination of the Black Creek Storytelling Parade, a two-month youth art program.
Left: Members of the Jane and Finch Boys and Girls Club create works of art. Photo by Laura Reinsborough
The event, which runs from 4 to 7pm on Oct. 30, is part of the AGYU’s outreach work with the Jane and Finch community. Anyone interested in joining the exploration of Black Creek should meet in front of the Jane and Finch Boys and Girls Club, 300 Grandravine Dr., Unit 176A (behind the Oakdale Community Centre) in Toronto.
It is a celebration of the unique watershed through a series of youth-led arts activities. Participants can look forward to an outdoor exhibition of photographs, a dance performance choreographed by the club’s own in-house choreographer Shizzle, tree-planting with Gaspar Horvath from the Black Creek Conservation Project and participatory installations along the creek.
Glowing handmade lanterns will light the way back to the Jane and Finch Boys & Girls Club following the exploration of the creek where the festivities will continue with free food and drink.
The AGYU is a University-affiliated public non-profit contemporary art gallery supported by York University, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the AGYU membership.
The AGYU’s experience delivering arts education programs to youth in the Jane and Finch community has demonstrated how contemporary art can serve as a much-needed platform for creative self-expression and validation that contributes to youth empowerment.
This free event is possible in part through the support of Northern Artists.
For more information contact Allyson Adley, AGYU education coordinator, at ext. 88608 or aadley@yorku.ca.