Beyond Our Roots:

Visual Arts from Africa, Latin America, South Asia and beyond

Presented by the Latin Canadian Cultural Association

May 29 – June 8 2014
Reception: Thursday, May 29, 6-10pm

Join us on Saturday, May 31st, 2-4pm for an artist talk.

 The Beyond our Roots 2014 Visual Arts Exhibition is a contemporary multi-disciplinary Visual Arts Exhibition presented by the LatinoCanadian Cultural Association, CANORAA and ROZINA KAZI that shows the fusion between the different cultures and roots of the Latin American, African, South Asian artists and artists from other parts of the World and the influence of the multicultural society where they work and reside. The artists’ starting point is their own cultural background and experiences, going through the discovery first, and then the sharing of other cultures, to finally, develop and transform them into a new and original product.

 Co -Curated by Alejandro Freeland and Hugo Ares

 Participating Visual artists include:
Faisal Anwar, Hugo Arias, Lucero Milchorena, Rosa Mindreau, Sybil Lamb, Dax Vorona, Aramika Kliavin, , Gomo George, Richard Noel, Jennifer Humphries, John Nobrega, Ashley Zarowny.

 Dance : Zahira ( Belly Dance )

ARTISTS LIST

Lucero Milchorena

Born in Mexico City in 1971, Lucero Milchorena started her inception into the Arts with the opening of underground art gallery “El Ghetto” in 1989 and her participation in the now extinct counter-culture performance group “El Sindicato del Terror” (The Syndicate of Terror). After three years of university level studies on Communications she moved to Toronto where she became an Honours Associate of the Ontario College of Art and Design in the field of Art, specialised in Integrated Media. In 1999 she received a grant and completed her Master’s program in Barcelona in Digital Arts. For more than 10 years she has been working as an editor of films and specially author documentaries in Spain and Mexico. She has also collaborated as a freelance artist with performance groups and galleries and worked with the Mexican Arts Council in programs aimed to protect cultural heritage. At the present moment she is completing her studies to obtain her BFA at OCAD University, directing and producing her own videos as well as developing her artistry in painting and photography.

  Maria Rosa Mindreau

Rosa Mindreau is a Toronto-based visual artist. A graduate of the Art Institute of Toronto, and soon to be graduate at Toronto School of Art, Rosa specializes in multiple forms of printmaking such as Screen-printing, Block Printing and Etching. She also creates mixed media pieces that range from 2D to 3D, with elements of encaustic and acrylic painting, screen printing, found objects and collage. She has exhibited and sold work widely across the city including at the Artist Project, Queen West Art Crawl, The Gladstone (as part of Come up To My Room), North by Northeast, Whippersnapper Gallery, AWOL Gallery, and many others. Rosa is dedicated to alternative and accessible learning opportunities for emerging artists. She has conducted printmaking workshops at her own studio, as well as at PARC (a drop-in centre in Parkdale), Queen West Community Health Centre, Pathways to Education (in Rexdale), and Sketch Working Arts. She avidly supports social justice and grassroots community endeavors—Rosa has donated original artwork for exhibitions and auctions to support Sketch Working Arts, the United Way, and GBLGay Youthline, among others. Her work has been featured in the Toronto Star and online art forums.

Hugo Arias

Hugo de Jesus Arias-Jiménez is a Toronto based artist, with the tendencies of an illustrator and the ambitions of a writer. Hugo was raised on sugar-loaded cereals, Saturday morning cartoons and cape-filled comic books. “I feel that I create to share, to have the world see what i see, because for whatever reason I have come to the conclusion that my head is an interesting place to be, and I would enjoy some company.” as much as he would like to change his stars Hugo is who he is; he sleeps to dream, he constantly trips over his words, and often his feet, because most days his thoughts are too impatient. If you have any comments, questions, concerns… or if you just want to chat, share a recipe, tell a story; please feel free to email or message. I will probably be up all night anyways.

 Dax Vorona

Dax Vorona is an emerging artist that studied Photography at OCADU. Born in Germany, raised in the USSR, she has travelled extensively around the World and resided in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Fiji, Mexico and Canada. In her practice she merges her multicultural heritage, personal vision and aesthetics.

 John Nobrega

John Nobrega is a Toronto-based artist who is known for his strongly figurative paintings which address contemporary issues with historical painting styles. He began his career as a studio assistant for the famed local art collective General Idea while still enrolled in the Ontario College of Art and Design. Since graduating in 1997 he has exhibited extensively, including at Steven Leckie’s Fleurs du Mal gallery, and Edward Day Gallery in Toronto, where he is currently represented. He is in numerous private and public collections, including the collection of David Blackwood and the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. In the last few years Nobrega has devoted himself increasingly to film and video projects.

 Richard Noel

I live in Toronto, Canada but I am originally from South Wales in the UK. South Wales is a beautiful part of the world which I feel privileged to have grown up in and taken inspiration from. The Welsh are proud and passionate people. We’re certainly not afraid to show our feelings. Much of my artwork represents moods and emotions translated through eccentric colour palettes and textures that I often bring order to using black. I have always been one to wear my feelings on my sleeve so recording those same feelings on canvass was a natural step forward for me. I like to create art that both catches the light and has instant impact. My use of vibrant colours and unusual textures tends to lure people in to discover more. The common use of black in my paintings often reflects the dark moods that sometimes come to haunt me. I also think black offers a feeling of luxuriousness or mystery to my paintings. Apart from a few key phrases to describe the theme of each painting I always avoid giving away too much information. It really is half the enjoyment looking at a piece of art and finding your own interpretation.

Aramika Kliavin

Aramika Kliavin is a Toronto contemporary visual artist and sculptor. She was born on July 26, 1987 in a small city of Eastern Europe Vitebsk. Aramika moved to Canada in 2004 and currently she is finishing her BFA at OCAD University. In her work she employs traditional European techniques and ongoing western traditions and concepts. Presently Aramika exhibits around Toronto and does artwork for private collectors and public commissions.

Sybil Lamb

Sybil Lamb is a Toronto-based artist. Her work is based on self-representation on her own misadventures while stranded in Amsterdam and Europe. For example; The triptych, called “BloedGrache: Er is Niks aan te Doen/ Blood Canal (City Canal): There is Nothing you can Do” depicts the fight that ensued when Lamb showed up on (and was ejected from) BloedStraat, a street within the red light district of Amsterdam where transsexual prostitutes tap on shop front windows from the inside at prospective clients walking by. Her paintings sequentially illustrate cities scenes; also her work shows a glimpse into different cities persons. She creates a sense of place and identity. Lamb’s talent and previous work should make the grotesque and stunning painful beauty.

 Faisal Anwar

Faisal Anwar is a digital media artist living in Toronto/ Pakistan with diverse backgrounds in theatre, film, media, interactive art and graphic design. He is founder of an interactive art and design studio call DigitalDip and founded NewKulture. Anwar’s art present work explores sociopolitical spaces, which intrigues the mind and emotion by multiple layers participatory experiences with contrasting visual elements; bodies, faces, personalities, buildings and neighborhoods. His projects often bring together art culture and technology in an odd configuration to explore our perceptions towards architectural space, surveillance and social interactivity in modern urban cultures. He has shown and performed nationally and internationally. Anwar is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Habitat-LAB, Interactive Arts and Entertainment Program 2004, Anwar did his Bachelors in graphic design from the National College of Arts Pakistan 1996, he is one of the pioneers of ‘The Puppeteers’ theatre group in Pakistan and worked on many performances addressing social awareness in Pakistan. Faisal volunteered on the Programming Committee of SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) (06 – 07) and taught part time at Centennial College. His current is Pluscity, a collaboration with artist Siobhan O’Flynn, seeks to make Twitter streams during big civic festivals “more meaningful to people who are experiencing that event” by visualizing them as flowers and planets. Faisal attended Lahore’s National College of Arts, where he earned a graphic design degree and worked on community theatre projects in remote villages.

Gomo George

Gomo George is a Toronto based multi-media artist and arts instructor. As part of HANDS ON he exhibited Soul Talk, a 22 component sculptural assemblage which presented a reflective reading of Andinkra symbols and their English translated meanings. This installation referenced a few approaches to African visual presentation, the use of alter like bases, application of Bantu colour coding principles, mask like facial impressions and bottles suggested as spirit repositories. The pieces anticipate the accommodation of the viewer in its presentation of the Andinkra symbols in a simulated utilitarian context. George’s work has been exhibited in venues throughout Canada. He holds an M.F.A. from the University of Western and is the recipient of many art awards.

 Jennifer Humphries

 Ashley Zarowny

Zahira

Zahira, owner and artistic director of Dragonfly Dance is best know for her charisma, powerful stage presence and engaging performances. Possessing quality technique, musicality, captivating expression, and excellence as an entertainer, Zahira is a well known sought after instructor and performer in the Toronto bellydance community.

Zahira has a strong background in drama, music and movement. She is a protégé of Hannan Sultan and Roula Said and since falling in love with bellydance in 2002, she has developed and impressive C.V. of dance training with some of the world’s best teachers.   Notable influences include: Shazadi of Mexico, Aziza, Jillina, Saida and Amir Thaleb or Argentina, Randa Kamal, Aida Nour, Tito, Yousry Sharif, Rachel Brice, Hadia, Ariellah, Mira Betz, and many more luminaries.

Zahira was a founding Faculty member at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio, where she shared her passion for dance for over 4 years (2006-2010), creating a dedicated following of numerous students. She has also taught at OmLaila Bellydance.

Zahira was also a founding member of the Sultannettes Troupe, collaborated with Roula Said’s Roulettes and was a lead dancer with Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company, under the direction of Nada Krysko.   Zahira appeared in the two major Rhythm of the Nile theatrical productions to date (2007 and 2009), and was featured in the role of the legendary Badia Masabni in the company’s 2009 production “Ayyam Zaman”. Today she dances regularly with Mirage and she is proud to have had an important hand in the training of beautiful new talents including members of Rhythm of the Nile, the Sultannettes and other upcoming talents.

She holds an MA in Art History and she is a PhD candidate with a focus on dance and musical performance in al-Andalus. Zahira’s extensive knowledge of art and culture and her great love for dance permeate and enrich her interpretations, filling her performances with artistry, excitement and delight.

Zahira has performed at events such as Luminato, the Taste of the Danforth, International Bellydance Conference of Canada, FanExpo and Steam on Queen. As a highly sought-after soloist she performs at private functions, weddings, restaurants, festivals and corporate events.

 

Zahira

 

 

This Visual Exhibition is made possible thanks to the financial support from the Toronto Arts Council.