Program Overview
‘All Around Us’ is a community-engaged textile art program that will work with 10 self-identified women ages 16+ in the Thorncliffe Park community to learn textile art and embroidery techniques over 8 sessions, culminating in the creation of a collective art piece to be installed at the Toronto Public Library, Thorncliffe Branch in the summer of 2021. The program will use nature as a central theme and encourage participants to explore their own relations with nature while learning and collaborating in a small group environment.
The program will be delivered as 8 online sessions.
Materials Fee: $60 provided for purchasing art materials
Honorarium: $100 for participation (must attend a minimum of 6 sessions and contribute to the final collective art piece to receive honorarium)
Session Dates
Online Sessions | Sundays 10:30am-1:00pm
Sunday April 11, 2021 – Introduction
Sunday April 25, 2021 – Stitches
Sunday May 2, 2021 – Painting on Textile
Sunday May 9, 2021 – Open Session
Sunday May 16, 2021 – Artist Statements and Bios with Guest Artist Tasneem Dairywala
Sunday May 30, 2021 – Open Session
Sunday June 6, 2021 – Water Teachings with Guest Artist Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone
Sunday June 13, 2021 – Creating Together
Artist Facilitators
Cecília Garcia, Lead Artist | Cecília Garcia is the creator and lead artist of the ‘All Around Us’ program. She is an arts manager, community organizer, and emerging textile artist based in Toronto. Originally from Brazil, Cecília holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film studies and has built a diverse portfolio working in the arts sector. Currently, Cecília is the Program and Volunteer Manager at North York Arts, sits on the Board of Directors of CONOSER, and contributes as a grant writer and facilitator to Art Ignite. Her artistic practice has included film, media, community arts, and textile arts. Throughout her career, Cecília has had the immense privilege of being a part of organizations and projects that have helped build communities through the arts.
Tasneem Dairywala, Guest Artist | Tasneem Dairywala is an award-winning visual artist, the Executive Director of Art Ignite, and a graduate of OCAD University’s 2015 Drawing and Painting program. Outside of her personal art practice, Tasneem works as an Arts Educator to bring inclusive visual arts programs to the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. Her work stems from the belief that art has the power to overcome boundaries that divide us. That is why she finds it so important to use her knowledge as an artist to connect and empower people.
Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone, Guest Artist | Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, dancer, actor, artist, and activist of a strong two-spirit Anishnaabe Kwe of mixed Ancestry; Ojibwe Métis with French and Scottish heritage. She is a hand drummer and hand drum maker and has shared her joy for drumming with the community in circles all over the country. During her tour of western Canada visiting many remote reserve communities and sharing her passion for storytelling, Aqua began writing her own stories and turned them into songs with the help of her hand drum. She then self-produced and released her EP Spirit Music. Soon she was signed to Tribal Spirit Music where she co-produced her album Hand Drum Stories. Aqua continues to work in her community in Tkaronto~Toronto. She leads hand drum circles for children, youth, and women in all parts of the city, sharing her healing medicine music with schools, community centres, shelters, harm-reduction programs, libraries, corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Eligibility
- Open to self-identified women ages 16+
- Available to attend a minimum of 6 sessions and create the final collective art piece
- Access to the internet and a device with a working camera and microphone to participate in online sessions
- Must be a Toronto resident
- Priority will be given to Thorncliffe Park residents, Flemingdon Park residents, and IBPOC women
Interested candidates may apply by completing an online application form: https://form.jotform.com/210385623801046
Application Deadline: March 28, 2021
Selected participants will be notified of their acceptance into the program after the application deadline has passed and prior to the start of the program. For more information please email charlotte@artignite.ca.
‘All Around Us’ is produced with the support of the City of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council #poweredbyTAC
Art Ignite 