These young artists are helping the city recover from the impacts of the pandemic
By: Teresa Valenton
The arts and culture scene in Toronto has grown rapidly through a collective search for local representation. While searching for local talents, ArtWorxTO was created to spotlight artists that reflect the cultural vibrancy of the city.
As the city of Toronto works together with local artists and institutions, they hope to play a key role in artistic recovery. In fact, many of the artists that have been featured on ArtWorxTO have drawn inspiration from the city into their own works.
As Toronto works to economically recover from the past year, emerging artists have become a point of interest. Through ArtWorxTO’s 52-week spotlight on emerging artists programs, they seek to uplift local voices. As they play a role to keep communities vibrant, the impacts are everlasting.
Isabelle Fong, also known as @whenthecity on Instagram, an emerging Toronto-based musician and one of ArtWorxTO’s spotlighted artists, finds that Toronto has shaped her work in numerous ways. Through her local approach to music, she finds beauty within her everyday experiences in the city.
“I remember when I was younger, my favourite memories of going to the subway were just hearing the jazz that was going on there,” Fong says. “Whether it’s coming from the radio on the TTC or someone who’s just playing there.”
Fong’s experiences are one of many, but they reflect a collective experience that most Toronto-based artists seem to have.
Not only has Toronto changed the lives of emerging artists, but it has created safe communities for individuals to freely express themselves. Through the diverse populations living in Toronto, artists are guaranteed to identify with others.
Alten Wilmot, a theatre and dance artist in Toronto and another one of ArtWorxTO’s spotlighted artists, compares his different experiences living in the city to his time in Kitchener-Waterloo.
“I feel there is a sense of community and belonging. That was a shock for me when I moved here,” Wilmot said.
Whether it be the city itself, or the individuals within it, local artists like Fong continue to draw inspiration from their own experiences.
“Toronto is an amazing city that I feel like there’s something for everyone. I love walking around downtown, early mornings, late nights,” she says. “What’s so amazing is that it’s constantly changing.”
Toronto has become a hub for creators to share and connect with each other’s stories.
“There’s so many stories that opened up my own personal stories, which then I’m able to share,” Wilmot said. “I think the amount of art in Toronto, the amount of culture in Toronto, only inspires me more to contribute to that.”
Wilmot particularly highlights the collective creative atmosphere in Toronto that he says is like “his fuel,” and one that he believes only exists in the city.
Fong’s approach to her creative process centres around Toronto, but also looks outwards towards individual experiences. In order to grow her audience, she hopes to make music that connects with those beyond the city.
“I want everyone to look at it from their own point of view. There’s absolutely no correct answer,” said Fong. “However they interpret it in my eyes would be correct.”
On the other hand, Wilmot looks beyond the lives of the individuals he encounters.
“When I talk about the people of Toronto inspiring me, even just witnessing them, there’s always these people for me that just tend to glow,” said Wilmot. “There’s something in there that I admire and feel is missing for me or just really important to me.”
Artists such as Fong and Wilmot display a greater message beyond their artistic motives: they prove that Toronto has the ability to inspire.
While communities adjust themselves to the ever-changing situation of the pandemic, the artistic drive to create new spaces never changes.
Although creative processes may differ, artists are always finding new ways to incorporate the city. Wilmot and Fong demonstrate the willingness to prevail in expansive spaces.
